Myrtle Marie (Linderman) Council

Myrtle Marie (Linderman) Council, 99, Ephrata, died peacefully, with her daughter by her side, December 12, 2023 at 8:21 PM, in her apartment at Keystone Villa, following a brief battle with cancer.

She was a devoted wife to Conway Beal Council (deceased 2009), married June 28, 1947, at the Reformed Church on New Holland Avenue in Shillington.

Born February 10, 1924 at 8:52 AM in her grandmother’s house, in Gibraltar, PA, she was the daughter of the late Howard Yerger Linderman and Ruth Elizabeth (Bitler) Linderman.

Myrtle was a 1941 graduate of Shillington High School, attended the Reading Business Institute, Wyomissing Institute of Fine Arts, and took classes at Albright, Penn State and Reading Area Community College, together amassing two years of college credits.

She was a veteran of WWII, having entered the Navy WAVES on Feb. 10, 1944 in Philadelphia, PA, graduated from US Navy Yeoman School and stationed at the Fleet Post Office in New York City, handling mail for the Atlantic Fleet.  She was honorably discharged July 12, 1946 in New York City.

She worked at the Reading Eagle-Times and Jacobs Aircraft Engineering Company.  After WWII, she worked as a legal secretary at Edelman’s Law Office, Reading, PA.  She was also a Professional Registered Parliamentarian, serving many national, state, and local organizations since 1976.

She was a member of the National Parliamentarians Association (board ‘82-’84), PA Association of Parliamentarians (president ‘82-’84, board ‘96-’98), Berks Unit of PAP (founder and president), a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (board ‘84-’94), PA Federation of Women’s Clubs (president ‘84-’86), Southeastern District of PFWC (director ‘76-’78), Berks County Federation of Women’s Club (president ‘72-’74), Women’s Club of Shillington (president ‘88-’90), Junior Women’s Club of Shillington, Berks County Federation of Past Presidents Club (president), and member of Epsilon Sigma Omicron Society.  Most recently, at Keystone Villa, she volunteered with the Veterans, Garden and Library clubs.

She was a lifetime member of the Immanuel UCC, Shillington, where she was a youth group leader, Altar Guild Chairman, founder/leader of the Shawl Ministry for 10 years and kitchen helper.

She was an avid world traveler and enjoyed volunteering, genealogy, cooking, sewing, card and board games, crossword and jigsaw puzzles with friends and family, and cheering for the Phillies.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Marie Council; two sisters, Louise Bitler Pullis; and Harriet Ruth Burkhart (Dick); nieces, Linderman Burkhart; Deborah Scott (Bill); Cynthia Moauro (Casey); nephew, Jeffrey Burkhart (Mary-Ann); four grandchildren, Heather Marie Wessel; Brenda Anne Spackman (John); Heidi Michelle Kirsch (Thomas); and Brian Langan Wessel (Aurora); and six great-grandchildren, John James Spackman; Lillian Rose Kirsch; Bryce Beal Spackman; Aaron Thomas Kirsch; Matthew Langan Wessel; and Calvin Robert Wessel.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Glenn Woodrow Linderman in 2015 and her nephew, Craig Robert Pullis in 2023.

A celebration of life service will be Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 11 AM in Immanuel United Church of Christ, 99 S. Waverley St., Shillington, PA 19607, with Rev. Megan Huesgen, her Pastor, officiating.  Inurnment, with full military honors, will take place in Fairview Cemetery, 375 New Holland Ave., Shillington at 10:00 AM.  The family will receive friends immediately following services in the church fellowship hall.  The livestream (11 AM) and recorded YouTube link is provided herein for those who cannot attend in person: bit.ly/48oeWhZ

Please make contributions in memory of Myrtle Council to Immanuel UCC at the above address.  The Klee Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Shillington, is assisting the Council family. www.kleefuneralhome.com

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