Lona was visting her brother and family in Fulton Co., PA at the age of 15 years old. Merrill saw her on the staircase and told his brother, George, "that is the girl I'm going to marry some day." They were married five years later. As told by Lona to Sally Mumma in 1985.
Lona and Merrill were married near Webster Springs, WV (about 17 miles from her home in Fairmont, WV) by her cousin Rev. Arthur.
Her family's old homestead is now (1999) occupied by a distant relative, Virgie Cliffton.
Her Obituary:
"GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Lona D. Brady Mumma, 88, of 2909 Conococheague Lane, died Saturday, July 5, 2003, at Chambersburg (Pa.) Hospital. Born March 14, 1915, in Webster Springs, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late James Elliott and Mariah Susan Arthur Brady. Her husband, Merrill D. Mumma, died June 8, 1972. They were married June 11, 1936. She attended school in Webster Springs. She attended Hollowell Brethren in Christ Church in Waynesboro, Pa. She is survived by one daughter, Shirley M. Swisher of Greencastle; three sons, C. Harold Mumma and Edgar M. Mumma, both of Waynesboro, and John E. Mumma of Shermans Dale, Pa.; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by six sisters, Pearl Griffith, Lunda Crayton, Vonda M. Richards, Carrie V. Cousart, Icy G. Hines and Nina E. Brady; and six brothers, Paris F. Brady, Parker Brady, Craygon Brady, Rosco Brady, Ralph Brady and Oakley Brady. Services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Miller-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro. Pastor Anna Pinckney Straight will officiate. Burial will be in Parklawns Memorial Gardens, Chambersburg. The family will receive friends Wednesday one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, c/o Joan Goetz, 219 W. Second St., Waynesboro, PA 17268."
Source: Her obituary, Herald Mail [online] 7/07/03.
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=57695&format=html
Data source is Edgar and Sally Mumma. sallyanded@yahoo.com
Data source is Pamela Redig Mumma. E-mail Mumma6@yahoo.com