Obituaries by LocationROBERT R. GROFF JR.
A memorial service was held for Robert R. Groff Jr., 60, who died Aug. 13 in his residence at 609 Centre Ave., Reading.
He was the husband of Leona M. (St. Clair) Groff.
Born in Oley, he was a son of Virginia (Renninger) Groff, Exeter Township, and the late Robert R. Groff Sr.
He was employed for 20 years, as a dockworker by Motor Freight, Reading, retiring in 1982.
Groff was a foster parent for 15 years.
Groff is also survived by two sons, Donald W., New Ringgold, Schuylkill County, and Robert R. III, Reading; and two daughters, Jeri E. Groff, Indian Orchard, Mass., and Holly B. Groff, with whom he resided.
Other survivors include a brother and a sister.
There are also 10 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Gwendolyn Groff, in 1959.
The arrangements were handled by the Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services Inc., Reading.
EARL W. LUKENS
A memorial service will be held for Earl W. Lukens, 84, husband of Janet L. (Moretz) Lukens of Frederick Mennonite Community, Frederick, formerly of Roxborough, who died Aug. 13.
He was a World War II veteran, serving as a combat engineer. Later he was a construction superintendent for the John S. McQuade Co. for 25 years.
Surviving with his widow are a daughter, Judith Jushchyshyn; one son, Robert E. Lukens and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Frederick Mennonite Community, 2849 Big Road, Route 73, Frederick.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Frederick Mennonite Community Benevolent Fund, Box 498, Frederick, PA 19435.
The McClure Funeral Home Inc., Plymouth Meeting, is in charge of arrangements.
KENNETH M. REIGNER
Services were held for Kenneth M. Reigner, 65, husband of Roseann P. (Drabinsky) Reigner, of South Grims Mill Road, Colebrookdale, who died in his residence following a battle with cancer, on Aug. 10.
Born in Gilbertsville, he was a son of Helen S. (Sassaman) Reigner, Pottstown, and the late Melvin H. Reigner.
He was a 1953 graduate of Boyertown High School, and was employed as a machine operator for 31 years by the Dana Corp., Pottstown, retiring in 1997.
Mr. and Mrs. Reigner had celebrated 45 years of marriage.
He was a veteran of the Air National Guard.
Reigner was a member of St. Andrew United Methodist Church, New Berlinville; a life member of the National Rifle Association; a life member of the Pike Township Sportsman’s Association; a member of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America; and a life member of the Nature Conservancy, a wildlife and nature preservation association.
He was a longtime supporter of local high school athletics and a high school sports fan.
In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by three daughters, Darcel L., wife of Michael F. Agrexta, Boyertown, Doreen K., wife of Donald B. Augustine, Bechtelsville, and Dawn S., wife of Daryl S. Davis, Bechtelsville; one son, Kenneth A. Reigner, Bellefonte, Centre County; three sisters, Janet, wife of Ronald Kehl, Bechtelsville, June, wife of David Erb, Boyertown, and Sherry Hoffman, Boyertown; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, Box 322 Swamp Creek Road, New Berlinville, PA 19545.
The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown.
VIVIAN D. DYER
Funeral services will be held for Vivian D. (Rothenberger) Dyer, 74, widow of Ralph E. Dyer Jr., of Diamond Street, Pottstown, who died August 13 at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.
Born in Pottstown, she was a 1943 graduate of Boyertown High School and was employed as a secretary at the former Boyertown Body Works for a few years.
She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
Surviving are two sons, Allen G. Dyer, of Pottstown, and Joel A. Dyer, with whom she last resided; one daughter, Beverly A. Schultz, of Stowe; two brothers, and three sisters.
Also five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Houck Funeral Home Inc., Charlotte and Grace streets, Pottstown.
The Rev. George E. Scheitlin, visitation pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Pottstown, will officiate.
Friends are invited to call from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to "Shares of Faith’ at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Hanover and Walnut streets, Pottstown, PA 19464.
Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery .
JAMES Y. BECHTEL
Private services were held for James Y. Bechtel, 88, husband of Leah Mae (Dilliplane) Bechtel, of Rhoads Avenue, Douglass (Mont.) Township, who died July 24 at his residence.
