Laura Virginia Steward, 97, passed on to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. Born on December 11, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Joseph H and Elizabeth Dilatush Schooley and was the wife of the late Edmund Yard Steward.

A lifelong resident of Allentown, NJ, she was an active member of the following: National Grange #98 Juvenile; Girl Reserves; Allentown High School Band and Girls Basketball Team; Allentown Garden Club (President); Meals on Wheels (Coordinator); Women Aglow; 1 ^st Baptist Church of Allentown, NJ (Deaconess, Trustee, Sunday School Teacher, Chair member, and Women's Baptist Mission Society member); Allentown and Upper Freehold Historical Society; Borough of Allentown Historical and Preservation and Restoration Commission; Monmouth County Jury Commission, appointed by the Supreme Court Jury of NJ and Jury Commissioner of Monmouth County Court House Chapter 1982-1989; Daughters of the American Revolution, past Regent Monmouth County Court House Chapter (Now the Francis Hopkins Monmouth County Courthouse Chapter); the Villagers; Needlework Guild (Now garments always); Heritage Foundation; Charter Friends of Ye Old Yellow Meeting House, Inc.; and the Edward Howell Family Association, Inc.

She is survived by her sister, Roberta Schooley Holmes of Jackson, NJ and by her three daughers, Donna E. Wilensky of Las Cruces, NM (wife of the late Mark M.S. Wilensky); Barbara S. Biblin of New Egypt, NJ; and Debra A. Brockmeyer and her husband Joseph J. III, of Pasadena, MD. She is also survived by six grandchildren, James A. Diblin II of Cookstown, NJ, Diblin Aagaard and husband Duane of Concord, NC, Jill A. Diblin of New Egypt, Joseph J. Brockmeyer  IV of Baltimore, MD, Justin M. Brockmeyer of Baltimore, MD, and Jessica Brockmeyer Ellis and husband Mason of Laurel, MD.

In addition, she is survived by two great granddaughters, Peyton Hope Aagaard and Autumn Jewel Aagaard of Concord, NC two step granddaughters, Andrea Wilensky Kottke of Farmington, NM and Leah Lauren(nee Wilensky) of Albuquerque, NM, as well as two step great grandsons, Nathan E. Levick and Jordan S. Levick of Albuquerque, NM, and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and many loving friends.

Funeral Services will be 11 am Tuesday, July 9 at the First Baptist Church of Allentown, 72 Waker Ave.-Route 526, Allentown, NJ. Interment will follow in Allentown Presbyterian Cemetery. Family and friends may call Monday evening 6 to 9 pm and again Tuesday morning 9:30 to 10:30 am at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St, Allentown, NJ.

Memorial contributions may be given to the 1 ^st Baptist Church, 72 Waker Ave., Allentown, NJ 08501 or to Mission South America, Pastors Andrews and Kathy McMillan, P.O. Box 12523, Norfolk VA 23541-0523.