Georgia Schmelzer
Georgia Mae Debor Schmelzer, of Slippery Rock, passed away at her residence with her daughter and son-in-law present on Sunday, July 31, 2022.
She was born in Tarentum, Allegheny County, on April 16, 1935, the daughter of Harold Albert Debor and Alma Keightlinger Debor. Georgia had to quit school following 11th grade, but received her GED March 13, 1980, from Grove City High School. She married Don Alan Schmelzer on Sept. 3, 1955. Don’s memorial service was just celebrated this past Saturday, July 30, 2022.
Georgia and Don joined the Highland Presbyterian Church when they moved to Slippery Rock in 1957. Georgia went to Sunday school classes, helped with babysitting and other projects, and was a deacon. Her last job before her retirement was as a church secretary for 15 years.
Georgia was a mom of many talents. When Georgia and Don first came to Slippery Rock, they worked at the A & P grocery store for several years. Don was working and going to school, and Georgia was working and having children. After the children came, they both worked at Isaly’s, where she and Bev Barron met and traded babysitting duties so each could work. Ella Maxwell and Georgia also helped each other while Don went to school. They stayed lifelong friends.
Georgia had tremendous energy and a great love and commitment for family and community. She loved helping others.
Georgia worked many jobs around town including being a crossing guard, a clerk at GC Murphy’s and a secretary with Ken Beatty’s plumbing company. She substituted as a Slippery Rock High School Cafeteria worker and answered Ligo’s Funeral Home and ambulance service telephones before the Slippery Rock Volunteer Rescue Team ambulances and EMTs were available. She and Don were instrumental in the Rescue Team’s initial startup. She became an EMT in 1976 and served more than 15 years.
Georgia liked to play sports but did not get the opportunities that are available today for girls. She was a majorette twirling a baton in her high school years.
Georgia loved encouraging her children and grandchildren in any kind of sports. She helped start a Slippery Rock girls’ softball team. She hardly ever missed a softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball or football game. In addition, she helped in the concession stands providing baked goods or selling items to support the teams. She played golf, loved to swim and enjoyed fishing. She took her kids and sometimes others to the Slippery Rock Sportsmen’s Club several times a week to swim and fish.
She rode horses for years with her children. She loved animals, and her love of horses helped in her daughter getting a horse at the age of 14. She rode horses into her early 70s when she went for her last ride as their horses became a little too frisky, but she would help clean stalls and brush the horses to be around them.
Don taught their children to trap and generate income from fur sales, and Georgia helped the children check the traps. The children would walk the trap lines every morning before school. Georgia was in the local Women’s Club and enjoyed participating in the Red Stocking Reviews. She loved to play cards with her card club friends and at 87 was still playing cards with her family. She loved camping and traveling, and her bags were packed at a moment’s notice. If she wasn’t helping with the fire hall, she would help her friends and neighbors and always her family.
Survivors include daughter, Janice (David) Hinchberger; sons, Alan and David (Deborah) Schmelzer; grandchildren, Brad (Gena) and Brooke Hinchberger and Jessica Schmelzer; step-grandchildren, Denna G., Derrek and David Dittmer; great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Lane Hinchberger, Emily Wright, Christian and Audrey Dittmer and Dominick Dittmer, all of Slippery Rock; and brother, Richard (Laurie) Debor and families.
She was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter, Erin Hinchberger in 1998; and brothers, Harold “AL” and Don.
SCHMELZER — Family of Georgia Mae Debor Schmelzer, who died Sunday, July 31, 2022, will receive friends from 1 p.m. until time of service at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Highland Presbyterian Church on 310 Franklin St., Slippery Rock, with the Revs. Jeff Curtis and Albert “Rusty” Stuart presiding.
A celebration of life will follow in the fellowship hall of the church.
Interment will be in Slippery Rock Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be given to the Slippery Rock Rescue Squad, PO Box 117, Slippery Rock, PA.
Arrangements are by SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.
Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.
