Grace Kathryn Schaeffer, 98, Bernville, went to be with the lord, Sunday, February 7, 2010, at 7:12 p.m. in the Emergency room of the Reading Hospital and Medical Center.
Grace was preceded in death in 2002, by her husband, John W. Schaeffer, of 70 years.

Born in Penn Township on August 18, 1911, she was the youngest of six children of William S. and Sallie Ann [Emerich] Balthaser.

She retired from the Valley Forge Flag Factory, Robesonia in 1974 where she sewed stars on American flags. Through the years she worked at various shirt factories and The Reading Clothing Factory.
As a member of the Class of 1931 of Penn-Bernville High School she was the last remaining survivor.

She was an active member of St. Thomas Church in Bernville up until the last month prior to her passing. Formerly, she was a member of Friedens Lutheran Church, Bernville for 40 years where she also was a Sunday school teacher and secretary of the ladies aid society. In the past she was a member of the Reading Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, Bernville Flower Club and the Bernville Senior Citizens.
Grace loved crocheting, sewing, photography, clamming in Delaware Bay, gardening, canning fruits and flower arranging. She was a member of the Bernville TOPS where she was secretary for many years and also a charter member of the Bernville Young in Heart.

Surviving are four children: Eugene R., husband of Sara L., Barbara G., wife of Richard P. Bond, and Susan A., wife of Henry E. Breidegan, all of Bernville, and Jeanette C., widow of Richard Adams, Centerport,
There are also seven grandchildren: Randy, Theresa, Kelly, Amy, Aaron, Tim, Peter and her six great-granddaughters: Beatrice, Melanie, Blair, Kelsi, Keri and Grace and two great-grandsons, Josiah and Peter, Jr.
Grace is also survived by three sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law, many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by two infant children: June Marie and Glenn Laverne and a grandson, Brian Adams. Also two sisters, Mabel A. Balthaser and Mae L. Spatz, and three brothers, Ammon C., John H. and Willis E. Balthaser.

Funeral services will be Friday at 11 AM in the Kirkhoff Funeral Home, 206 N. Main St., Bernville with Reverend William Miller officiating. Burial will be in Haags Cemetery, Bernville. Friends may call Thursday evening from 7-8:30 pm and Friday morning one hour prior to services in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas Church, 536 Main St., Bernville, PA 19506.