Lulu DeGroat (1902-2002)

Lulu DeGroat (1902-2002) She Lived to be 99 Years Old (b. December 27, 1902, Summitville, Sullivan County, New York, USA - d. July 31, 2002, New York State Veteran's Home, Oxford, New York, USA)

Birth

 * Alva Taylor DeGroat (1876-1928)
 * Mary Catherine Rhodes (1879-1918)

Siblings

 * Maude C. DeGroat (1899-1988) who married James Albert Brundage (1893-1955); Susie Ellen DeGroat; Mabel M. DeGroat; Nelson Luther DeGroat (1906-1998) who married Anna X; Daria F. DeGroat; and Kenneth DeGroat.

Marriage
She married Percy R. Skinner (1897-1950) in 1915.

Children
They had the following children: Robert Skinner (1919-1924) who died as a youth; and Harold Skinner (1920-1945) a lieutenant who was killed in action at Corregidor in the Philippines during World War II.

Obituary
Her obituary appeared in the Sullivan County Democrat on August 13, 2002 and reads as follows: "Lulu Skinner of Westbrookville, a homemaker, and a longtime area resident, died Wednesday, July 31, 2002, at the New York State Veteran's Home in Oxford. She was 99 years of age. The daughter of the late Alva T. and Mary Rhodes DeGroat, she was born December 27, 1902, in Summitville. She was the widow of Percy R. Skinner. A Gold Star Mother, her son Harold was killed in action during World War II in Corregidor, Philippines. In a family statement, it was said, "She will always be remembered for organizing and preparing church roast beef and turkey dinners." She is survived by Denege Patterson Blood and Donna Patterson Torchia Kellum and their families; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by another son, Robert, who died at the age of 5; three sisters, Maude, Mabel and Susan; two brothers, Nelson and Kenneth, and her longtime companion, Donald L. Patterson. A committal service will be held Saturday, August 31, 2002, at the Westbrookville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Westbrookville United Methodist Church, Westbrookville, N.Y. 12785 or to the NYS Veteran's Home, 4211 NYS Route 220, Oxford, N.Y. 13830."