Erma French Yerkes

Erma Jane Yerkes (French) September 27, 1929 - February 12, 2023

Beloved wife to the late Ralph Earl Yerkes, mother to Ralph E. Yerkes, Jr. and our (predeceased) Pamela Ostheimer Yerkes, Mark A. Yerkes and Karen Maser Yerkes, Christopher D. Yerkes and Carlyn Bacher Yerkes, Wesley K. Yerkes and Carol Townsend Yerkes and Sue-Ellen J. Lanholm (Yerkes) and Carl Lanholm III with 14 grand children, 33 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild.

Erma graduated from Temple  University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1953 and became a teacher in the Abington School System for years. 

She also was a long time member of the Old York Road Symphony Orchestra where she played viola.

Erma enjoyed music and she loved to be involved and volunteer in her community.

She was a member of the Abington Presbyterian Church where she also played music, volunteered in Civic Club and Meals on Wheels or the Pantry and enjoyed her Come Doubles Club.

Erma was a long time member of the American Red Cross and was recognized for her great work and years of service. 

She ran the Vacation Bible School for years at Disston Memorial Presbyterian Church where she was married and raised her children.

Erma loved to bowl with her ladies at Del Ennis Lanes and her church teams at Thunderbird Lanes throughout the years. She was pretty good too!

She enjoyed vacations in Ocean City NJ and Wildwood NJ with family and friends. She and Ralph Sr. were once members with the Ocean City NJ Shuffleboard Club.

Erma loved her Philly sports teams, she finally caved in to Cable TV in her 80’s so she could watch her Phillies! She loved her Eagles and Sixers as well and was rooting for them every week.

She passed on Sunday night during the Super Bowl with her Eagles playing. 

She was surrounded by family for the past few weeks as she became weak from an illness which she did not fully recover from. 

She was able to see all of her children this past month with visits from down south and local and she was able to meet her new great grand babies that could visit.

Erma was a beautiful, kind and loving mother to us all and put up with a lot of shenanigans from our Yerkes Circus. She loved every minute, and she will be missed deeply.

Services will be Friday, March 3, 2023 at Abington Presbyterian Church in Abington (see link below).

Reception from 10-11am, service at 11am, more information to follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, Erma would like donations to go to the Old York Road Symphony Orchestra, a volunteer orchestra where she spent playing viola for many years, and the Abington Presbyterian Church where she volunteered and was involved in several groups.

https://www.oldyorkroadsymphony.org/

https://apcusa.org/

Arrangements by John J. Bryers Funeral Home, www.bryersfh.com

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