Celia Bonner Davis Church, 102, of State College, passed away at Foxdale Village on December 19, 2020. She was born July 9, 1918, to Hartwell and Willie (Grissette) Davis. She grew up in Alabama, where she was born in Morgan County in the same house as her father and grandmother, was valedictorian of her high school class in Decatur, and majored in English and minored in history at Athens College.
After college, Celia moved to Washington, DC, where she married George Luther Church in 1942. They lived and raised their five children in Paoli, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, where she enjoyed golf, bridge, family vacations, and travel with her husband. She was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church.
Celia and George retired to Savannah, Georgia in 1980. They enjoyed golf, bridge, bicycling, bowling, continued learning with Elderhostel, and visits to and from their expanding family. In 1994, they moved to Foxdale Village for their second retirement and joined the State College Presbyterian Church. George and Celia were married for 55 years.
Celia was predeceased by her husband, son (George, Jr.), sister, and first grandchild. She is survived by her daughters, Ellen Coffman of State College, Elizabeth Telford (Jeffery), of Michigan, Alice Parrish of Virginia, Sarah Ford (John) of Virginia, and daughter-in-law, Cathy Church of New Jersey, as well as beloved grand- and great-grandchildren, niece, and extended family.
She will be remembered as a gracious lady of quiet spirit, deep devotion, sweet disposition, and sharp mind. She lived and raised her children by the teachings of her faith and passed on her love of learning, literature, the arts, and travel.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Contributions in her memory may be made to Foxdale Village Community Fund, 500 E. Marylyn Ave., State College, PA 16801 or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104.
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