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Obituary of Caroline Petty Gehrken

CAROLINE PETTY GEHRKEN

Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Thursday, November 1, 2001 

Caroline Petty Gehrken died Oct. 31, 2001, after an extended illness. Born in Charleston, W.Va., April 12, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Laurence A. Petty and Virginia Jarrett Petty. 

A graduate of Charleston High School, she attended King Smith Studio School in Washington, D.C., and fulfilled one of her dreams by studying ballet at the School of American Ballet in New York City, under the direction of George Balachine. She also performed with the Radio City Corps de Ballet in New York City. Following her passion for ballet, she began the ``Caroline Petty School of Dance'' in Charleston, W.Va., and later also taught classes in Franklin, Va., and Savannah, Ga. She remained an avid balletomane throughout her life. 

As an artist, she painted furniture, tinware and glassware using the techniques of Early American Decoration. A combination of her creativity and her gift of artistic expression were displayed in her exquisite, and often thought-provoking flower arrangements. She enlightened her family and friends about the beauty found everywhere in this world. She shared with them the charm found in birds and their nests, animals, flowers, insects, and many of nature's odd creations. 

She served on the Altar Guild as a flower arranger for Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Franklin, Va., Christ Church in Savannah, Ga., and St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Courtland . She was a member of the Franklin Book Club, the Franklin Garden Club, the Gordonston Garden Club in Savannah, and the Junior League. 

She is survived by her husband, George A. Gehrken; five children, Sarah Page Stroud of Virginia Beach, Susan King of Marietta, Ga., Dr. G. Andrew Gehrken of Martinsville, Va., Caroline Hauser of Fort Washington, Pa., Anne Weldon Buck of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; and nine grandchildren, Robert Andrew Burgess of Fort Meyers, Fla., Zachary Blaine Stroud of Virginia Beach, Michael Charles King of Marietta, Ga., Emmett Andrew Gehrken, Greer Elaine Gehrken and Dylan Reid Gehrken, all of Martinsville, Va., Leigh Calvert Hauser and Blaine Randolph Hauser of Fort Washington, Pa., and Emily Gordon Buck of Mount Pleasant, S.C. 

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in her name to the School of American Ballet Endowment Fund, c/o Amy Rome, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-6592 in order to provide opportunities for aspiring dancers. 

A graveside service will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery , Courtland , with the Rev. James W. Browder III officiating. The family will receive friends at the residence following the service. Wright Funeral Home is in charge. 
Edition: FINAL
Section: LOCAL
Page: B7


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––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary –––

Caroline Petty Gehrken, a dedicated ballet teacher and artist, died 31 Oct 2001 at age 79. She inspired others through dance, floral arrangements, and her artistic creativity.

A graveside service was held 4 Nov 2001 at Riverside Cemetery, Courtland, with the Rev. James W. Browder III officiating. Family received friends at the residence following the service.

––– Transcript –––

CAROLINE PETTY GEHRKEN

Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Thursday, November 1, 2001

Caroline Petty Gehrken died 31 Oct 2001, after an extended illness. Born in Charleston, W.Va., 12 Apr 1922, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Laurence A. Petty and Virginia Jarrett Petty.

A graduate of Charleston High School, she attended King Smith Studio School in Washington, D.C., and fulfilled one of her dreams by studying ballet at the School of American Ballet in New York City, under the direction of George Balachine. She also performed with the Radio City Corps de Ballet in New York City. Following her passion for ballet, she began the "Caroline Petty School of Dance" in Charleston, W.Va., and later also taught classes in Franklin, Va., and Savannah, Ga. She remained an avid balletomane throughout her life.

As an artist, she painted furniture, tinware and glassware using the techniques of Early American Decoration. A combination of her creativity and her gift of artistic expression were displayed in her exquisite, and often thought-provoking flower arrangements. She enlightened her family and friends about the beauty found everywhere in this world. She shared with them the charm found in birds and their nests, animals, flowers, insects, and many of nature's odd creations.

