Obituaries by LocationRETA M. HOUCK
Funeral services were held for Reta M. (Hillegass) Houck, 84, widow of the late Royden W. Houck, of Frederick Mennonite Community, formerly of South Reading Avenue, who died Sept. 29 at Frederick Mennonite Community. Born in Red Hill, she was a 1933 graduate of East Greenville High School. She attended the former Combs Conservatory of Music, now known as Philadelphia School of Art. She was self-employed as a piano teacher for 51 years and was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Boyertown. Houck was a Sunday school Superintendent of Primary Department and active in Boyertown Area Schools Music League for many years. She was also the founder and director of an all girls orchestra called Reta and the Melodears, who performed in the mid 30s and 40s. Surviving is a son, Dean R. Houck of Hallstead, Pa.; one daughter, Donna L., wife of Edwin G. Miller of Reading; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two brothers. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Christian Education Fund, 45 N. Reading Avenue, Boyertown, PA 19512. The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown.
HELEN M. FRONHEISER
A memorial service was held for Helen M. Fronheiser, 84, widow of Merlin L. Fronheiser, of Gilbertsville, who died Sept. 14 at Florida Hospital South in Orlando, Fla. Born in Pottstown, she resided in Gilbertsville for many years and was the owner/operator of the "Select Shop" in Boyertown for 27 years. Fronheiser and her husband retired in 1979 and moved to Orlando, Fla. Surviving are a son, Richard Fronheiser, Oviedo, Fl., and a daughter, Barbara J. Baas of Los Angeles, Calif. There are also three grandchildren. The arrangements were handled by the Union Park Chapel of Orlando, Fla.
HOWARD B. MOYER
Private services were held for Howard B. Moyer, 80, of Sun City West, Arizona, formerly of Boyertown, who died Sept. 29 at Sun View Care Center, Youngtown, Az. He was the husband of Dorothy Moyer, Sun City West, Az.
· Born in Berks County, he moved to Arizona from New Mexico in 1992. He was employed by the Social Security Administration, retiring in 1981; also served in US Army during WW II. Moyer was a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Eastern Star, Felix Lodge No. 29 AF & AM. Surviving in addition to his wife, are two daughters, Linda Grover, Ovalo, Tx.; Elaine Hinds, Hawaii. Also two sisters, Grace Moyer, Del Ray Beach, Fl., and Pearl Renninger, Bechtelsville and four grandchildren. Contributions may be made to the Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 13724 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West, AZ 85375 or St. Joseph "Hill" Church, Boyertown, PA 19512 or to the National World War II Memorial Fund, Washington, DC. Interment was at Hill Church Union Cemetery , Boyertown. Arrangements were handled by the Sunland Mortuary, Sun City, Ariz.
PEARL E. GREEN
Private interment
will be held for Pearl E. (Snyder) Green, 85, wife of Willard S. Green, of ManorCare, Pottstown, formerly of the Manatawny Manor, East Coventry, and Boyertown, who died Sept. 29 at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. Born in Boyertown, she graduated from Boyertown High School in 1933, and was employed by a beauty shop. She taught accordion door-to-door in Montgomery County and during World War II, she was employed by Jacobs Aircraft, Pottstown. From the 1940s to the 1970s, she taught accordion and vibraharp at Green’s Music Store, where she organized Accordion Orchestras in which she played professionally. She was later employed by Boyertown Packaging and the Boyertown Auto Body Works. She was a charter member of the Boyertown Area Historical Society and was a member of Goshenhoppen Historians and Good Shepherd U.C.C., Boyertown. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Holly K. Green of Boyertown. She was predeceased by two sisters, Catherine Snyder and Dora (Snyder) Dierolf. A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday from the Catagnus Funeral Home Inc., 1020 E. Philadelphia Avenue, Gilbertsville. The Rev. Harner, pastor of Good Shepherd U.C.C., Boyertown, will officiate. There will be no viewing. Memorial donations may be made to the Manatawny Manor Activities Group, P.O. Box 799, Pottstown, PA 19465.
MARJORIE P. BRUSCH
Private services and burial was held for Marjorie P. (Barnshaw) Brusch, 76, wife of Paul C. Brusch II, Romig Road, New Hanover Township, who died Sept. 29 in Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia. Born in West Conshohocken, she was a graduate of the former Conshohocken High School and attended Ursinus College. She was a dance instructor for Arthur Murray Studios, Trenton, N.J. in the 1950s. She was a member of Berean Bible Church, Lower Pottsgrove Township, where she was a former Sunday School teacher. She was a former new Hanover Township Judge of Elections. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Glenna Marie "Holly" Swarr, Perkiomen Township and Jeanette Michelle Brusch at home; one son, Paul Christopher Brusch, Upper Frederick Township; two sisters; one brother; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Gary P. Brusch. Memorial contributions may be made to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, Nazareth Hospital, 2601 Holmes Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19152. The arrangements were handled by the Holcombe Funeral Home, Trappe.
