Obituaries by LocationMARTHA A. MCDERMOTT
A memorial service will be held for Martha A. (Klinger) McDermott, 78, widow of James McDermott, of Perkiomenville Road, Upper Frederick, who died Aug. 18 in Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. Born in Shamokin, Northumberland County, she was employed as an assembler for Ford Electronics, Lansdale, Montgomery County, for 15 years until her retirement. She was a 45-year member of Frieden’s United Church of Christ, Sumneytown, Montgomery County. She was also a volunteer for the Green Lane Community Ambulance Corps, Green Lane. She is survived by a son, James P. McDermott of Perkiomenville; a nephew whom she raised, Dan Shannon of Boston; a brother; a sister; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter, Marsha L. McDermott. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Frieden’s United Church of Christ, Church Road, Sumneytown. The Rev. Ronald R. Krick will officiate. Memorial donations may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 1000 East Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. The arrangements were handled by the Monaghan Funeral Home Inc., Red Hill.
MARYANN COWAN
Services were held for Maryann "Mimi" (Fithian) Cowan, 49, wife of Paul R. Cowan, of North Walnut Street, Boyertown, who died Aug. 17 at her residence. Born in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of Charles H. Fithian, of Boonesboro, Md., and Doris J. (Spaar) Osman, of Boyertown. A 1968 graduate of Boyertown High School, she was employed at Reading Hospital and Medical Center for many years. She was a member of Hill Lutheran Church, Lancaster, and a member of the Cabot Corp. Bowling League. In addition to her husband and parents, she is survived by three daughters, Linda M., wife of Robin Freiman, of Bechtelsville, Rita M. Cowan, at home, and Shawnee Cowan, Pennsburg; one son, Shane R. Cowan, Pennsburg. Also three sisters, Susan E., wife of Richard Burkett, Boyertown, Debbie E., wife of David Faflik, Coral Springs, Fla., and Tina Ackley, Boyertown; two brothers, Jeffrey S. Smith, Gilbertsville, and Danny Fithian, Boonesboro, Md. She was predeceased by a daughter, Angela R. Cowan, and a son, Philip C. Cowan. Memorial donations may be made to the Hill Lutheran Church, 998 N. Mill St., Lebanon, PA 17046. The arrangements were handled by the Catagnus Funeral Home, Gilbertsville.
CHARLES A. YARNALL
Services will be held for Charles A. Yarnall, 88, widower of Mary E. (Geisinger) Yarnall, of Congo Road, Gilbertsville, who died Aug. 17 in ManorCare Health Services, Pottstown. Born in Media, Delaware County, Yarnall was a farmer and worked for Superior Tube, Collegeville, for 16 years before retiring in 1976. He was a member of Providence Church of the Brethren, Royersford, a life member of the Gilbertsville Fire Co., a 50-year member of the Sanatoga Grange, as well as a member of the George A. Amole Post No. 47 American Legion, Pottstown. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Surviving are three sons, Thomas C. Yarnall, of Gilbertsville, Mark W. Yarnall, of Boyertown, and Glenn A. Yarnall, of Gilbertsville; one daughter, Sara L., wife of Robert Armstrong, of New Castle, Del.; a brother; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Providence Church of the Brethren, 1202 S. Township Line Road, Royersford. Memorial donations may be made to the Pottstown Area Visiting Nurses Association, 1963 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464. There will be no viewing. Burial will be in the Mingo Cemetery Burial Grounds. The arrangements are being handled by the Schumacher & Benner Funeral Home, 359 King St., Pottstown.
IRENE SCHWENK
Services will be held Friday for Irene (Gehris) Schwenk, 91, widow of Fred N. Schwenk, of Laura Drive, Barto, formerly of Palm, who died Aug. 19 at her residence. Born in Pennsburg, she was a homemaker and a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Red Hill. She is survived by two sons, Frederick Schwenk, of Sellersville, and David Schwenk, of Coopersburg; two daughters, Grace, wife of Richard Long, of Red Hill, and Barbara, wife of Michael Bartholomew, of Barto; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Falk Funeral Home, 163 Main St., Pennsburg. Memorial donations may be made to the Grand View Hospital Hospice Program, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, PA 18960. Friends are invited to call from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery , Red Hill.
