Clara J. Saxton

   Clara J. Saxton, age 89, of Tionesta, PA, died on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at the Rouse Warren County Home in Youngsville, PA.  She was born May 14, 1935 in Torpedo, PA (Warren County), daughter of the late Charley and Bertha (Eastman) Benedict. 

   Clara graduated from Youngsville High School in 1954.  On May 31, 1958, at the Tionesta Church of God in Tionesta, she married Hubert E. Saxton who died May 26, 2014.  She attended the Tionesta Church of God where she helped to establish an after school program for elementary students known as “Release Time” when the church was located on Vine St. across from the Tionesta Elementary School.   She was also active with the Tionesta Church of God Missions group and the Women of the Church of God…her God, family, and church were always close in her heart.  Her and her husband owned and operated Hubert Saxton Water Well Drilling of Tionesta, Clara was the bookkeeper.  Raised on her childhood Homestead farm, Clara possessed great knowledge and skills in cooking, gardening, preserving food, animal caring, driving tractors, and baling hay.  She and her husband worked side by side as they owned and operated the Saxton Family Farm on German Hill in Tionesta.  Clara had worked previously for GLF Feed Store of Youngsville as a bookkeeper and by the Brokenstraw Area School District as a secretary to the Superintendent. 

   Surviving are two sons, Ray H. Saxton and his wife Denise of Tionesta; Charles I. Saxton and his wife Nicole, also of Tionesta.  Two daughters, Yvonne E. “Vonnie” Michali and her husband Denny of Kent, Ohio; Julie J. Fryman of Fairbanks, Alaska.  Eleven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.  Clara cherished her family.

   She was one of nine children and is survived only by a brother and a sister, Roy Benedict and his wife Judy of Lottsville, Pa, and sister Ruth Hagg of Youngsville.  A sister-in-law survives, Loretta Benedict also of Youngsville. There are numerous nieces and nephews.   

   In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by five brothers, Allen, Lavern, Lee, Clarence, and Lewis Benedict.   One sister is deceased, Dora Dygan. 

   Friends will be received at the Norman J. Wimer Funeral Home of Tionesta on Sunday from noon to 2pm, and then from 5 to 7pm.  Friends will then be received on Monday, October 14, 2024 at the Tionesta Church of God from 10 – 11am at which time a celebration of Clara’s life will be held at 11am with good friend Retired Reverend David A. Hart officiating.  Burial will be alongside her husband at the Mt. Collins Cemetery, Tionesta. 

   In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Rouse Warren County Home Memorial Fund 701 Rouse Ave. Youngsville, PA  16371, or to the Tionesta Church of God Missions PO Box 247 Tionesta, Pa 16353.