Edythe (Polly) Rosalie Seymor Edgecomb Briggs Grant, 94, of State College, died Monday, March 18, 2008, at the Fairways at Brookline Village at State College.
She was born June 21, 1913, in Watertown, Mass, a daughter of the late Elias James Edgecomb and Margaret Wiltshire Edgecomb, immigrants from Newfoundland, Canada.
She grew up in the Boston area, where she graduated from Perry Normal School with a teaching degree. In 1940 she married John L. Briggs in Carson City, Nevada. She and her husband resided in Oakland, California during the Second World War, the moving to Boston in 1945. They then moved from the Boston area to Maine in 1948, where they resided until her husband's death in 1961.
Polly then moved to Reno Nevada, and lived with her brother John Edgecomb until his passing in 1965. She moved back to the Boston area, where she worked at Harvard Graduate School until her retirement in 1978. Upon retirement, she returned to her home in Maine. In 1980 she married Hamilton B. Grant continuing to live in Maine until his death in 1998, when she moved to the State College area, where she lived until her passing.
She is survived by her daughter, Suzan Spalvins of Boalsburg, her grandchildren, John Spalvins and his wife Julie of Littleton, CO, Scotti Mullen and her husband Ron of State College, Tracy Spalvins of State College, and Anda Bittner and her husband Martin of Camp Hill. She is also survived by six great grandchildren, Anda, Jacci and J. C. Mullen of State College, Cassandra Bryant of Phoenix, AZ, Madelyn and Attily Spalvins of Littleton, CO. and two-step grandchildren, Jason and Jeremy of Denver, CO.; and two great great grandchildren, Darling and Duke Bergstrom of Dillsburg, PA. She is also survived by her step-son, Roland Grant and his wife Kay; a step-granddaughter Jody Ballou and her husband Sean with their two children, Kayla and Logan, all of Billings, Montana; A step-grandson, Jay Grant and his wife Lynn with their son Hayden of San Francisco, CA.
Her parents, three brothers, Albert, James and Gordon preceded her in death, leaving her the last of her generation. She was also preceded in death by a long time close friend, Dagmar Rose.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 24, 2008, Boalsburg Cemetery in Boalsburg, with the Reverend George Burn officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to PAWS, 1042 Benner Pike, State College, PA 16801; Shirley Fonda, Fonda's Foundlings, 596 Norwood Lane, State College, PA 16803 or to the American Cancer Society, C/O Rockey's Rockets, 614 Boal Ave., Boalsburg, PA 16827.
A guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com