Obituaries by LocationDebra Y. Christman, 49
Memorial services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Debra Y. Christman, of Reading, who died of natual causes Nov. 12 in the residence of a son, Troy D. Christman, Mountain View Lane, Windsor Township, after a lengthy illness.
Burial was in Zion’s Cemetery , Perry Township.
Born in Reading, she was a daughter of Louise P. (Mauger) Folk, Windsor Township, and the late James F. Fair.
She was a 1972 graduate of Reading High School.
Christman was employed as a secretary.
She was a member of Zion’s United Church of Christ, Perry Township.
In addition to her son, she is also survived by a daughter, Heather L. (Christman) Gruber, Fleetwood.
Other survivors include a brother, Scott B. Folk, Tilden Township, and a sister, Donna L. (Fair) Loose, in South Carolina.
There is also her stepfather, Alton G. Folk, Windsor Township.
Mary R. Emerich, 92
Services were arranged by the Auman Funeral Home, Reading, for Mary R. Emerich, formerly of Reading, who died Nov. 12 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where she had resided since 1997.
She was predeceased by her husband, Winfield C. Emerich, who died Oct. 30, 1969.
Until retiring, she was employed as a seamstress by various businesses in the Reading area for many years.
She was a member of Alsace Lutheran Church, Hyde Park.
Surviving are two sons, Ronald W. Heckman, Downingtown, and Booke R. Heckman, Kennett Square, Chester County.
There are also two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Anna M. Krammes, 77
Graveside services were held in Manbeck’s Cemetery , Washington Township, Schuylkill County, for Anna M. Krammes, who died Nov. 12 in her Old Route 22, Bethel Township residence.
She was predeceased by her husband, Elmer M. Krammes, who died April 28, 2001.
Born in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, she was a daughter of the late William and Jennie (Watkins) Dutter.
Surviving are six daughters: Carol M. (Krammes) Stichter, Hamburg; Janice M. (Krammes) Herrington, Bethel; Gloris J. (Krammes) Himmelberger, Rehrersburg; Kathy A. Krammes Bernville; Sharon L. (Krammes) Roeder, Strausstown; and Susan L. (Krammes) Naftzinger, with whom she last resided.
There are also 11 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a sister, Marian (Dutter) Gassert, Pine Grove.
The Kirkhoff Funeral Home, Bernville, was in charge of arrangements.
June M. Jones, 77
Services were held in Grace (Alsace) United Church of Christ, Hyde Park, for June M. Jones, of Boeing Avenue, Bern Township, who died Nov. 12 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Sept. 2.
Burial was in Laureldale Cemetery , Tuckerton.
She was predeceased by her husband, Kermit M. Jones, who died July 5, 1997.
Born in Reading, she was a daughter of the late George F. and Helen E. (Jesberg) Merget.
Until retiring in 1980, he was employed as a cashier by Boscov’s Department Stores at its Sinking Spring and Muhlenberg Township stores.
She was a member of Grace (Alsace) UCC, where she was president of the 50+ club from 1996-97 and vice-president from 1998-99.
Surviving are two sons, David G. Jones, Bernville, and Richard L. Jones, Jefferson City, Mo.; and a daughter, Beth A. Jones, with whom she last resided.
There are also two grandchildren.
The Bean Funeral Home, Reading, was in charge of arrangements.
Julia R. Walters, infant
Private services were arranged by the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Julia R. Walters, infant daughter of Jeffrey T. Walters and Joyce I. Heffner, of Washington Street, Hamburg, who was stillborn Nov. 12 in Reading Hospital.
Burial was in St. John’s (Gernant’s) Cemetery , Ontelaunee Township.
Also surviving are her paternal grandparents, Harry M. Jr. and Doris M. (Riegel) Walters, Tilden Township, and her maternal grandparents, Wilson R. and Mary E. (Ohlinger) Heffner, Maidencreek Township.
There is also her paternal great-grandmother, Irene M. (Sieger) Riegel, Shoemakersville.
Jay R. Kunkel, 55
Services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Jay R. Kunkel, who died Nov. 14 in his State Street, Hamburg residence.
Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery , Hamburg.
Born in West Reading, he was a son of the late George W. and Arietta A. (Heckman) Kunkel.
Last working in 1991, he had been employed by Wright’s Knitwear, Hamburg, as a truck driver.
