Obituaries by LocationRUTH M. HAMMER
Services were held for Ruth M. Hammer, 96, formerly of South Fourth Street, Reading, who died January 1 in Berkshire Center, Exeter Township, where she resided for two months.
Her husband, Andrew R. Hammer, died in 1964.
She was born in Lebanon County.
Surviving are four sons, James M. Hammer, Shillington; Richard A. Hammer, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Kenneth Pyles, Lebanon County; and Herbert Pyles, Libertyville, Ill.; also a daughter, Jeannette (Hammer) Landis, Shillington.
There also are 20 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren.
Burial was in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton.
The arrangements were handled by the Auman Funeral Homes, Reiffton.
MAXINE J. LANE
Funeral services were held for Maxine J. Lane, 61, of Spruce Street, Reading, who died December 30 [2002] in the residence of a daughter, Joan Lane, Haycreek Road, Birdsboro.
She was the wife of James C. Lane, Reading.
Born in Reading, she was employed for 40 years by CNA Insurance Co., Reading, and was also employed as a certified nursing assistant by Beverly Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Exeter Township, last working in 2002.
She was a member of Spring Valley Church of God, Muhlenberg Township.
Lane, who resided with Tyrone E. Kelley, is also survived by another daughter, Leslie (Lane) Hightower, and two sons, James Lane Jr. and Aruel J., all of Reading.
Other survivors include six brothers and seven sisters.
There are also 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Burial was private.
The arrangements were handled by the Gallman-Sonoski Funeral Home Inc., Reading.
EDWARD J. RISSMILLER
Funeral services were held for Edward J. Rissmiller, 72, of East Eighth Street, Birdsboro, who died December 31 [2002] in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient.
He was the husband of Bernadette R. (Kuczala) Rissmiller.
Rissmiller was employed from 1950 to 1972 by Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., Pottstown, where he was union president. He was employed as a field representative from 1972 to 1997 by the International Rubber Workers, which later became United Steelworkers of America, before retiring.
He was an Army veteran of the Korean War.
He was also a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Birdsboro.
Rissmiller was a member and former master of Union Lodge 479 F&AM, Birdsboro. He also was the former commander and chief of the Reading Consistory in 1975.
He is survived by two daughters, Julie A. (Rissmiller) Berkley, and Teresa L. (Rissmiller) Peifer, both of Birdsboro.
Other survivors include five grandchildren.
Burial was in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Rieffton.
The arrangements were handled by the Dengler Funeral Home Inc., Birdsboro.
DOROTHY E. MCMULLEN
Services were held for Dorothy E. McMullen, 70, of South Mill Street, Birdsboro, who died December 31 [2002] in Beverly Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Exeter Township, where she had resided for the past 16 months.
Her husband, John S. McMullen Sr., died in 1994.
Born in Spring City, she was employed for 13 years as a driver by the Economic Opportunity Council in Reading and Birdsboro and was last employed by Goodwill Industries of Mid-Eastern Pennsylvania, Shillington, retiring in 1998.
Surviving are a son, John Jr., Birdsboro; and five daughters: Koral McMullen, with whom she last resided; Kristine (McMullen) Fogle, Norco, Calif.; Karoline (McMullen) Hart and Kathleen McMullen, both of Reading, and Karen (McMullen) Kline, Exeter Township.
Other survivors include a brother, Robert Eckert Jr., and a sister, Marion (Eckert) Keller, both of Birdsboro.
There are also nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Auman Funeral Homes, Reading, was in charge of arrangements.
DOROTHY M. TURNER
Services were held for Dorothy M. Turner, 71, of Exeter Township, who died December 29 [2002] in St. Joseph Medical Center, where she had been a patient.
She was the wife of Howard R. Turner.
Born in Reading, Turner served as the former financial secretary of the Ladies Auxiliary of Berks Firemen.
She additionally served as past president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Stonersville Fire Company.
Turner is also survived by two sons, George Sr., Exeter Township, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Richard Turner, Brussels, Belgium.
There are also two grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Burial was in Pleasant View Cemetery , Spring Township.
