Elaine Pletcher Hanna's Obituary
Meriam Elaine Pletcher Hanna, 97, of Wilson, NC passed away Thursday, December 12, 2024. She was born July 23, 1927, in Blanchard, PA to Hayes Allen Pletcher and Pauline Glossner Pletcher.
While still in high school, Elaine contributed to the World War II effort as a “Rosie the Riveter,” the rank of women who worked as female defense workers when the young men were drafted into military service. At the end of the war, she completed business school which led her to work as an administrative secretary and a bookkeeper. She retired as a church secretary.
Elaine and her husband moved to St. Petersburg, FL as newlyweds in 1949, where they raised their two daughters and lived for over 60 years before moving to Dover, FL and then North Carolina.
Elaine was a devoted Christian woman who gave dedicated service throughout her life, especially through the education, women’s, financial, hospitality and visitation ministries of Mirror Lake Christian Church and then Palm Lake Christian Church in St. Petersburg, where she served as a Deacon and Elder.
Throughout her life, Elaine was a prolific volunteer, first in the many activities of her daughters – scouting, music, chaperoning, and transporting. In retirement, she and Les gave a day each week to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where she logged over 6,000 hours of service. They were regulars in supporting CROP walks and other charitable events. Her hobbies of cooking, sewing and raising orchids were often seen in her gifts and service to others.
Most of all, Elaine will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 70 years, C. Leslie Hanna, Jr., her parents and her sister, Martha Ann Winters.
Elaine is survived by her two daughters Linda Hanna Walling (Gary) of Wilson, NC and Judy Ann Hanna of Tampa, FL; grandchildren Todd Carson (Julie) of California, Colleen Beinhauer (Mike) of Florida, Kristen Walling (Jeff) of Maryland, and Ryan Walling (Ali) of Colorado; four great-grandchildren Atticus and Kai Carson, and Paul and Henry Beinhauer; and her brother, Lewis Pletcher of Florida. She leaves behind a host of friends, as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and other family members.
The memorial service held at on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Palm Lake Christian Church in St. Petersburg. The interment will precede the service at 12:00 noon at Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be sent to Palm Lake Christian Church, (5401 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33710), or the C. Leslie and Elaine P. Hanna Endowment Fund at the Christian Church Foundation (P. O. Box 1007, Indianapolis, IN 46206).
Arrangements are in the care of Memorial Park Cemetery, 5750 – 49th St No, St. Petersburg, FL 33709.
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