Pauline R. Montgomery

Former Hughesville Mayor, and well known Hughesville businesswoman, Pauline R. Montgomery, died Saturday, May 7, 2016 at her home in Hughesville, following a lengthy illness.

Born June 20, 1929 in Hughesville, she was a daughter of the late Frank and Esther (Gautsch) Ritter. She and her husband, George L. Montgomery, would have celebrated 65 years of marriage on September 19, 2016.

Pauline was a graduate of Hughesville High School, Class of 1946, and graduated in 1950, as one of only six female students, from the Temple School of Pharmacy. She returned home and worked at several local pharmacies, during which time she got married and had three children.

In 1959 Pauline opened Montgomery’s Pharmacy on Main Street, Hughesville, and has since relocated it to TJ’s Market, the family grocery store that features Mama Paulini’s Kitchen, which includes many of her favorite recipes.

Pauline was very passionate about her career as a Pharmacist and enjoyed helping those in need. She received several National Pharmacy awards for her community service, and in May of 2013, she received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, acknowledging academic distinction, from Wilkes School of Pharmacy. Pauline was the first female president of the Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association, and served on the board of Value Drug, as well as the State Board of Pharmacy for 19 years.

An avid Democrat, Pauline was very active in state and local politics. She was one of the first two women to be elected to the Hughesville Borough Council and served as Mayor until she was appointed as a Lycoming County Commissioner. In 1984, Pauline ran for the State House of Representatives. She also was named one of Pennsylvania’s Top 50 Business Women. She served as a trustee for the Hughesville Area Public Library for 34 years and as a director with Muncy Bank and Trust for many years.

Pauline enjoyed cooking, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. She also loved attending social gatherings and cocktail parties, often being one of the last individuals to leave the event.

Surviving, in addition to her husband George, are two daughters, Dr. Paula A. (Kenneth) Rothaus of Larchmont, NY, and Dr. Patricia A. (William Ford) Montgomery of Media; a son, Thomas J. Montgomery of Hughesville; a sister, Alice Jayne Marcey; three grandchildren, Alexander (Courtney) Rothaus, Philip (Kalyn) Rothaus, and Andrew Rothaus; two step-grandsons, Sean Ford and Ryan Ford; and four nieces, Beth Marcey, Nikki Marcyan, Caitlin Marcyan, and Ava Marcyan.

In addition to her parents, Pauline was preceded in death by her brother, Jack Andrews.

Funeral services were held 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 120 South Main Street, Hughesville, with Rev. Cinda J. Brucker officiating. Burial followed in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Friends called from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, 557 E. Water Street, Hughesville.

The family provided the flowers and suggest memorial contributions be made to the Pauline Montgomery Scholarship Fund. All contributions may be mailed to the East Lycoming Education Foundation, East Lycoming School District, 349 Cemetery St., Hughesville, PA 17737.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.mccartythomas.com.