Kelpe, Florence Mae 1886-1976

KELPE, WHITE, EDWARDS, SNYDER, MCCLAIN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/25/2013 at 09:34:10

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
May 27, 1976

FLORENCE KELPE
RITES JUNE 2

Florence Mae Snyder Kelpe, 89, of Reston, Va., formerly of Grinnell, died Tuesday morning at St. Mary's Medical Center in Dunnloring, Va.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, at Hazelwood Cemetery, with the Rev. Philip J. Ramstad, pastor of the United Church of Christ-Congregational, officiating. Friends may call the Smith Funeral Home for additional information.

The daughter of Marcellus and Florence White Edwards, she was born Sept. 5, 1886, in Leadville, Colo. Her family moved to Kahoka, Mo. and later to Keokuk. She attended school in both communities.

She was married to Oswald S. "Ollie" Snyder in 1918, they, along with Mr. Snyder's brother Charles and his wife, opened Snyder Brothers Furniture and Undertaking, which they operated until 1943. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder later moved to St. Petersburg, Fla.

Mr. Snyder died in 1950 and Mrs. Snyder continued to make her home in St. Petersburg. In 1955, she was married to William T. Kelpe. Mr. Kelpe died in 1974. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Kelpe moved to Reston, Va., to be near her grandson. She was a member of the United Church of Christ-Congregational; Beulah Chapter No. 47, Order of Eastern Star; the Attawasis Club; and the country club.

She is survived by her grandson, Army Lt. Col. Charles Snyder McClain of Reston, Va., and two great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; a son, Oswald H. Snyder, who died in 1972; and a brother, Roy.