Eleanor D. Klementik

Eleanor D. Klementik, 89, of Third Street, Benton, PA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 27th in Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, surrounded by family members.
Eleanor was born March 20, 1923 in Greenwood Township, Columbia County, to the late Howard C. and J. Ada (Young) Dildine.  The family later lived in Sunbury before moving to Benton in the 1930’s.
She was the widow of Daniel J. Klementik, who died in 1965.  She is also the last surviving member of her immediate family, having been predeceased by her three brothers William, Roy and James.
Eleanor graduated from Benton High School in 1940 and was proud to have attended her class’s 70th reunion in 2010.  She graduated from Mansfield State Teachers College with a major in music in 1943.
She first taught music in the Hughesville School District.  She later taught K-12 music in the Benton Area School District for 28 years, where she directed countless choral music programs until her retirement in 1983.  Her students affectionately called her “Mrs. K”.  She was honored to have been named to the Benton High School Hall of Fame in 2005.
Eleanor was a longtime member of Benton Presbyterian Church where she served as church organist for her church family for more than fifty years.  She served as clerk of session for 22 years and represented the church on the Benton Council of Churches.  She also taught Sunday School and participated in Service Circle for many years.  Eleanor was an avid fan of Penn State and the Phillies.  She was a wonderful cook and a talented musician.  She loved to read, travel, attend concerts and play both bridge and pinochle.  She played in the same bridge group for more than sixty years.  She enjoyed her reading club, sewing club and Red Hats.  She regularly participated in activities at the Northern Columbia County Cultural  and Community Center.
She will be lovingly remembered by her three children, son Daniel Clement and his wife Elizabeth of Lewisburg, her son David Klementik and his wife Ruth of Windber and by her daughter Mary Ann Klementik of Mechanicsburg.  She is also survived by five granddaughters, Meredith Moore of Pearland, TX; Kirsten K. Dalton of Ashburn, VA; Megan Klementik of New York, NY; Sara C. Biggs of Washington, DC; and Cameron K.  Ertley of Arlington, VA.   She was proud to be the great grandmother of Emma Eleanor Dalton.  Eleanor is also survived by two nieces and a nephew, their children and grandchildren and by her cousin Shirley (Young) McHenry.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 on Sunday, December 30th at Dean W.Kriner, Inc. Funeral Home in Benton.  The funeral service will be held at 11:00 on Monday, December 31st at Benton United Presbyterian Church, Market  Street, Benton, with her pastor and longtime friend the Rev. Allen Lumpkin officiating.  A short graveside service will then be held at Benton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Benton Presbyterian Church or to the Northern Columbia County Cultural and Community Center, Third St., Benton.