PORT ROYAL - Alma E. Groninger, 98, of Main Street, Port Royal, died at 1:31 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in the emergency room of Lewistown Hospital.

Born June 14, 1911, in Normal, Ill., she was a daughter of the Rev. H.G. Swope and Myrtle (Downs) Swope Meyer. Her husband, Frank L. Groninger, preceded her in death on April 27, 1985.

Surviving are: a son, Robert D. Groninger and wife Sherrie, of Millerstown; four grandchildren, Arbie J. Groninger, Frank L. Groninger, Alma E. Groninger and Don D. Groninger; and five great-grandchildren.

She was the last of her family, having been preceded in death by a sister, Naomi Swope Mitchell.

Alma was a 1928 graduate of the Port Royal High School and a 1933 graduate of Rust Hall Girls School, Washington, D.C.

In early life, she was a teacher, an admitting clerk at Lewistown Hospital and co-owner of Spruce Hill Lunch.

Mrs. Groninger retired from the Juniata Valley Bank, Port Royal after 12 years of service.

She was a member of the Mexico United Presbyterian Church where she was an organist for many years and also at the Rex Funeral Home. She also regularly attended the Thompsontown Baptist Church.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, at Rex Funeral Home, Port Royal, with Pastor Ted Kostich and Pastor Crystal Lyde officiating. Interment will be in Adams Cemetery, Walker Township, Juniata County.

Family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mexico United Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 387, Port Royal, PA 17082 or the Building Fund of the Thompsontown Baptist Church, 269 Birch Drive, Thompsontown, PA 17094.