The Auman Funeral Home, Reiffton, handled the arrangements.
JOHN H. MAST
Services were held for John H. Mast, 84, formerly of Best Road, Morgantown, who died January 2 in Tel Hai Retirement Community, Honey Brook, Chester County.
He was the husband of Ann (Kennel) Mast, also a resident at Tel Hai.
Born in Morgantown, Mast was employed as an electrician by Graco Children’s Products Inc., Elverson, until his retirement.
He was a member of the Conestoga Mennonite Church, Morgantown, where he was a former trustee, Sunday school teacher and historical committee member.
Mast delivered the “Highway News’ for Transport for Christ.
He is also survived by a brother.
Burial was in Pine Grove Cemetery , Elverson.
The Eckenroth Home for Funerals, Terre Hill, was in charge of arrangements.
WILLIAM CRAZE
Private services were held for William Hill Craze, 100, of Lorane Road in Exeter, who died January 2 in his residence.
He was the widower of Bessie (Alderman) Craze.
Born in Shamokin, he worked for the former Reading Car Shop in Reading.
Surviving are two sons, Richard Craze of Reading and William Hill Craze of Atlanta; one daughter, Daisy A. Painter of Exeter; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Burial was in the Birdsboro Cemetery .
The arrangements were handled by the Dengler Funeral Home in Birdsboro.
RICHARD M. AUMAN
Burial was private for Richard M. Auman, 61, of Poplar Drive, St. Lawrence, who died December 31 [2002] in St. Joseph Medical Center.
He was the husband of Mary J. (Frederick) Auman.
Born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, he was employed for 27 years as a supervisor by Parish Structural Products Division of Dana Corp., Reading, until its closing. He was later employed as a maintenance supervisor by the Cabot Corp., Boyertown, last working in September.
He was an Army and Air Force veteran.
Auman was a graduate of Blue Mountain High School, Orwigsburg, and received a certificate for journeyman apprentice from the Reading-Muhlenberg Vocational-Technical School.
Also surviving are five sons, Thomas L., West Reading; Keith A., Womelsdorf; Michael W. and Craig R., both of Robesonia; and Josh M., at home.
Other survivors include two stepdaughters, Jennifer M. Yourkavitch, Zambia, Africa, and Jill A. Yourkavitch, Temple; and three stepsons: Jess M., Joseph B. and Jake A. Yourkavitch, all at home.
Also surviving are two half brothers; a half sister and five grandchildren.
The Lutz Funeral Home Inc., Mount Penn, handled the arrangements.
CATHERINE ALDERMAN
Services were held for Catherine Alderman, 56, who died January 2 in her residence on North Kelly Drive, Birdsboro.
She was the wife of Albert H. Alderman.
Born in Troy, N.Y., she was a daughter of Anthony D’Agostino, Troy, and the late Catherine (Shevlin) D’Agostino.
Alderman was a member of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Birdsboro.
She is also survived by two sons, John D., Frederick, Md., and Scott A., Richford, Vt.; and a daughter, Gina M. (Alderman) Scully, Grafton, N.Y.
Other survivors include six grandchildren.
Burial was in St. Mary Cemetery , Troy.
The Dengler Funeral Home, Inc., Birdsboro, was in charge of local arrangements and the Howard B. Tate & Sons Funeral Home Inc., Troy were in charge of burial arrangements.
MILDRED M. MOYER
Services were held for Mildred M. Moyer, 91, formerly of Oley Turnpike Road, Jacksonwald, who died January 2 in Zerbe Sisters Nursing Center Inc., Narvon, Lancaster County, where she had resided since 1995.
Her husband, Stanley S. Moyer, died in 1995.
Born in Sinking Spring, she was last employed as a needle inspector by Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, during World War II.
She was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Bowmansville, Lancaster County.
Surviving are a daughter, Janice V. (Moyer) Dunn, Morgantown; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Burial was in Schwarzwald Cemetery , Jacksonwald.
The Lutz Funeral Home Inc., in Mount Penn, handled the arrangements.
