Rodney I. Kerr

Rodney I. Kerr, 84 of Carmichaels, Pa., died unexpectedly at 11:50 P.M. on Friday, September 25, 2009 at the Southwest Regional Medical Center, Waynesburg, Pa. He was born May 7, 1925 in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pa., a son of the late George Rex and Elizabeth (Frost) Kerr. Mr. Kerr entered the U. S. Army in November of 1943 and served with of the 739th Field Artillery Battalion of the U. S. Army. His company was sent to the European Theater of Operations in July of 1944 where he was made a Corporal and awarded five battle stars during his tour of duty. Mr. Kerr was a member of American Legion Post 816, Rices Landing, Pa. Mr. Kerr was a lifetime resident of Carmichaels and a 1943 graduate of Cumberland Township High School. He worked as a plumbing and heating contractor in the local area and then became a mechanic at the Duquesne Light Warwick Mine at Greensboro, Pa. In 1955, Mr. Kerr became a rural mail carrier for the U. S. Postal Service and retired in 1983 after twenty-eight years of service. He was last employed as a school bus driver for Haulit, Inc. until 1992. Mr. Kerr was a member of the former First Presbyterian Church of Carmichaels, now the Greene Valley Presbyterian Church, since the age of twelve and has served the Church in the offices of Deacon, Trustee and Elder. In 2007, he was bestowed the honor of Elder Emeritus. Mr. Kerr was also active with the Church choir as long as his health permitted. Mr. Kerr was a Past Master of Valley Lodge No. 459, F. & A. M., Masontown, Pa.; Past Thrice Potent Master of the Uniontown Lodge of Perfection; a member of the Pittsburgh Council Princes of Jerusalem, Pittsburgh Chapter of Rose Croix and Pennsylvania Consistory, Pittsburgh. In 1985, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award by the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. On September 26, 2000, Mr. Kerr was coroneted a 33rd degree Mason in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the York Rite of Freemasonry, Mr. Kerr was a Past High Priest of Union Royal Arch Chapter No. 165, Uniontown, Pa.; a Past Illustrious Master of Washington Council No. 1; a Past Commander of the Uniontown Commandery No. 49 and St. Omer's Commandery No. 7 and was awarded the York Cross of Honor in 1994. Mr. Kerr was also a member of Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.; a Past Deputy of Uniontown Caravan No. 9; a member the Tall Cedars of Lebanon; the Knight Masons; Roland C. Fisher Mark Lodge No. 401, Golden Triangle York Rite College No. 32 and the Allied Masonic Degrees. He was particularly proud of his work with the Shriner's Circus. In addition to his Masonic memberships and activities, Mr. Kerr was honored by the Carmichaels Lions Club as the 1987 Carmichaels Man of the Year and by Carmichaels Grange No. 1389 as the Granger of the Year in 1999. He was a seventh degree member of the State and National Grange Clubs. Mr. Kerr was a member and past president of the Greene County Chapter of the Isaac Walton League. Mr. Kerr was a honorary member of the Carmichaels and Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Company where he became a member on August 4, 1950 and actively served the Company continuously for fifty years as a hose man, engineer, chaplain and first and second assistant chiefs. He was also a member of the Greene County Firemen's Association, the Western Pennsylvania Firemen's Association and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs Association, Inc. Mr. Kerr was known in Carmichaels to use his varied skills to help his friends and neighbors with their heating and electrical problems and to drive them to their many doctor's visits. On August 7, 1948, he married Lois "Boots" Rafter, who died January 1, 1989. On December 27, 1991, he married Virginia (Grim) Curtis, who survives. Also surviving are a son, William R. Kerr of Markleysburg, Pa.; a daughter, Deborah G. Crouse and her husband, Lewis of Sycamore, Pa.; two step sons, John R. Curtis and his wife, Cindy of Rices Landing, Pa. and Richard A. Curtis and his wife, Ellen of Jeannette, Pa.; a step daughter, Karen B. King and her husband, James of Waynesburg; eight grandchildren, Ruth E. Grooms, Darren Paul Crouse, Travis Cole Crouse, Lisa Garber, Lynn Zalar, Tommy Curtis, A. J. Curtis and Jeremiah Lewis; six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Deceased in addition to his first wife are three brothers, J. Allan Kerr, G. Raymond Kerr and Albert Kerr and two sisters, Ruth E. Kerr and Mary Hoge. Family and friends were from 7 to 9 P.M. on Monday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. on Tuesday in the Yoskovich Funeral Home, Carmichaels, Pa. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 in the Greene Valley Presbyterian Church, 104 East Greene Street, Carmichaels. The Rev. P. Keith Larson and the Rev. Harold O. Kelley officiated. Interment followed at Greene County Memorial Park. The Carmichaels and Cumberland Township Volunteer Fire Company conducted a memorial service at 7:30 P. M. on Monday in the funeral home. Carmichaels Grange No. 1389 conducted a memorial service at 7:00 P. M. on Tuesday in the funeral home, followed by Masonic services at 7:30 P.M. by Valley Lodge No. 459, F. and A. M. The family suggested that memorial contributions be made to either the building fund of the Greene Valley Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 363, Carmichaels, PA 15320 or to the American Heart Association, 5455 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43214. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rodney I. Kerr, please visit our flower store.