She served on the Altar Guild as a flower arranger for Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Franklin, Va., Christ Church in Savannah, Ga., and St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Courtland. She was a member of the Franklin Book Club, the Franklin Garden Club, the Gordonston Garden Club in Savannah, and the Junior League.

She is survived by her husband, George A. Gehrken; five children, Sarah Page Stroud of Virginia Beach, Susan King of Marietta, Ga., Dr. G. Andrew Gehrken of Martinsville, Va., Caroline Hauser of Fort Washington, Pa., Anne Weldon Buck of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; and nine grandchildren, Robert Andrew Burgess of Fort Meyers, Fla., Zachary Blaine Stroud of Virginia Beach, Michael Charles King of Marietta, Ga., Emmett Andrew Gehrken, Greer Elaine Gehrken and Dylan Reid Gehrken, all of Martinsville, Va., Leigh Calvert Hauser and Blaine Randolph Hauser of Fort Washington, Pa., and Emily Gordon Buck of Mount Pleasant, S.C.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in her name to the School of American Ballet Endowment Fund, c/o Amy Rome, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-6592 in order to provide opportunities for aspiring dancers.

A graveside service will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery, Courtland, with the Rev. James W. Browder III officiating. The family will receive friends at the residence following the service. Wright Funeral Home is in charge.

––– Vital Statistics –––

|----------------------------------------|
| Name  | Caroline Petty Gehrken         |
| Age   | 79                             |
| Birth | 12 Apr 1922; Charleston, W.Va. |
| Death | 31 Oct 2001; Unknown           |
|----------------------------------------|

––– Table of Relationships –––

|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| Name                   | Relationship | Residence            |
|------------------------|--------------|----------------------|
| Caroline Petty Gehrken | Decedent     | Unknown              |
| George A. Gehrken      | Husband      | Unknown              |
| Sarah Page Stroud      | Child        | Virginia Beach, Va.  |
| Susan King             | Child        | Marietta, Ga.        |
| Dr. G. Andrew Gehrken  | Child        | Martinsville, Va.    |
| Caroline Hauser        | Child        | Fort Washington, Pa. |
| Anne Weldon Buck       | Child        | Mount Pleasant, S.C. |
| Robert Andrew Burgess  | Grandchild   | Fort Meyers, Fla.    |
| Zachary Blaine Stroud  | Grandchild   | Virginia Beach, Va.  |
| Michael Charles King   | Grandchild   | Marietta, Ga.        |
| Emmett Andrew Gehrken  | Grandchild   | Martinsville, Va.    |
| Greer Elaine Gehrken   | Grandchild   | Martinsville, Va.    |
| Dylan Reid Gehrken     | Grandchild   | Martinsville, Va.    |
| Leigh Calvert Hauser   | Grandchild   | Fort Washington, Pa. |
| Blaine Randolph Hauser | Grandchild   | Fort Washington, Pa. |
| Emily Gordon Buck      | Grandchild   | Mount Pleasant, S.C. |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|

––– Publication Details –––

|---------------------------------|
| Field    | Value                |
|----------|----------------------|
| Location | Norfolk, VA          |
| Name     | Virginian-Pilot, The |
| Date     | 1 Nov 2001           |
| Edition  | FINAL                |
| Section  | LOCAL                |
| Page     | B7                   |
|---------------------------------|

––– Other Relevant Information –––

• Ballet teacher and founder of Caroline Petty School of Dance
• Performed with Radio City Corps de Ballet
• Painted furniture, tinware, and glassware using Early American Decoration
• Flower arranger for Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Franklin, Va., Christ Church, Savannah, Ga., and St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Courtland
• Member of Franklin Book Club, Franklin Garden Club, Gordonston Garden Club in Savannah, and the Junior League
• Birth name was Caroline Petty


[Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net]

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