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Roger A. Bierly
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Roger A. Bierly June 1, 1943 - September 22, 2011 Retired Centre Count
y Register of Wills, Roger A. Bierly, 68, formerly of Rebersburg, pass
ed away on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at home. He was born on June 1, 1
943, in Bellefonte, the son of Palmer C. Bierly and Kathleen Burd Bier
ly. Both parents predeceased Roger, along with two brothers, Barry Bie
ly and Billy Bierly, and one sister, Corrine "Becky" Bierly, all fro
m Rebersburg. Roger was married in Port Royal on July 18, 1970, to Joy
ce Groninger Bierly, a now retired Penns Valley school teacher who res
ides near Warriors Mark. Also surviving are two daughters, Jennifer P
. Bierly, an attorney in State College and her husband Stephen Fast, a
d Mandi Bierly, a writer who lives in Hoboken, N.J.; three grandchild
en, Sarah Dillon-Fast, Corrine Grace "Coco" Fast and Robert Walter "R
hobi" Fast. Two brothers survive, Darryl Bierly and his wife Carol Bie
ly, of Nazareth, Pa. and Keith Bierly and his wife, Kimberly Bierly
, of Centre Hall. Roger was a 1963 graduate of the Penns Valley Area H
igh School where he was voted the "most friendly" member of the senio
class. He also was named the outstanding senior athlete, excelling i
basketball and baseball. Two years later he was named the outstandin
g player in the Clinton County Baseball League by the Lock Haven Expre
ss, while compiling a pitching won-lost record of 17-1 over a two yea
span. He was also selected the league's best shortstop, once pullin
g off a rare unassisted triple play. He graduated from the Williamspor
t School of Commerce with an associate degree in business administrati
on. While at the school, he founded and captained the first basketbal
l team in the school's history, a team that would serve as the openin
g game prior to the Williamsport Billes playing in the Eastern Basketb
all League. Roger also attended the Williamsport Technical School, lea
ing typewriter repair. He served for six years with the 112th Pennsy
lvania Air National Guard based in State College. Through the years h
e also was a member of numerous clubs and organizations, including th
e Miles Township Fireman's Club, the Millheim Lions Club and the Belle
fonte Kiwanis Club. Roger worked with his father at Palmer C. Bierly O
ffice Equipment in Rebersburg for several years, prior to forming a pa
tnership with Harrison Tressler in Bierly's Office Equipment based i
Pleasant Gap. In those days the business focused on typewriters an
d cash registers, desks, safes and filing cabinets. Active in Democrat
ic politics, Rogers was appointed at age 29 by then Governor Milton Sh
app to the position of State Inheritance Tax Appraiser for Centre Coun
ty. This began his 34 year career working with estate settlements. Fol
lowing 10 years as State Appraiser, he was elected Centre County Regis
ter of Wills in one of the closest county races in decades. The 1983 e
lection saw him win 42 precincts, his opponent winning 42 precincts an
d they tied in the 85th. The final paper ballot count was not recorde
d until 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. His victory was in question until the fin
al three precincts were counted. He was subsequently re-elected five m
ore times as Register, serving until the end of 2007. His colleagues e
lected him President of the Pennsylvania Register of Wills Association
, and he often held conferences and seminars in Centre County. Newly e
lected registers from throughout the state would often come to his off
ice to "learn the ropes" prior to assuming office. Roger was a willin
g teacher of the complexities of estate work and the role of the Regis
ter of Wills. Roger served two terms on the Penns Valley Area School B
oard, from 1969-1975 and again from 1981-1982. His terms saw expansio
in the building plans of the school district. Well known in Democrat
ic circles throughout the state, Roger was often called upon to chai
or co-chair various state or national campaigns in Centre County
. A former Centre County Democratic Chairman, Roger served on the coun
ty's executive committee for many years. Among Roger's campaigns was G
overnor Robert P. Casey's successful run for Governor in 1986. Senato
Robert P. Casey, Jr. once referred to Roger as a member of the "Fiv
e Decades Club", those individuals who worked for the father's or son'
s election in the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and between 2000 an
d 2006. For new Democratic candidates, Roger was a great source of kno
wledge and strength as each candidate set off to battle imposing regis
tration figures. He knew every nook and cranny of Centre County , incl
uding what TV cable and radio stations covered what areas, which newsp
apers covered different areas of the Co, down to what barbers and beau
ticians would hand out your political literature. He knew Democratic c
ommittee people who spanned decades of service to their party. His Cha
irmanship of the Centre County Democratic Party was during the patrona
ge system when many state positions required political party support
. If you had Roger on your side, you were generally in pretty good sha
pe. He never shied away from being called a "politician" because he be
lieved it was an honorable profession. He proved that with the life h
e led. Roger was a Protestant by faith. Friends and family will be rec
eived on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, from 6-8 p.m. at the Steven R. Neff F
uneral Home in Millheim. In accordance with family wishes, Roger wil
l be laid to rest in the Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery in Rebersbur
g during a private service. A public Celebration of Life service wil
l be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in memor
y of Roger may be given to the Roger A. Bierly Memorial Scholarship Fu
d, P.O. Box 44, Rebersburg, Pa. 16872. Each year a scholarship will b
e awarded to an outstanding student at Miles Township Elementary Schoo
l in Rebersburg. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.s
tevenrnefffuneralhome.com.
