Person Page - 268

     Rue Otis Erdman is also referred to as Rue Klock in some sources.¹ He was born on 14 April 1914, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA.^5,4 He was the son of Isaiah Jonathan Klock and Edna Regina Bowman.^1,2,3 Rue Otis Erdman was baptized on 2 May 1914, Saint Michael's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA. His parents were listed as "Isaiah J. Klock" and "Edna, nee Bowman."^1,3 Although Rue's obituary says that his father was Otis Erdman, other sources indicate that Rue's biological father was Isaiah J. Klock, who was at the time married to Rue's mother Edna Bowman. Rue's birth certificate lists his parents as "Isaiah Jonathan Klock" and "Edna Regina Bowman." Rue was baptized at St. Michael's Church in Klingerstown by "Isaiah J. Klock" and his mother Edna (Bowman) Klock, who was then married to Isaiah but who married Otis Erdman about 4 years later. At the time of the 1920 Census, Rue was living with his mother and Otis Erdman in Shamokin. Rue's name was listed as "Rue Klock," although he was erroneously listed as a female. His relationship to the head of the household (Otis Erdman) was listed as a step child. In the 1930 Census, he was listed as "Rue Erdman" and as a "son" of Otis. It is unknown whether Otis formally adopted Rue.^{2,6,3,7,8,9,10} He died on 15 June 1994, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA, at age 80.^4,11,12
Newspaper obituary:
Rue O. Erdman Sr., 80, Klingerstown
Retired from TRW
KLINGERSTOWN -- Rue O. Erdman Sr., 80, of Klingerstown died Wednesday, June 15, 1994, at his home. He was in ill health for 14 years.
Born April 14, 1914, in Klingerstown, he was a son of the late Otis O. and Edna (Bowman) Erdman. He was married to the former Helen S. Romberger, who died in 1972.
He attended Shamokin and Klingerstown schools. Mr. Erdman was a farmer and formerly served as a rural mail carrier in the Klingerstown, Herndon and Sacramento areas. He was last employed at TRW, Harrisburg, before retiring in 1976.
He was a member of St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Klingerstown; Klingerstown Fire Company; and Danville Grange.
He is survived by his companion of 21 years, Esther Klinger of Klingerstown; three daughters, LaRue Machamer of Hegins, Stella Bingaman of Dalmatia RD1 and Sandy Long of Milton RD1; one son, Rue O. Jr. of Middleburg RD3; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Herlan Boyer and Russell Block [Klock], and one sister, Florence Polinko.
A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday at the Stephen R. Rothermel Funeral Home, Klingerstown RD1, by Wilson Straub. Burial will be in St. Michael's Lutheran Cemetery, Klingerstown.
Contributions in his memory may be made to St. Michael's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, Klingerstown, Pa. 17941.
The Daily Item (Sunbury, Pennsylvania), 16 Jun 1994, Thu, Page 7.⁴
He was buried at St. Michael's Church Cemetery, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA.¹²