Michael A. Jump. Age 55, resident of 165 Grant Street, Cambridge Springs, PA died Sunday, November 30, 2008 at Hamot Medical Center in Erie after a long illness. Born in Meadville, PA on August 21, 1953, he was a son of the late Herbert Jump and Laura Powell Jump.
Jump, Michael A.Michael attended Townville High School and was a member of the Class of 1972 and where he played football. Mike was mentored by the late Max E. Pond, who taught him to drive trucks. He was then able to become a long distance truck driver, driving for over 32 years and retiring in September of 2007 because of a health disability. In that period of time he never had a major accident and was quite remarkable in seemingly knowing every highway number and every turn and intersection in roads across the entire United States. Michael was a good conversationalist and story teller and made friends easily. He enjoyed Labrador dogs.
Surviving Michael was his best friend – Penny Gustavson of Pleasantville and her daughter – Courtney DeDionisio whom he considered to be his very own daughter of heart. Additional family members include two sisters – Laura Lea Weaver of Erie and Marlene Werner and her husband, Quinn of Blooming Valley and a brother – Daniel Jump and his wife, Sandra of Cambridge Springs. Nieces and nephews surviving include – Denise Bradley, Brenda Aylsworth, Dan S. Jump, Julie Slagle, Matt Werner, Rebecca Michael, and Amy Swonger. Additionally there are many aunts, uncles, cousins, great nieces and nephews who survive. Michael was particularly fond of his great nieces and nephews and assigned them each with an interesting nickname.
Friends may call at the Van Matre Family Funeral Home in Cambridge Springs on Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and are invited to attend funeral services there on Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. Reverend Jeff Wilson, pastor of Christ Evangelical Free Church in Saegertown will officiate. Interment will be in Cambridge Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Western Crawford County United Way as Michael was particularly grateful for the assistance the Make A Difference Program, part of the United Way, gave to him. The mailing address is 415 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335.