Obituaries by LocationMary J. Swalley, 71
Services were held in the Milkins Funeral Home, Temple, for Mary J. Swalley, who died of natural causes Oct. 9 in her Main Street, Blandon residence.
Burial was in Berks County Memorial Gardens, Maidencreek Township.
She was the wife of George Schaeffer. She was predeceased by her first husband, John E. Swalley, who died Dec. 14, 1986.
Born in Pittsburgh, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Jennie (Molinaro) Colamarino.
She was the co-owner of the Blandon Sub Shop for many years and also operated a consignment shop at various flea markets around the county.
Swalley was a member of Maidencreek Church, Blandon.
Also surviving are a son, John E. Swalley Jr., Blandon; two daughters, Yvonne (Swalley) Bossler, and Yolanda R. (Swalley) Quillman, both of Blandon; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include three stepsons: Doug Schaeffer, Mount Penn; Rick Schaeffer, Lebanon; and Michael Schaeffer, Gary N.C.
There is also a brother, Angelo Colamarino, Philadelphia, and a sister, Julia (Colamarino) Snyder, Reading.
Ernest Kerschner Sr., 80
Services were held in the Schmoyer Funeral Home, Breinigsville, for Ernest R. Kerschner Sr., Rhoads Road, Greenwich Township, who died Oct. 11 in Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Burial was in Ziegel’s Church Cemetery , Breinigsville.
He was the husband of Nellie C. (Wanamaker) Kerschner.
Born in Seipstown, Lehigh County, he was a son of the late George Kerschner and Miriam (Heffner) Wehr.
Until retiring, he had been employed as a contractor for several years. He also owned and operated a farm implement dealership, and had been previously employed by Bethlehem Steel and Mack Trucks, both in Lehigh County.
He was a World War II Army veteran.
Also surviving is a daughter, Sandra (Kerschner) Christman,Lenhartsville; and three sons: Kevin K. Kerschner, Dennis S. Kerschner, and Daniel G. Kerschner, all of Kutztown.
There are also 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a son, Ernest R. Kerschner Jr., who died in 1970.
Arline M. Giannotti, 64
Services were held in the Mae A. Stump Funeral Home, Fleetwood, for Arline M. Giannotti, Earl Street, Laureldale, who died of natural causes Oct. 10 in St. Joseph Medical Center.
Burial was in St. Paul’s Union Cemetery , Fleetwood.
She was the wife of Peter W. Giannotti.
Born in Ruscombmanor Township, she was a daughter of the late James D. Sr. and Pauline (Heller) Rissmiller.
Last working in 1986, she was employed by the Kutztown Shoe Factory for 30 years.
Also surviving are a son, Anthony P. Giannotti, Fleetwood; a daughter, Jaclyn P. (Giannotti) Hollenbach, Laureldale; and four grandchildren.
Other survivors include a brother, James D. Rissmiller Jr., Fleetwood; and three sisters: Carolyn D. Rissmiller and Lillian G. (Rissmiller) Reinhard, both of Fleetwood, and Janet D. (Rissmiller) Wentzel, Macungie.
She was predeceased by a son, Terry P. Giannotti.
Leon F. Brown, 83
Services were held in Zion Moselem Lutheran Church, Richmond Township, for Leon F. Brown, Knittle Road, Greenwich Township, who died Oct. 12 in Lehigh Valley Hospital.
He was the husband of Joan M. Brown.
Born in Bridgeton, N.J., he was a son of the late George F. and Florence (Hunter) Brown.
Until retiring, he had been employed by Silo Inc., for many years, managing several stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He later worked as the owner/operator of Red Diamond Thoroughbreds, Greenwich Township.
He was a member of Zion Moselem Church, Richmond Township.
Also surviving are a daughter, Leone G. Brown, Kutztown: a grandson; and three stepsons: Craig E. Vail, Metairie, La.; Ron P. Vail, Aurora Grande, Calif.; and Kevin C. Shropshire, Hamburg.
Other survivors include a brother, Daniel Brown, Bridgeton, N.J.
Dorothea I. Berger, 80
Services were held in St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Fleetwood, for Dorothea I. Berger, Somerset Street, Fleetwood, who died Oct. 12 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Oct. 8.
Burial was in St. Michael’s Cemetery , Tilden Township.
She was the wife of Charles L. Berger.
Born in Port Carbon, Schuylkill County, she was a daughter of the late Nathan L. and Nora S. (Hoy) Greenawald.
She had been employed by the Tarsus Corp, Fleetwood, for 15 years, and by Penn Dutch Cookie Corp., Fleetwood, for five years.
She was a member of St. Paul’s UCC, Fleetwood.
Also surviving are a son, Charles N. Berger, Leesport, and two daughters, Carolyn A. (Berger) Brodbeck, York, and Noreen E. (Berger) Mayer, Fleetwood.
There are also nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Other suvivors include two sisters, Mildred (Greenawald) Rutt, West Reading, and Mary (Greenawald) Schappell, Sinking Spring.
