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Saturday, January 29, 2000 Page: 5A
January 28, 2000 arl Porter Kocher, 85, of Market Street, Benton, formerly of
Pine Grove Mills, died Friday at the Orangeville Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center. Born June 3, 1914, in Franklin Township, Huntington County, he was a
son of the late Edwin Vaux Kocher and Annie Mary (Everhart) Kocher. A 1933
graduate of State College High School, he worked for the state highway
department and the Department of Agriculture at Penn State University. While
in Benton, he owned and operated the Benton Water Co. from 1941 to 1981, when
he sold it to Benton Borough and retired. He also sold life insurance, was a
substitute mail carrier in Benton for 39 years and was a commercial and
residential painter in the Benton area. He was a member, elder and trustee of
Benton United Presbyterian Church; a member of Benton Lodge 667, F&AM, and
Fishing Creek Sportsman Club; and a past president of the Benton Kiwanis.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Florence (Burwell) Kocher, whom he married
in 1938; children, Shirley Irene Keller, Benton, RR 1; Marcia Kay Kline,
Benton; and Edwin A., Benton, RR 3; nine grandchildren and 12
great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers, John, Guy, Edwin
and Glen. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the McMichael Funeral
Home, Benton, RR 2, Route 487, with the Rev. Allen Lumpkin officiating. Burial
will be in the Benton Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.
Benton Lodge will conduct Masonic services at 8 p.m. Monday. Memorial
donations may be made to the TGIF Teen Center, c/o Phil Malhoyt, Market
Street, P.O. Box 438, Benton, 17814.