Grandpa Furr: 1926 - 2010

Archie (Art) Lee Furr, 84, passed away Monday, September 20, 2010 at Harrisburg Hospital. Born June 16, 1926 in Stanley County, North Carolina, Art was the son of the late Alanzo and Lona (Turner) Furr. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in engineering and completed his post-graduate studies at Syracuse University. Art was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, having served on the lighter-than-air blimp squadron in Lakehurst, New Jersey. He was married to Anita Perrucci on December 29, 1951.

Art began his professional career in New York working for IBM. In 1965, he relocated from Port Chester, New York to Pennsylvania as part of his promotion to General Manager of the IBM plant in Mechanicsburg. Beginning in 1975, Art spent several years in Paris, France as an expatriate for IBM, returning again to Mechanicsburg in 1977. After 32 years at IBM, Art qualified for an early retirement. He later moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he accepted a position as Director of Logistics at Wang Laboratories. After several years at Wang, Art moved to Anaheim, California where he was Vice President at Anacomp. After leaving Anacomp, Art returned once again to Mechanicsburg where he spent the remainder of his retirement in real estate sales.

Four generations of Furrs—Art, Larry, Larry, and Ava—December 21, 2007

Art was a member of the Silver Spring Presbyterian Church and the Mechanicsburg Club. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Anita on March 15, 1997; and sister, Barbara Ann Allman. Art is survived by his wife, Kathleen (Yeager) Furr; four children, Cheri Fisher of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Durand Furr of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, Larry Furr of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and Teri Furr of Hoboken, New Jersey; five grandsons, Larry, Ryan, Daniel, Jamison, and Jordan; a granddaughter, Annie; and three great grandchildren, Ava, Abigail, and Christian.

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These are some pictures from Art and Anita's wedding...

The bride and groom


Anita getting ready


Anita with her parents Cosimo and Lee


Arriving at the wedding ceremony


Anita being escorted by her father Cosimo

And here are some pictures of Art while he was with IBM...

Grandma Gibson: 1917 - 2010

Phyllis Johnson Olsen Gibson, 92, passed away March 25, 2010 at Atria Assisted Living Center in Sandy, Utah from congestive heart failure. She was born October 30, 1917, in Hatch, Idaho, to Frederick and Estella Simons Johnson. She married her sweetheart, Harley George Olsen on December 6, 1939 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were married 34 years before Harley passed away on February 26, 1973. They raised four children, three daughters and one son. Phyllis was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in many music and leadership callings. An accomplished soloist, Phyllis also enjoyed music, crocheting, needlework, gardening, and reading.

Grandma Gibson with great-grandchildren Christian and Ava—February 3, 2010.

She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and spent many happy hours with them. Phyllis was an active member in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Grace Literary Club, and the LPN Organization. She worked for many years at the Caribou County Memorial Hospital. She married William Doris Gibson on November 15, 1979. They were married for 26 years before Doris passed away on April 15, 2005. Phyllis is survived by three of her children, Sherrie (Duane) Rubink, Helen (Joe) Harris, and Fredrick (Kristy) Olsen; 19 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and one sister, JoMarie Smith. Preceded in death by her other siblings, daughter Louette (Doug) Trotter, and grandson Jed Olsen.