Elementary school secretary Patty Kilmer will retire this June after 27 years of service to the Tyrone Area School District.

Kilmer began her career in the district in 1989 assisting librarian Ms. Rudakewich at Lincoln Elementary School. She later moved to a secretarial position at the Tyrone Elementary School on the third floor with Mrs. Theo Spewock. Finally, she moved to the main office at the elementary school.

“I truly will miss it all,” said Kilmer, “I love my job I have enjoyed working with the staff and the students keep me young.”

Kilmer will be greatly missed by everyone who has worked with her at the elementary school.

“Patty’s work ethic and attitude are second to none and it will be very difficult to replace what she brought to our elementary team office every day,” said Elementary School Principal Lisa Hartsock.

“When sometimes things would get a little crazy, Patty was the one who always held everything together very calmly,” said colleague and fellow retiree Rose Castagnola, “she was everyone’s ‘go-to’ person.”

“I have so many great memories of my time working with Patty,” said colleague Tracy Focht, “we have laughed and cried together, sometimes simultaneously! Patty’s friendship is a treasure to me and my family.  My work days will be very different without her smile and wit sprinkled throughout them.  I hope to stay close friends and wish Patty health and happiness to enjoy every day of her retirement.”

Kilmer plans to enjoy her retirement by doing what she loves best, traveling and spending time with her family.

“I plan to spend more time with my grandson in Virginia,” said Kilmer, “traveling with my husband on business trips, and just enjoying my time off.”

Although she has dedicated a great deal of time to Tyrone, Kilmer has not lived here her entire life. She spent her childhood and adolescent years in South Carolina, where she graduated from Hillcrest High in Sumter, South Carolina.

“My father was in the Air Force. He retired with 31 years. My parents had a house in Tyrone which they rented all those years, when my father retired in 1974 we moved to Tyrone, I have lived here since,” said Kilmer.

In 1979 she married her husband Craig. They have a daughter Stephanie and an “awesome” grandson Mason, who she plans to visit much more often in her retirement.