The Mae A. Stump Funeral Home, Fleetwood, was in charge of arrangements.
Charles T. Seyler, 51
Funeral services were held in the Milkins Funeral Home, Temple, for Charles T. Seyler, Allentown Pike, Maidencreek Township, who suffered a fatal heart attack while driving along Route 222 in Maidencreek Township. He was found slumped over the wheel in a ditch and was pronounced dead on arrival in the Reading Hosptial emergency room Oct. 12.
Burial was in Becker’s (St. Peter’s) Cemetery , Richmond Township.
He was the husband of Karen A. (Yoder) Seyler.
Born in Reading, he was a son of Pearl M. (Dautrich) Seyler, Lower Alsace Township, and the late Charles A. Seyler.
He was employed as an operating engineer by Agere at its water-treatment plant in Muhlenberg Township for the past 27 years.
Seyler was an executive board member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1898, Reading.
He was a 32nd degree Mason of Vaux Lodge 406, F&AM, Hamburg.
Seyler was a committee chairman of Boy Scout Troop 183, Blandon.
He was a 1969 graduate of Mount Penn High School.
Also surviving are a son, Jared C. Seyler, at home; and three daughters: Jessica R. Seyler, at home; and Tammy (Seyler) Wertz and Tiffany (Seyler) Burns, both of Muhlenberg Township.
There are also two grandchildren.
Other survivors include two brothers, Marlin D. Seyler, Muhlenberg Township, and Robert A. Seyler, Laureldale.
Fern H. A. Houck, 80
Private services were arranged by the Mae A. Stump Funeral Home, Fleetwood, for Fern H.A. Houck, formerly of Houck Road, Ruscombmanor Township, who died Feb. 1 in ManorCare Health Services Inc., Muhlenberg Township.
Burial was in Friedens Cemetery , Oley.
She was predeceased by her husband, Edwin R. Houck, who died Jan. 27, 1982.
Born in Ruscombmanor Township, she was a daughter of the late Walter and Alice (Cronrath) Deisher.
She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Fleetwood.
Surviving are a son, Edwin W. Houck, Fleetwood; a daughter, Alice M. (Houck) Bortz, Oley; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include two sisters, Catherine E. (Deisher) Braucher, Topton, and Helen E. (Deisher) Readinger, Fleetwood.
Dorothy E. Kieffer, 95
Private services were arranged by the Mae A. Stump Funeral Home, Fleetwood, for Dorothy E. Kieffer, who died Feb. 3 in her Baldy Road, Maxatawny Township residence.
She was predeceased by her husband, Jacob W. Kieffer, who died in 1979.
Born in Kutztown, she was a daughter of the late Ulrich J. and Elizabeth (Humbert) Miller.
She was a poet and in 1976 published a book entitled “From the Kitchen Window.”
Surviving are three sons: David N. Kieffer, Kutztown; Stephen H. Kieffer, Charlotte, N.C.; and John W. Kieffer, Pennsburg, Montgomery County.
There are also four grandchildren.
Harold E. Oswald, 81
Graveside services were held in the Garden of Honor, Topton, for Harold E. Oswald, who died Feb. 4 in his Chestnut Street, Mertztown residence.
He was the husband of Olive Q. (Kramer) Oswald.
Born in Longswamp Township, he was a son of the late Leroy and Jennie L. (Miller) Oswald.
Until retiring in 1976, hew as the owner/operator of a landfill in Longswamp Township for more than 20 years. Previously he was the owner/operator of Oswald’s Ice Co. in his residence in the 1940s and 1950s.
He was a World War II Army veteran.
Oswald was commander of the Ray A. Master American Legion Post 217, Topton, in 1961, and was a baseball team manager for many years.
Also surviving are two daughters, Jennifer N. (Oswald) Hartline, Mertztown, and Laura A. (Oswald) Hess, Kempton, and a granddaughter.
Other survivors include a sister, May (Oswald) Groff, Lenhartsville, and a brother, Walter M. Oswald, Macungie.
The Ludwick Funeral Home, Topton, was in charge of arrangements.
Kenneth N. Bingaman, 61
Memorial services were held in St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Fleetwood, for Kenneth N. Bingaman, who died of natural causes Feb. 4 in his Highland Drive, Rockland Township residence.
Burial was in Fleetwood Cemetery .
He was the husband of Lorraine D. (Huyett) Bingaman.
Born in Reading, he was a son of Vivian (Bingaman) Stump, Kutztown, and the late Ernest Stump.
Until retiring as regional manager of customer service in 1996, he was employed by Metropolitan Edison Co., Muhlenberg Township, for 34 years.
He was a 1959 graduate of Fleetwood High School.
Bingaman was an Army veteran.
He was a past president of the Fleetwood Rotary Club.
Bingaman was a member of St. Paul’s UCC, Fleetwood.
Also surviving are two sons, Dr. David E. Bingman, Trexlertown, and Bradley A. Bingman, Hummelstown, Dauphin County, and a granddaughter.
Other survivors include a sister, Eileen A. (Stump) Schaffer, Fleetwood.