Published in Centre Daily Times on September 24, 2011
Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/centredaily/obituary-searc
h.aspx?date range=1&countryid=1&stateid=49&affiliateid=1406#ix?1YsRsvU
9J
==============================
Roger A. Bierly
September 24, 2011
The Express
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Retired Centre County Register of Wills, Roger A. Bierly, 68, formerl
y of Rebersburg, passed away on Thursday, September 22, 2011 at home.
He was born on June 1, 1943, in Bellefonte, the son of Palmer C. Bierl
y and Kathleen Burd Bierly.
Both parents predeceased Roger, along with two brothers, Barry Bierl
y and Billy Bierly, and one sister, Corrine "Becky" Bierly, all from R
ebersburg.
Roger was married in Port Royal on July 18, 1970 to Joyce Groninger Bi
erly, a now retired Penns Valley school teacher who resides near Warri
ors Mark.
Also surviving are two daughters, Jennifer P. Bierly, an attorney in S
tate College and her husband Stephen Fast, and Mandi Bierly, a write
who lives in Hoboken, NJ; three grandchildren, Sarah Dillon-Fast, Co
ine Grace "Coco" Fast and Robert Walter "Rhobi" Fast; two brothers
, Darryl Bierly and his wife Carol Bierly of Nazareth, and Keith Bierl
y and his wife Kimberly Bierly of Centre Hall.
Roger was a 1963 graduate of the Penns Valley Area High School where h
e was voted the "most friendly" member of the senior class. He also wa
s named the outstanding senior athlete, excelling in basketball and ba
seball.
Two years later, he was named the outstanding player in the Clinton Co
unty Baseball League by the Lock Haven Express, while compiling a pitc
hing won-lost record of 17-1 over a two year span. He was also selecte
d the league's best shortstop, once pulling off a rare unassisted trip
le play.
He graduated from the Williamsport School of Commerce with an associat
e degree in business administration.
While at the school, he founded and captained the first basketball tea
m in the school's history, a team that would serve as the opening gam
e prior to the Williamsport Billes playing in the Eastern Basketball L
eague. Roger also attended the Williamsport Technical School, learnin
g typewriter repair.
He served for six years with the 112th Pennsylvania Air National Guar
d based in State College.
Through the years, he also was a member of numerous clubs and organiza
tions, including the Miles Township Fireman's Club, the Millheim Lion
s Club and the Bellefonte Kiwanis Club.
Roger worked with his father at Palmer C. Bierly Office Equipment in R
ebersburg for several years, prior to forming a partnership with Harri
son Tressler in Bierly's Office Equipment based in Pleasant Gap.
In those days the business focused on typewriters and cash registers
, desks, safes and filing cabinets.
Active in Democratic politics, Rogers was appointed at age 29 by the
Governor Milton Shapp to the position of State Inheritance Tax Appra
iser for Centre County.
This began his 34 year career working with estate settlements. Followi
g 10 years as State Appraiser, he was elected Centre County Registe
of Wills in one of the closest county races in decades.
The 1983 election saw him win 42 precincts, his opponent winning 42 pr
ecincts and they tied in the 85th. The final paper ballot count was no
t recorded until 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. His victory was in question unti
l the final three precincts were counted. He was subsequently re-elect
ed five more times as Register, serving until the end of 2007.
His colleagues elected him President of the Pennsylvania Register of W
ills Association, and he often held conferences and seminars in Centr
e County.
Newly elected registers from throughout the state would often come t
o his office to "learn the ropes" prior to assuming office. Roger wa
s a willing teacher of the complexities of estate work and the role o
f the Register of Wills.
Roger served two terms on the Penns Valley Area School Board, from 196
9-1975 and again from 1981-1982. His terms saw expansion in the buildi
g plans of the school district.
Well known in Democratic circles throughout the state, Roger was ofte
called upon to chair or co-chair various state or national campaign
s in Centre County.
A former Centre County Democratic Chairman, Roger served on the county
's executive committee for many years. Among Roger's campaigns was Gov
ernor Robert P. Casey's successful run for Governor in 1986. Senator R
obert P. Casey, Jr. once referred to Roger as a member of the "Five De
cades Club", those individuals who worked for the father's or son's el
ection in the 1960's , 1970's, 1980's, 1990's and between 2000 and 200
6.
For new Democratic candidates, Roger was a great source of knowledge a
d strength as each candidate set off to battle imposing registratio
figures.
He knew every nook and cranny of Centre County , including what TV cab
le and radio stations covered what areas, which newspapers covered dif
ferent areas of the Co, down to what barbers and beauticians would han
d out your political literature.
He knew Democratic committee people who spanned decades of service t
o their party. His Chairmanship of the Centre County Democratic Part
y was during the patronage system when many state positions required p
olitical party support. If you had Roger on your side, you were genera
lly in pretty good shape. He never shied away from being called a "pol
itician" because he believed it was an honorable profession. He prove
d that with the life he led.
Roger was a Protestant by faith.
Friends and family will be received on Sunday, September 25, 2011 fro
m 6-8 p.m. at the Steven R. Neff Funeral Home in Millheim.
In accordance with family wishes, Roger will be laid to rest in the Lu
theran and Reformed Cemetery in Rebersburg during a private service.
A public Celebration of Life service will be announced at a later date
.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Roger may be given to the R
oger A. Bierly Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 44, Rebersburg, Pa
. 16872.
Each year a scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding student at M
iles Township Elementary School in Rebersburg.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevenrnefffuneral
home.com.
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1943 - 2011 (68 years) Has 22 ancestors and 5 descendants in this family tree.
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