Obituary: Perkins Co-Founder Dies

Sara (Sally) Mumma Harral, born Dec. 29, 1912, in Findley, OH, passed away May 4 at . Sally follows her husband of 62 years, Rear Admiral Brooks J. Harral (USN Ret.), who died in 1999. Sally and Brooks were faithful members of since moving to Moorestown in 1959.

Sally was a graduate of Stephens College, Columbia, MO, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1934. She remained an active and dedicated member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority her entire life. Sally was the color girl at the United States Naval Academy in 1934 and remained active in the Color Girl Association for almost her entire life.

She was active in numerous organizations and a member of many boards during her full life. One of her greatest joys was her service as a trustee of the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden, where she founded the Friends of Coriell. Sally was also a charter member of the New Jersey Committee for the Philadelphia Orchestra and was recognized by the Orchestra for her 25 years of service. She was one of four founders of the in Moorestown in the mid-1970s.

Sally was a member of a distinguished military family. Her father, Colonel Morton Mumma, was a member of the class of 1900 at the United States Military Academy and her uncle, Major General Harlan Mumma, was a member of the class of 1898 at the Military Academy. Her three brothers all graduated from the Naval Academy, two of whom were career officers who achieved flag rank, and her husband Brooks was a member of the class of 1932 at the Naval Academy.

Sally had a varied professional career, in addition to being a homemaker and mother. She was an elementary school teacher while her children were young and later became fashion director for the Delaware Valley region of Sears Roebuck from the mid-1960s until about 1978. In 1978, she founded the Barbizon School of Fashion Merchandising in Philadelphia and served for many years as the school’s director.  

Sally and Brooks were well-known for Republican fundraisers and their festive parties at The Beeches, their home in Moorestown.

Sally was preceded in death by her daughter, Martha Shymik of Hilton Head, SC, and is survived by her daughter Sara Sargent (Redford), Bala Cynwyd, PA, sons Brooks Harral, Jr. (Carol), Rocklin, CA, and John Harral (Marjorie), Gulfport, MS; seven grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.  

A memorial service  will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel of the Evergreens. Interment will be at the United States Naval Academy.

Memorial donations may be made to the Coriell Institute for Medical Research, 401 Haddon Ave., Camden, NJ 08102, or Lighthouse Hospice.

Arrangements by . Condolences may be left at www.lewisfuneralhomemoorestown.com.