Person Page - 1409

     Laura Radford Yates was buried at Blanford Cemetery, 319 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia.⁶ She was born on April 2, 1939 at Petersburg, Virginia.^1,6,3 As of August 15, 1959,her married name was Theis.¹ She married Henry Ericsson "Eric" Theis Sr. on August 15, 1959 at Petersburg, Virginia.^1,6,2,4,7 Laura Radford Yates died on November 1, 2014 at Sewickley, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania, at age 75; Her gravestone has a death date of Nov 4, 2014.^6,2 She Laura Radford Yates Theis, of Sewickley, died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, at age 75 after a brief illness. Born in Petersburg, Va., and sharing her southern hospitality with Sewickley since 1980, Mrs. Theis was passionate about her family, friends, church family, community and serving others. She was proud of her Virginian heritage and retained her southern charm and dialect even after 55 years in the north. She understood the true meaning of home and the value of making others feel at home regardless of where she was. Whether it was serving food to the homeless, supporting single mothers, mentoring others or finding creative ways to connect and contribute, Mrs. Theis anticipated community needs and was among the first in line to fill them. She led a purpose-driven life, made decisions based on her principles and encouraged others to do the same. She hosted many seminary students at her home and led by example with strength and compassion. She was an avid reader, a competitive bridge player, a member of The Colonial Dames of America and an associate member of The Child Health Association of Sewickley. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. Mrs. Theis graduated from Bennett College in Millbrook, N.Y., Trinity School for Ministry and the Deacon Formation Program through the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh and was ordained as a vocational deacon in June 1995 by Bishop Alden Hathaway. She served as a deacon at St. Stephen's Anglican Church in Sewickley and served as a chaplain for more than 15 years at Allegheny General Hospital, Mercy Hospital, West Penn Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Sewickley Valley Hospital. She was invited to serve as chaplain at the World Trade Center's "ground zero" in New York City in September of 2001, where she prayed over the injured and served food to first responders. She was a fabulous cook, published a cookbook and had "famous" recipes accompanying every tradition and holiday. A loyal friend to many, Mrs. Theis had a gift for hospitality, a respect for life, a drive to serve and the will to lead. She had a positive spirit, the mind of a teacher, the heart of an angel and always let her light shine brightly before others. Mrs. Theis was the daughter of Dr. Munford and Frances Randolph Jones Yates of Petersburg, Va; the devoted wife of her late husband of 55 years, Henry Ericsson "Eric" Theis Sr; and is survived by her beloved sons, Henry Ericsson "Eric" Jr. (Kathya), of Portsmouth, Va., John Bolling (Lisa), of Guilberland, N.Y., Frank Munford (John Paul), of Pottstown, and Peter Radford (Alexis), of Sewickley; her precious grandchildren, William, Benjamin, Laura, Sophie, Jackson, Nicholas and Anna; her sisters, Janie Yates Smith, of Winston Salem, N.C., Frances Yates Bittle, of Silver Lake, Ohio; and her brother, Munford R. Yates Jr., of Fairfax, Va; 14 nieces and nephews and Nancy Griest, of Marlborough, Mass; and mother of William, Benjamin and Laura. on November 4, 2014.²

     Henry Ericsson "Eric" Theis Sr. was buried at Blanford Cemetery, 319 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia.² He was born on August 26, 1933 at Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois.^2,4,6 He married Laura Radford Yates, daughter of Dr. Munford Radford Yates Sr. and Frances Randolph Jones, on August 15, 1959 at Petersburg, Virginia.^1,2,3,4,5 Henry Ericsson "Eric" Theis Sr. died on April 18, 2014 at Sewickley, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania, at age 80.^2,5 He Henry Ericsson "Eric" Theis, of Sewickley, died Friday, April 18, 2014, of Parkinson's disease. He was 80 years old. For more than 50 years, Mr. Theis was involved in the steel coil processing industry, retiring in 2000 after 20 years as vice president of Sales and Marketing for Herr-Voss Corporation. He was the author of the 672 page textbook "The Handbook of Metal Forming Processes" which is still considered the definitive work on the subject. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he studied mechanical engineering and was a Member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Harvard Business School and after completing his service in the Army, University of Chicago Business School. Mr. Theis was a distinguished speaker at Duquesne University's A.J. Palumbo School of Business Center for Leadership in Ethics where he served on the Ethics Committee. He was a professional expert for OSHA and volunteered with organizations including Shepard's Heart Anglican Church, Boy Scouts of America and Hope and a Future Anglican Conference. He was a long term member of The Edgeworth Club, Sewickley Senior Men's Club and Erie Yacht Club. A world traveler, Mr. Theis has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, South America and Africa, organized a family reunion in Sweden, and has taken his elder grandchildren to Europe. He had a passion for sailing and co-wrote a book titled "The Cruising Logs". He also enjoyed spending time with his family, entertaining, camping and working on his home. A family friend wrote that Mr. Theis was, "a huge presence, a great boom-voiced man looking like a ship's captain in a painting, presiding over the fiery Glogg at Christmas parties, having everyone on as he joked with his dry wit." Whether it was helping those less fortunate in Pittsburgh, or serving at St. Paul's Church in New York City for four days after Sept. 11, 2001, serving food to the rescue workers, Mr. Theis was a strong, brilliant man with a charitable heart, unwavering integrity, a twinkle in his eye and tremendous love for his family, church family and community. Mr. Theis, the son of the late Frank Victor Theis, M.D., and Hazel Harriet Ericsson Theis, of Chicago, Ill., is survived by his loving wife, Deacon Laura Radford Yates Theis; his beloved sons, Henry Ericsson (Kathya), of Bowie, Md., John Bolling (Lisa), of Guilderland, N.Y., Frank Munford (JP), of Pottstown, and Peter Radford (Alexis), of Sewickley; his cherished grandchildren, William, Benjamin, Laura, Sophie, Jackson, Nicholas and Anna; and his brother, Peter Frank Theis (Jill), of McHenry, Ill. on April 19, 2014.⁵