Born in Pike Township, he and his wife had celebrated 61 years of marriage.
He was employed as a lathe operator by Stanley G. Flagg Co., Pottstown, for more than 19 years before he retired in 1977. He had also been employed as a knitter at the former Full Fashion Hosiery, Boyertown.
He was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Boyertown; a life member of Friendship Hook and Ladder Co., Boyertown; a member of Liberty Fire Co., New Berlinville; member of Gilbertsville Fire Co., Gilbertsville; member of the Fraternal Order of the Orioles, Boyertown; a member of the New Hanover A.A.R.P., member of Boyertown Golden Age; member of Berks-Mont Golden Age Club.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Jane (Bechtel), wife of Gene P. Starr, Boyertown; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by eight sisters and five brothers.
The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown.
GENE M. HAINES
There were no services held for Gene M. Haines, 67, husband of Mary Ellen Haines, of Colebrookdale Road, Boyertown, who died July 20.
He was a retired auto body technician and was also a U.S. Air Force Veteran.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Scott Bender of Daytona Beach, Fla.; and Patrick Haines, of Limerick; one daughter, Lori Bender, of Pottstown; and six grandchildren.
The arrangements were handled by the Cremation Society of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.
GERTRUDE M. OTTER
Services were held for Gertrude M. (Hayes) Otter, 91, formerly of Gilbertsville, widow of August C. Otter, who died July 24. She had been a resident of Manor Care Health Services, Pottstown.
Born in Philadelphia, she had lived in Gilbertsville for the past 62 years and had also resided in Lionville.
She was a homemaker and member of Bethel Hill United Methodist Church of Worcester.
Surviving are a daughter, Margaret "Peggy" Hanley, Bechtelsville; a son, Chester A. Otter, Newark, Del.; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; two brothers and three sisters.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Mae Otter and a son, Ralph Otter.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Hill United Methodist Church, 2000 Bethel Road, Lansdale, PA 19446.
The arrangements were handled by the R. L. Williams Jr. Funeral Home, Skippack.
IRMGARD E. GAERTNER
Services were held for Irmgard E. (Lindner) Gaertner, 76, widow of Hans K. Gaertner, of the Frederick Mennonite Community, Frederick, formerly of Center Square, who died July 25 at Mercy Suburban Hospital, East Norriton, following an illness.
Born in Berlin, Germany, she was a homemaker most of her life.
She was a former member of St. John Lutheran Church of Center Square, and a current member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Obelisk.
She was a member of the craft group at the Frederick Mennonite Home.
Surviving are three daughters, Monika, wife of Dr. Jay Bontempo, East Norriton, Sigrun, wife of Dr. Toby Mapes, Hendersonville, N.C., Edeltraut, wife of John Markiewice Jr., Glenshaw, Allegheny County; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother who was killed in World War II.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 525 Plymouth Road, Suite 3150, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462.
The arrangements were handled by the R. L. Williams Jr. Funeral Home, Skippack.
JOHN H. HARING
A Memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 5 for Dr. John H. Haring, 51, husband of Susanne M. (Daly) Haring, of Kirkwood Miss., formerly of Gilbertsville, who died June 21.
Born in Pottstown, he was the son of Willard and Helen (Dykan) Haring, of Gilbertsville.
Haring was a professor of anatomy and neurobiology at St. Louis University Medical Center.
He graduated from Boyertown High School in 1967, and received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va.
From 1971 to 1975, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a first lieutenant. He returned to school and received a master’s degree in biology from West Chester University, West Chester. He received a doctorate from the Hershey Medical Center of Pennsylvania State University. He finished his post-doctorate internship at Duke University, Durham, N.C.
He was a member of InveraAn Bag Pipe Band of St. Louis, and was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church, Kirkwood, Miss.
While living in this area, he was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church, Gilbertsville.
In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by two daughters, Megan A. and Amanda G. Haring, both of Kirkwood, Miss.; and one brother.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at St. Luke Lutheran Church Gilbertsville.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church, 35 Wilson Ave., Gilbertsville, PA 19525; or to V.M.I. Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 932, Lexington, VA 24450.
The arrangements are by the Warker-Troutman Funeral Home, Pottstown.
Burial was previously held in Kirkwood, Miss.
