Florence Laura Krell Brubaker, 92, of Reading passed away peacefully on Monday, February 29, 2016. Flora was born on October 20, 1923, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 67 years, Frederick Oliver Brubaker.

While growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, Flora was an active member of St. Mary’s Church. Flora loved skiing, skating, boating, fishing and all of the wonderful times on the St. Mary’s River and the Great Lakes; especially, the cabin with family and friends.

Flora played in championship basketball games both in the Soo and Canada. She graduated from the Loretta Academy with athletic and academic honors. After graduation, Flora started her career on the Great Lakes as the Personnel Director and Assistant to the General Manager of the Sault Coal and Mining Company.

During World War II, Flora met Captain Brubaker and they planned to marry. The Captain and his men were told to immediately ship out, so “The Orders of the Day” became their wedding day January 31, 1944. Before Fred was sent to the African and European theater, they lived in Teaticket, Massachusetts for special training at Fort Edwards. After the war, Fred attended the Dickinson School of Law, and Flora worked as the Assistant to the General and the Director of Civilian Personnel at the War College in Carlisle, PA. When Fred graduated, the couple moved to Reading, Fred’s hometown, where Flora worked in Civilian Personnel at the Reading Air Base, Carl E. Spatz Field.

Flora soon began her very active life as a volunteer in Reading. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church and the President of the Mother’s Club at 13th and Union Elementary School where she met many wonderful friends. Some of her major volunteer work included the Federated Woman’s Club of Reading. She was a founding member of the Women’s Civic Club of Reading. She served the club in many capacities including President. Flora was a Key Leader in the Campaign to build the Planetarium at the Reading Public Museum serving all the school children and the community. Flora helped to raise the Kick Start Contribution of $100,000 from the Women’s Civic Club for the Planetarium Fund. Flora served on the Board of the Berks County Heart Association for many years. For years, she organized the annual Door-to-Door Fund Drive for the Heart Association and for the March of Dimes, involving hundreds of volunteers.

Flora was pleased to volunteer at the Reading Women’s Exchange, sponsored by The Junior League of Reading. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Fred and Flora enjoyed their membership in the Wyomissing Club and the Mountain Springs Association.

She will be missed by her family and friends, too many to count. We will all treasure the wonderful memories; the bridge groups, farm fun and shore to only name a few.

No matter how many hats Flora wore, she always said that everyone was a puzzle piece that made up her wonderful life. The family wants to thank everyone who loved her. She always loved the Lord, her family and friends with an open heart.

Flora is survived by her loving Sister, Nori Krell Thompson of Tacoma, Washington; her two loving Daughters, Susan Shannon Brubaker Innes and husband Franklin Robinson Innes of Towanda, PA and Barbara Lynn Brubaker Wyke of Pittsburgh, PA; seven loving Grandchildren, Abigail Lynn Wyke Kendall and husband Kevin Matthew Kendall of Harrison City, PA, Wilhelmina Shannon Innes of Albany, NY, Benjamin Oliver Wyke and wife Lisa Dawn Wyke of Manor, PA, Samuel Robinson Innes of Playa Del Rey, CA, Marguerite Brubaker Innes Fuller and husband Adam Reed Fuller of New Milford, PA, Kate Brubaker Wyke of Hoboken, NJ, John Brubaker Wyke of Pittsburgh, PA; five beautiful Great-Grandchildren, Georgia Lynn Kendall and Olivia Rae Kendall of Harrison City, PA, Mason Oliver Wyke of Hoboken, NJ, Hudson Andrew Wyke of Manor, PA, Robinson Gerard Innes of Playa Del Rey, CA; also many wonderful nieces and nephews and Grandnieces and Grandnephews that loved calling her “Great Aunt Flora.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, March 7, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 1018 North 8th Street, Reading, PA 19604. Viewings will be held Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Henninger Funeral Home, Inc., 229 North 5th Street, Reading, PA 19601.

Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery following Mass.

Contributions in Flora’s memory may be made to NAEG Planetarium at the Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Road, Reading, PA 19611; Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County, P.O. Box 245, Douglassville, PA 19518; The Children’s Home of Reading, 1010 Centre Avenue, Reading, PA 19601; American Heart Association, 968 Postal Road, Suite 110, Allentown, PA 18109.

www.henningerfuneralhome.com

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