Kunkel was a Vietnam War Army veteran.
Surviving are a daughter, Stacey A. Kunkel, and a son, Jason A. Kunkel, both of Upper Tulpehocken Township.
Other survivors include a sister, Patricia A. (Kunkel) Easterbrook, Mohrsville, and a brother, Ronald G. Kunkel, Windsor Township.
FERN L. WEAVER
Services were held for Fern L. Weaver, 86, formerly of Baumstown, who died August 11 in the Beverly Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Exeter Township, where she had resided since October.
Her husband, Percival N. Weaver, died in 1989.
Born in Reading, she was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Birdsboro, and the Baumstown Union Sunday School.
Surviving are a son, D. Scott, Reading; two grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great-grandsons.
Burial was in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton.
The Dengler Funeral Home Inc., Birdsboro, handled the arrangements.
BETTY E. DENTZER
Services were private for Betty E. Dentzer, 85, formerly of James Street, Sinking Spring, who died August 12 in Wyomissing Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Reading, where she had resided since 1997.
Born in Stonersville, she was employed as a bookkeeper and did volunteer work from her residence after contracting multiple sclerosis.
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sinking Spring.
She was a 1934 graduate of Reading High School.
Surviving are a son, Ronald L., Lower Heidelberg Township, and two granddaughters.
Burial was in Pleasant View Cemetery , Spring Township.
The Joseph D. Giles Funeral Home Inc. & Crematorium, Mohnton, was in charge of the arrangements.
CHARLES H. GABLE
Services were held for Charles H. Gable, 71, husband of Josephine L. Wolff Gable, of Chestnut Tree Road, Elverson, who died August 13 in Chester County Hospital, West Chester.
He was born in West Nantmeal and in 1948 graduated from the former Warwick High School.
After graduating, Gable took dairy and farming short courses at the state Land Grant University and then returned home to farm with his father on the West Nantmeal farm he owned from 1965 until 1996, when Gable took over the farm.
He served on the County Extension Committee; was the county DHIA director, including two years as president, and was the state DHIA director for three years. He was a member of the county Farm Bureau Board, including two years as president; served as chairman of the County Agriculture Land Preservation Board, a post he had held since 1997, and was a member of the county FSA Committee. He co-founded the State Young Sire Committee and was a director on the Board of the National Ayrshire Breeders association for six years.
He earned the Conservation Farmer of the Year award in 1986, the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award in 1992, and the County Distinguished Agriculture Service award in 1992.
Gable was admitted to the Pennsylvania Ayrshire Association Hall of the Fame in 2000 and in 2001, he received the U.S. Ayrshire Breeders Association Distinguished Service Award.
For 59 years, Gable was a member of Goodwill United Methodist Church, where he was the Sunday School superintendent and served on the board of trustees. For many years, he was the chairman of the Goodwill Methodist Cemetery .
He was a 50-year member of Howell Lodge No. 405 F&AM, Honey Brook. He served as a member of the vacancy board of West Nantmeal Township, and was a township Republican committeeman for many years.
In addition to his wife of 40 years, Gable is survived by a son, Donald C. Gable of Elverson; a sister, Gertrude Shingle of Honey Brook; and three grandsons.
He was predeceased by a daughter.
Contributions may be made to the Goodwill United Methodist Church, 104 Church Road, Elverson, PA 19520.
Burial was in Goodwill Methodist Cemetery .
The Labs Funeral Home, Honey Brook, handled the arrangements.
DONALD E. MULLIGAN
Private services were held for Donald E. Mulligan, 80, who died August 14 in his residence on Midland Avenue, Stony Creek Mills.
He was the husband of Clare F. (Fritschey) Mulligan.
Born in Chester, Mulligan was employed for 22 years by Sanders & Thomas Inc., Pottstown, retiring as vice president.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
Mulligan was a member of St. Catharine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, Exeter Township.
Mulligan is also survived by a son, Donald E. Jr., Little Silver, N.J.; and four daughters: Susan L. (Mulligan) Holland, Reston, Va.; Mary C. (Mulligan) Kissinger; Vancouver, Wash.; Margaret E. (Mulligan) Mazurkiewicz, Harrisburg; and Patricia A. (Mulligan) Velasquez, Alexandria, Va.
Other survivors include two brothers; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Burial was in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery , Lebanon County.
The Cremation Society of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, was in charge of the arrangements.