NAOMI Y. BECKER
Services were held for Naomi Y. Becker, 82, wife of William J. Becker, of Bellevue Avenue, Laureldale, formerly of Lobachsville, who died Sept. 30 in the Crozer Chester Medical Center, Upland, Delaware County, where she was a patient. Born in Niantic, she and her husband owned and operated the Becker’s General Store, Lobachsville, for 22 years before retiring. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lobach’s Lutheran Church and its Ladies Aid, Lobachsville; Oley Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary and the Oley Senior Citizens. Surviving in addition to her husband are one son, Gene W. Becker of St. Lawrence; two daughters, Judy L. (Becker) Henne of Exeter Township and Susan J. (Becker) Bernhardt of Millersville; four grandchildren; one step sister, Emma (Rohrbach) Moyer of Bally; four step brothers, Richard Rohrbach of Bally; James and Lester Rohrbach, both of Boyertown and Robert Rohrbach of Leesport. Contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of St. Paul’s Lobach’s Lutheran Church, Lobachsville Road, Oley, PA 19547.
CAROL L. STRUNK
Services will be held for Carol L. (Mest) Strunk, 56, widow of Harold H. Strunk, of Locust Road, Boyertown, who died Oct. 1 at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, where she had been a patient. Born in Florida, she was the daughter of Homer H. Mest, North Wales and the late Viola M. (Gilberg) Mest. She was employed as assistant manager of the Cumberland Farms store, South Reading Avenue, Boyertown, for the past three years, last working in July. She was previously employed as a waitress by Michael’s Restaurant, Douglassville, for 10 years. She was also a seamstress. She was a 1962 graduate of Boyertown High School and was a member of the Friends of The Fair Society, Lancaster. She is survived by two sons, Christopher S. and Timothy S. Strunk, both at home and one sister. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday from the Linwood W. Ott Funeral Home Inc., 111 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown. A viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Robert R. Mitchell Jr., pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Spangsville, will officiate. Memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society, Berks Co. Unit 498 Bellevue Ave., Reading, PA 19605. Interment will be in Most Blessed Sacrament Church Cemetery , Bally.
ROBERT M. STRAUSE
Services were held Robert Melvin Strause, 84, who died Oct. 2 in his residence on Pricetown Road, Alsace Township. His wife, Eva D. (Kantner) Strause, died in 1991. Born in Alsace Township, Strause was employed by Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, retiring in 1978. He had previously worked for Rosedale Knitting Mills, Laureldale. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Strause was a member of Salem (Shalter’s) Lutheran Church, Alsace Township. Surviving are four sons: Robert, Ruscombmanor Township; Donald and John, both of Laureldale; and Dennis, Fleetwood. Other survivors include six daughters: Blanche (Strause) Wanner, Temple Shirley (Strause) Baniszeski, Gloria (Strause) Conrad and Patricia (Strause) Messner, all of Alsace Township; Catherine Strause, at home; and Debra (Strause) Johnson, Kutztown. Also surviving are a brother and a sister; 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. The arrangements were handled by the Walter R. Christ Funeral Home Inc., Laureldale.
DAVID A. RITTENHOUSE
Services were held for David A. Rittenhouse, 61, of Becker Road, Alsace Township, who died Sept. 29 in his residence. He was the husband of Jean C. (Aten) Rittenhouse. Born in Reading, Rittenhouse was employed for 31 years as an electrician by AT&T Reading Works, Muhlenberg Township, retiring in 1988. He was an Army veteran and a member of Grace Fellowship Church, Shillington. Rittenhouse was a 1957 graduate of Muhlenberg High School. He is survived by a son, David A. Jr., at home. Other survivors include a sister, Barbara (Rittenhouse) Goda, Reading RD 2; and two grandsons. The Milkins Funeral Home Inc., Temple, handled the arrangements.
CATHARINE V. BLOME
Private services were held for Catharine V. Blome, 86, formerly of Cornell St., Pennside, who died Sept. 30 in Frederick Mennonite Community, Upper Frederick Township, Montgomery County. Her husband, Richard Blome, died in 1959. Born in Reading, Blome was a self-employed master photographer in the Reading area. She was a 50-year member of the Berks Camera Club. She also danced with the Pearl Haines Review from 1929 to 1935. Survivors include a daughter, Sandra L. (Blome) Wood, Gilbertsville. The arrangements were handled by the John P. Feeney Funeral Home Inc., Reading.
