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Grace E. Claycombe

Grace Edwards Claycombe, 77, of Morrisville, Pa., died July 5. She had worked for 27 years as a library assistant at Princeton University in the Department of Art and Archeology before retiring in 1996.

Born in Baltimore, Md., she grew up in Jackson, Miss. She graduated with high honors from Central High School in 1945, and Millsaps College in 1949. She then taught elementary school in Madison, Miss. in 1949-50, and Christian Elementary School in Lemont, Ill. in 1951-52. She also attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. in 1950.

She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Howard Earl Claycombe, Jr.; two daughters, Lauren Clayton and Miriam Centafont; two sons, John and Peter; two sisters, Winnifred Weaver of Port-Au Prince, Haiti, and Mary Ann Slaughter of Mountain Home, Ark.; and two grandchildren.

A funeral service was held July 9 at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Yardley, Pa. The Rev. Dr. Matthew Ristuccia, senior pastor of Westerly Road Church in Princeton, delivered the homily.

Interment was in Oakmont-Verona Cemetery, Oakmont, Pa.

Memorial contributions may be made to Arab World Ministries, 47 Long Lane, Upper Darby, Pa. 19082; or to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Board for World Missions, c/o Rev. Howard E. Claycombe Jr., 501 Woodland Avenue, Morrisville, Pa. 19067.

Barbara A. Platten

Barbara Avery Platten, 88, of Princeton, died July 8 at home.

Born in Syracuse, N.Y., the daughter of the late Truman Mitchell Avery and Grace Manning Avery, she grew up in Lysander, N.Y. and later Roslyn, N.Y.

She received her formal education first at Syracuse University and then at Columbia University’s School of Nursing, where she received her B.S. and R.N. degrees in 1938. She was then assigned to the original Red Cross Blood Bank and stationed at the Vanderbilt Clinic of Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, where she worked until 1942, when she moved to Princeton.

She was a co-owner of Princeton-based 18th Century Bouquet Co., specializing in arranging and packaging of dried flowers, primarily for Williamsburg Restoration, Lord & Taylor, and other retailers for more than 20 years. She retired in 1982.

She was a frequent volunteer at the Princeton Medical Center and for several years served on the Citizens’ Advisory Board of the Princeton Post Office. She was also a founding member of the Princeton Chemistry Club.

A devoted fan of Princeton University’s varsity basketball team, she attended almost every home game from 1942 through the 2003 season. In the process she became a personal friend of many of the players over the years.

She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and for many years was active as a leader of the church’s rummage sale volunteer group.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, John H. Platten Jr.; two sons, John of Como, West Australia, and Robert of Greenwich, Conn.; a daughter, Judith Sharp of Langhorne, Pa.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandsons.

A memorial service is planned for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church, Mercer Street, Princeton 08540.

Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.