Arletha C. Petrea, age 87 of Salem, passed away on Monday, November 2, 2020 at Salem Township Hospital. Arletha was born on December 5, 1932 in Clay County, the daughter of Ira Vernon “Vernie” and Hester (Davis) O’Dell. She married Earl H. Petrea on December 3, 1949 in Henderson, Kentucky and he preceded her in death. She is survived by her children, Elaine Meyers and husband Peter of Salem, Kathy Slusher and husband Lattie of Castalia, Ohio, Beverly Habbe of Salem, Carol Ezell and husband Walter of Villa Grove, and Edward Petrea and wife Leonor of Bedford, Texas; grandchildren, Eleasa, Haeli, Sarah, Larissa, Lindsey, Nicholas, Hunter, Rachel, Alixandria, Max, and Andrew; 19 great- grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Lelah (Petrea) Siever of Carlyle, and Vivian Petrea of Iuka. Arletha was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; infant son, David Howard Petrea; brother, Maurice O’Dell; sister-in-law, Margie Mulvaney; and brothers-in-law, Robert Petrea and Gary Petrea. Arletha was a member of the Iuka United Methodist Church. She was an LPN and later became an RN, working for 42 years at Salem Township Hospital. She was always full of life and a spitfire. She was a member of the Women of the Moose, Women of the Elks, and spent many years supporting the Relay for Life. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, November 6, 2020 at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem with Denise Burke officiating. Burial will be in Paradise Cemetery in Salem. Visitation will be on Thursday, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to the Salem Township Hospital Foundation for Scholarships for Allied Health, Alzheimer’s Association or the Donor’s Choice and can be received at the Crouse Funeral Home in Salem who is assisting the family. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Arletha C. Petrea, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.