Florence T. Traber, a pioneer and former resident of Columbia, died Nov. 9, 2008. She was 86.

She is the mother of former Oriole Jim Traber, who graduated from Wilde Lake High School in 1979.

Born in Elizabeth, N.J., Oct. 3, 1922, Mrs. Traber grew up in Johnstown, N.Y., and graduated from Johnstown High School in 1941 as valedictorian of her class. She played all sports that were available to females at that time and was a tennis champion. She was a cheerleader and the senior class treasurer.

Mrs. Traber attended New York State College for Teachers in Albany, N.Y., later renamed the State University of New York in Albany. She was active in sports and student government. She served as president of the freshman class; president of the sophomore class; president of the junior class; and, in her senior year, was president of the student association. She graduated cum laude in 1945 with a bachelor's degree and later earned a master's degree in education.

Her teaching career of nine years was spent in Warrensburg Central School, Canajoharie High School and Johnstown High School. She served as senior adviser in all three schools and acted as coach for the cheerleaders at Johnstown. She played golf and tennis, and also became an avid skier.

In 1954, she married Peter Traber, of Pittsburgh. They met at the Canajoharie Country Club, where she played golf. Their three children were born in different states -- Peter, in New York; Theresa, in Pennsylvania; and Jim in Ohio.

The majority of her married life was spent in Maryland -- five years in Hagerstown and 34 years in Columbia, where her pioneer family were among the first 1,000 residents. Because her children were in Howard County public schools, she decided to substitute in the schools, where she taught for about 20 years. She was active in the PTAs and booster clubs of Glenelg and Wilde Lake high schools. At Wilde Lake, she served as president of the Wildecat Boosters for several years.

Mrs. Traber enjoyed golf and tennis in Columbia and also taught tennis lessons for the Howard County Department of Recreation for five years. She also continued to swim at the Wilde Lake Swim Center.

She attended St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Congregation at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center and served on the parish board in its early years. Through the years, she remained active on many committees and served as a Eucharistic minister at Mass, at the Lorien Nursing Home and at Harmony Hall Retirement Home.

In 2002, she moved to Pasadena, Calif., where she lived with her daughter, Theresa, and her family. Her activities were more limited -- ping-pong instead of tennis and watering the flowers and trees instead of golf. She became a member of the Pasadena Senior Center and a parishioner of St. Elizabeth's Church of Altadena, Calif., where she was an active member of the Mission Circle.

She was predeceased by her husband, Peter Traber.

She is survived by her children, Dr. Peter G. Traber, of Houston, Theresa M. Traber, of Pasadena, Calif., and James Traber, of Norman, Okla. She is also survived by nine grandchildren; three nieces; two nephews; and sister-in-law, Mary E. Garfall, of Johnstown, N.Y.

Memorial donations may be sent to Catholic Charities of Los Angeles Inc., 1531 James M. Wood Blvd., P.O. Box 15095, Los Angeles, CA 90015. E-mail: info@CatholicCharitiesLA.org; www.CatholicCharitiesLA.org.

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