Doreen Fae Christopher Dew Kauffman

Doreen Fae Christopher Dew Kauffman, 84, of Waynesburg, Pa. and formerly of Harrisburg, Pa., died at 7:25 P.M. on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, in the home of her sister, Shirley Christopher Romine of Waynesburg. She was born April 23, 1924, at Pisgah, Bruceton, Preston County, W. Va., a daughter of the late Mary Charlotte (O'Neal) and Kermit Ray Christopher. Mrs. Kauffman attended Point Marion High School for three years, graduated from Jefferson District High School, attended Waynesburg College and was a member of the former Muddy Creek Presbyterian Church. In 1943, she moved to New York City where she attended Columbia University and the Traphagan School of Drama where she developed her talents in drama and music. While employed by the Asiatic Petroleum Corporation, she sang with the Rockefeller Center Choristers for eight years and was active with and served on the board of directors of the Shell Playhouse, a drama group of Shell Oil Company. On June 27, 1948, Doreen married Guy Richard Dew, of St. Joseph, Missouri and in 1951, the couple moved to Harrisburg where he became general manager of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publisher's Association (PNPA). Doreen served as coordinator of women's activities at conventions, conferences and study workshops for the PNPA. Public relations duties with the PNPA afforded the Dews the privilege of visiting the White House under Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan and to travel extensively, both domestically and abroad. Mr. Dew passed away October 9, 1980. On September 10, 1989, Doreen married Glenn Alvin Kauffman, a native of Johnstown, Pa. and a former management analyst in the Governor's office in Harrisburg. He passed away on November 18, 2007. Mrs. Kauffman was a member of the Market Square Presbyterian Church and the Motet Choir and was active in the Camp Micheaux Youth Program. She was active with the Girl Scouts of the USA, the Republican Women's Council in Harrisburg for many years and attended the Inaugural Ball for President George R. Bush. Mrs. Kauffman was also a member of the Colonial Country Club and past president of "Chit Chat" Women's Group. Mrs. Kauffman served 27 years on the board of directors of the National Garden Club, Inc. and in several capacities on the Central Atlantic Region Board. She was a past president of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania, serving in district, regional and state chairman capacities and was a contributing writer for The National Gardener. Mrs. Kauffman served as publicity chairman for the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc., the largest organization of its type in the world. In recognition of her civic activities, Mrs. Kauffman was named in the 1972 - 1973 Edition of Who's Who of American Women. She received numerous Presidential citations for her chairmanship achievements and enjoyed calligraphy and preparing certificates and awards for many organizations. Mrs. Kauffman researched her family genealogy and traced 13 generations back to 1682 when pioneer ancestors William Clark Taylor and Allen Robinette arrived in Pennsylvania with William Penn on the ship "Friendship." Surviving are two sisters, Marie C. Simmons of Waynesburg and Shirley C. Romine and her husband, Harold of Dallas, Tex.; five brothers, Larry Christopher and his wife, Peggy of Casa Grande, Ariz., Eldon Christopher of Waynesburg and Sheldon Christopher and his companion, Linda Litton, John Christopher and his wife, Dixie and Gary Christopher and his wife, Helen, all of Carmichaels and 22 nieces and nephews. Deceased are four sisters, her twin, Kathleen Rae Christopher, Lois Wogksch Kimpel, Eugenia C. Kuran and Dixie Robinson and a brother, Kermit Ray Christopher, Jr. Family and friends are welcome from 2 to 9 P.M. on Friday in the Yoskovich Funeral Home, Carmichaels, Pa. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 24, 2008 in the Greene Valley Presbyterian Church, 104 East Greene Street, Carmichaels with the Rev. P. Keith Larson, the Rev. Harold O. Kelley and the Rev. David Barrett officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in the Village of Pisgah, Bruceton Mills, Preston County, W. Va. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the National Garden Club, Inc., 4401 Magnolia Ave., St. Louis, MO 63001.