Leslie A. Harper

Leslie Adams Harper



Leslie A. Harper, 58, of 530 Miller Road, Franklin, wife of Bob Harper, died suddenly on Thursday morning, February 3, 2011. She was born on March 12, 1952, and was the daughter of Robert C. Adams and Mary Jane Adams, also of Franklin.



Leslie was a 1970 graduate of Franklin Area High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Clarion University in 1974. After raising a family and working as a real estate agent in the Franklin area, Leslie returned to Clarion University, receiving her B.S. in Elementary Education in 1995. For the last fourteen years Leslie was employed at the Franklin Area Middle School, teaching 8th grade English for the majority of her career. Leslie met some wonderful teachers, and she cared deeply about each and every ?kid? she knew there. She considered teaching to be both an honor and a privilege, and there was nothing she wouldn?t have done for her school.



Leslie enjoyed numerous outdoor activities, especially tennis and golf. She was a regular volunteer at the youth golf league at Sleep Hollow Golf Course. Leslie was a president of the Franklin Junior Women?s Club and a former member of the Hospital Auxiliary. Leslie also served as the Student Council Advisor to her 8th grade class and ran the scoreboard at varsity, junior varsity, and middle school basketball games. Leslie was an avid bridge player and participated in several area bridge clubs.



On June 28, 1975, Leslie married Bob Harper at the Grace United Methodist Church in Rocky Grove. They were married for 35 years, during which the enjoyed countless vacations to New England, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. They also made regular trips to Van Buren Bay in New York with their friends and family.



Leslie has two children, Ian Harper of Los Angeles, CA, and Lisa Harper of Cary, NC, as well as her black Labrador retriever, Libby. In addition to her husband and children, she is also survived by her parents, by her brother Rod Adams, his son and daughter-in-law Jason and Crissy Adams, and his wife Anita and her children, and by her sister Jody Biddle and her husband Bob and their children Erin and Casey Biddle. Also surviving are her mother-in-law Helen Harper, her brother-in-law Doug Harper and his wife Debi and their children, her sister-in-law Carol Misoff and her husband Mike and their children, and her sister-in-law Linda Gillespie and her children.



Additionally, Leslie is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles.



Leslie was preceded in death by her father-in-law Jack Harper and her yellow Labrador retriever, Duchess.



Leslie?s family will receive friends from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Huff Chapel, 312 W. Park St. Funeral services will be held in the Grace United Methodist Church, 350 Front Street, Franklin at 11 a.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Ed Gresick, pastor of the church officiating.



Interment will be made in the Graham Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation, Attn: Donor Services, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas TX 75265-030 or the Venango County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1045, Oil City PA 16301.