OMAR B. ZOOK
Services were held for Omar B. Zook, 89, who died Aug. 17 in his residence at Covered Bridge Road, Oley Township. His wife, Mary E. (Fisher) Zook died in 1983. Born in Talmage, Lancaster County, Zook was employed as a farmer for his entire life. Zook was a member of the Oley Mennonite Church. He is survived by two daughters: Ruth E. (Zook) Liechty, Spencerville, Ind., and Fern E., Zook, at home. Also six sons: J. Harold, at home; Lloyd C., Oley Township; Mervin H., Schwenksville; Kenneth F., Oley Township; Omar B. Jr., Annville, Lebanon County; and Donald D., Jacksonwald. Other survivors include a brother, 20 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. The arrangements were handled by the Daniel R. Christ Funeral Home, Oley.
CURTIS A. BRIGHTBILL
Services will be held for Curtis A. Brightbill, 70, of Briar Lane, Alsace Township, who died Aug. 19 in the Reading Hospital emergency room. He was the husband of Linda G. (Fisher) Brightbill. Born in Sinking Spring, he was employed for 43 years as a trucker for Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. and Occidental Chemical Co., both in Pottstown. Brightbill was a life member of the National Rifle Association, the North American Hunting Club and American Legion Post 636, Shillington. He is also survived by a son, Alan C., Douglassville; and four daughters: Christine L. (Brightbill) Woodman, Barto; Diane L. (Brightbill) Shotwell, Royersford, Montgomery County; Sharon L. (Brightbill) Landis, Pottstown; and Cindy L. Brightbill, Douglassville. Other survivors include three brothers and three sisters. Also 10 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren. Services will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Sanders Funeral Home, 1501 N. 11th St., Reading. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton.
LILLIAN D. BERTOLETTE
Services will be Thursday for Lillian D. (Schreyer) Guss Bertolette, 74, widow of George K. Bertolette Sr., and John Guss, of Oak Tree Road, East Norriton, formerly of Fagleysville, who died Aug. 19. She had been a resident of the Sanatoga Center/Genesis Elder Care, of Lower Pottsgrove, where she died. Born in Bound Brook, N.J., she attended the Frederick Mennonite Church, Upper Frederick. She is survived by two sons, William Guss, of Quakertown, and Kenneth Guss, of Boyertown; three stepsons, George K. Bertoletee Jr., of Topton, John E. Bertolette, of Limerick, and Robert E. Bertolette, of Limerick; one stepdaughter, Marian A. Brunner, with whom she last resided; four grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and 10 step great-grandchildren.
·Funeral services will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Holcombe Funeral Home Inc., 21 Main St., Trappe. The Rev. Scott Landes, pastor of Frederick Mennonite Church, will officiate. A viewing will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Frederick Mennonite Church, PO Box 309, Frederick, PA 19435.
BETTY K. HOWERTER
Services will be held on Friday for Betty K. (Rhoads) Howerter, 76, of Route 100, Macungie, who died in the Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, Md. Born in Englesville, she was the former owner of the Barto Hotel. She is survived by three sons, Donald F. Evans of Boyertown, Larry D. Evans of Reading and Robert B. Evans of Maidencreek Township; one daughter, Carol L., wife of Thomas J. McFadden, of New Tripoli, Lehigh County; one sister, Vivian Shollenberger of Boyertown; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday from the Catagnus Funeral Home, 1020 E. Philadelphia Avenue, Gilbertsville. A viewing will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery , Boyertown.
DOROTHY L. SWEINHART
Services were held for Dorothy L. (Hausman) Sweinhart, 83, wife of Ernest S. Sweinhart of Worman Road, Douglassville, who died Aug. 7 in St. Joseph Medical Center, Reading, where she had been a patient. She was born in Boyertown and was a machine operator for Osan Manufacturing Co. Inc. in Boyertown. Sweinhart was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Boyertown. She and her husband were married
for 58 years. In addition to her husband, she is survived by four brothers, Lawrence J. Hausman, Hartsville, S.C., Harold Hausman, Oley, Oscar Hausman, Boyertown, Donald E. Hausman, Birdsboro; and one sister, Ruth, wife of LeRoy Heydt, Pottstown.
She was predeceased by a sister, Emily Reitnauer. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, PA 19512 or to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1809 Hoffmansville Road, Sassamansville, PA 19472. The Linwood W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown, handled the arrangements.
EDNA M. CONRAD
Services were held for Edna M. (Stauffer) Conrad, 87, widow of William R. Conrad, of Montgomery Avenue, Douglass (Mont.) Township, formerly of Landis Store, who died Aug. 7. She had been a patient at St. Joseph Medical Center, Reading. Born in Clayton, Berks County, she was a employed as a secretary for Bally Ribbon Mills, Bally, for 49 years. She was a member of St. John Hill UCC, Boyertown. She is survived by nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to the St. John Hill UCC Memorial Fund, R.D. 4, Box 490, Boyertown, PA 19512. The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home Inc., Boyertown.
