Heckethorn

Gwendolyn Grace Heckethorn, 88, of Hilliards died Sunday evening at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler.

Born Dec. 5, 1921, in Vandergrift, she was the daughter of the late Thomas E. and Mabel G. Elliott Sterner.

During World War II, she was employed at the CPT Co. in Franklin working on airplane parts.

She married Leonard S. Heckethorn on Dec. 20, 1941. He preceded her in death on July 3, 1991.

Mrs. Heckethorn belonged to the family of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Hilliards and previously attended the Church of God.

She loved cooking, baking and canning and her family considered her apple pie the best pie ever made.

She is survived by her daughter, Gwendolyn Ann Ralston of Hilliards; a grandson, Elliot Tyler Ralston, also of Hilliards and his fiancee, Jamie Ansell and her daughter, Rachel. She also is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Robert Lee Heckethorn; two brothers, Thomas and Edward Sterner; and her son-in-law, William “Bill” Ralston.

<B>HECKETHORN</B> — Friends of Gwendolyn Grace Heckethorn, who died Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the <B>Young Funeral Home</B>, 132 Main St., West Sunbury. Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home. The Rev. Larry Rapp will officiate. Interment will follow at the St. Petersburg Cemetery.Memorial contributions may be given in Gwendolyn’s name to the American Cancer Society-Butler County Unit, One Nolte Drive, Kittanning, PA 16201 or on its website, www.americancancersociety.orgFuneral arrangements are being handled by the <B>William N. Rupert Mortuary</B>, Knox. Online condolences may be sent to Gwendolyn’s family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com