Ray M. Zilhaver, age 82, resident of 27253 Beckman Road, Cambridge Springs, PA died Monday, April 7, 2008 at Meadville Medical Center, Meadville, PA after several months of failing health. A son of the late Alton A. Zilhaver and I. Christine Beckman Zilhaver, he was born in Rockdale Township, Crawford County on April 3, 1926 and lived there all of his life. On November 21, 1945 he married the former Lois A. Stafford and she survives.
Shortly following graduation from Cambridge Springs High School in 1944 he began dairy farming and also began employment with the US Post Office first as a substitute rural mail carrier and later as a fulltime mail carrier, retiring in 1983. He and his wife sold their farm in 1977 and they then enjoyed spending many winters in Florida. Ray was best known for his love of playing golf and he enjoyed most often playing at the Riverside Golf Course in Cambridge Springs or Venango Valley Golf Course. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing and particularly playing cards which was done at many family gatherings. He was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Drakes Mills.
Preceding Ray in death was a brother, Ross Zilhaver; three sisters – Marion Styborski; Betty Gene Doutt; and Marjorie Mitchell; an infant son – Dale and a grandson – Jeremy Atkin. Surviving family members include his wife, Lois, of 62 years of Cambridge Springs; three daughters – Sandra Mook of Cambridge Springs and her friend, Doug Bensink of Clymer, NY ; Linda Sayers and her husband, Jeffry of Waterford; and Valerie Atkin and her husband, Dennis of Cambridge Springs; two sons – Jeffrey Zilhaver of Meadville and Keith Zilhaver and his wife, Judy of Cambridge Springs; a sister – Ida May Right of Cambridge Springs; seven grandchildren – Jay Mook; Brian Zilhaver; Shane Machacek and his friend, Wendy Rotkovecz; Scott Zilhaver and his wife, Stephanie; Carmen McElfresh and her husband, Ehren; Kina Atkin; and Logan Atkin; and seven great grandchildren – J. D. Mook; Caylee Mook; Kenny Zilhaver; McKayla Zilhaver; Isaac McElfresh; Sydney Zilhaver; and Sophia McElfresh.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 and are invited to attend funeral services there on Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. Reverend Elsa Clark, pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church will officiate. Interment will be in Mitchell Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to the Jeremy Atkin Memorial Scholarship Fund, % Edinboro University Development Office, Edinboro, PA 16444; St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 25812 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Cambridge Springs, PA 16403, or Cambridge Area Volunteer Ambulance Service, 202 Venango Ave., Cambridge Springs, PA 16403.
Valerie,
My condolences on the loss of your father in 2008. I just learned of his passing while viewing the Van Matre web pages. Though it has been more than a year, losing a parent brings a grief that lingers and I am sure you must still miss him.