Gayle Alice Heckman Hamilton

Gayle Alice Heckman Hamilton entered the Church Triumphant on March 15th.

Her mother Alice Foss Heckman, father Herbert Franklin Heckman, sister Lucille Jane Heckman, and husband Orin Levi Hamilton preceded her in death several years ago.

Gayle was born in a Clarks Summit bungalow and enjoyed attending an Elementary School there. At the age of twelve, she moved to Scranton with her family and was educated at Central High School, graduating in 1952. She obtained an Associate Degree from Keystone Junior College and was employed as an Executive Secretary at the International Salt Company for ten years. She then relocated to the Philadelphia area, obtained a position with Rohm and Haas Company and her career there lasted for over thirty years. During this period, she enrolled in Temple University, majoring in Psychology.

Her interests included world travel, music, Civil War research, knitting, and philanthropy. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and served as a Deacon there. She was also a member of Elm Park United Methodist Church. Gayle was a Burgess at Colonial Williamsburg, a member of the Friends of Independence National Historical Park, The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, The Century Club, Wally Gordon Community Singers, Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historical Society, Inc., and The Happy Hatters.

Mention must be made of Heathcliff, Bubba Sebastion, Samantha, Boo Casper, Niles and Frazier, Gayle's beloved cats, and Misha, her Siberian Husky dog.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst, with services by Rev. William Carter. Her motto was "Music. This is the Favorite Passion of My Soul".

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Clarks summit or Elm Park United Methodist Church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., Clarks Summit.