Lillian Anderson Wharton

Lillian Anderson Wharton, 85, of Meadville, died Monday, September 25, 2000 at Wesbury United Methodist Community.

She was born December 24, 1914 in Bridgeport, CT, a daughter of Hans Jacob and Emma Hanson Andersen.

Gifted with a beautiful singing voice, she was a soloist in churches and synagogues in the Bridgeport area during her teenage years.  She later toured the East Coast as a soloist, and during World War II, sang with the USO.  She also sang leading roles in musicals, including Helen Goes to Troy and La Vie Parisienne, with the New Opera Company in New York City.  Her acting was praised by the New Yorker theater critic Wolcott Gibbs, and her performances were mentioned by George Jean Nathan in his Twenty Most Interesting Performances of the Year.  Cole Porter wrote her:  "I hope that I may someday write material suitable for your glorious voice."  She alternated with Grace Moore in the radio series Songs at Eventide.  After moving to Meadville more than forty years ago, she sang the lead in a local production of Oklahoma and co-starred with Zelma George in the Medium at Allegheny College.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Allegheny College Professor Emeritus William P. Wharton of Meadville; her daughter, Christine E. Wharton and husband James Leonard of Charleston, SC and a grandson, James Wharton Leonard, also of Charleston, SC.

Services were held at Waid Funeral Home.

Interment was in Greendale Cemetery.