Obituaries by LocationMYRTLE I. CLAY
Services were held for Myrtle I. (Moyer) Clay, 88, widow of Harry J. Clay, of East Fourth Street, Boyertown, who died July 21 at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. She was born in Boyertown and for 13 years was a cafeteria aide at Boyertown Area High School, retiring in 1967. Clay was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Boyertown. She was also a member of Faith Charter No. 444 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Boyertown and the Golden Age Club, also of Boyertown. She was predeceased by a sister, Florence Smith. Surviving are a brother-in-law and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, PA 19512. The Linwood W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown, handled the arrangements.
JENNIFER LYNN GETZ
A Funeral Mass was celebrated for Jennifer Lynn Getz, 21, of Fox Lane, Bethlehem, and formerly of the Boyertown area, who died July 20, from injuries she received from an automobile accident. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of Lance R. Getz of Fleetwood, and Sharon M. (Gallagher) Getz of Bally. She had attended Boyertown Area High School, and was currently a student at the Allentown Business School. In addition to her parents, she is survived by her paternal grandparents, Marlyn and Louise (Hetler) Getz, of Enis, Mont.; her maternal grandparents, John Gallagher, of Pottstown, and Louise (Filino) Coin, of Barto. Burial was private. The arrangements were by the Catagnus Funeral Home, Gilbertsville.
RUBY M. PETSCH
Services will be held for Ruby M. Petsch, 92, formerly of Petsch Road, Alsace Township, who died July 23 in St. Joseph Medical Center. She had been a resident of the Beverly Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Exeter Township, where she had resided for 3-1/2 years. Her husband, Henry D. Petsch, died in 1991. Born in Alsace Township, she was a member of Zion (Spies) Reformed Church, Alsace Township. Surviving are two sons, Herman H. and Samuel, both of Exeter Township; and two daughters, Pearl R. (Petsch) Hertzog, Fairfax, Va., and Edna M. (Petsch) Romberger, West Lawn. Other survivors include two sisters, Mary K. (Petsch) Garman and Anna (Petsch) Rothenberger, both of Alsace Township. There are also 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Robert W. Petsch. Services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. in Bean Funeral Homes & Cremation Services Inc., Reading. Burial will be in Spies (Zion) Cemetery , Alsace Township.
RALPH E. HOFFMAN
A memorial service was held for Ralph E. Hoffman, 77, of Colebrookdale Road, Douglass (Berks) Township, who died July 11. He had been a patient at the Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. He was the widower of Geraldine M. (Houck) Hoffman. Born in Windsor Castle, he was a 1940 graduate of Boyertown High School. Hoffman had worked at Occidental Chemical Company, Pottstown, as a maintenance worker until retiring in 1985. Before that he had worked for the former Firestone Tire Company. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War IIand was a member of Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, Boyertown. He had been active with Boy Scout Troop 3 of Boyertown for many years, serving as district commissioner of Daniel Boone Council and earning the Distinguished Silver Beaver and Wood badges as an adult. Surviving are two sons, Donald C. Hoffman of Pottstown and Michael L. Hoffman, of Boyertown; a daughter, Suzanne L., wife of Arthur Donald Gibson, of Lemoore, Calif.; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother. Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd U.C.C. Memorial Fund, 35 W. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown, PA 19512. The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown.
RUTH SURGEONER
Services were held for Ruth (Moyer) Surgeoner, 77, wife of Samuel "Scotty" Surgeoner, of Mock Road, Pottstown, who died July 10 at her residence. Born in Limerick, she was a member of St. Paul’s Church, Stowe, and the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 471, Boyertown. In addition to her husband of 52 years, she is survived by two sons, D. Bruce Surgeoner of Boyertown, and Scott A. Surgeoner of Gilbertsville; a daughter, Bonnie L., wife of Richard R. Rotz, of Gilbertsville; two sisters and five grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother. Memorial donations may be made to The Memorial Fund of St. Paul’s Church, Linden and Glasgow streets, Stowe, PA 19464; or to The Visiting Nurses of Pottstown and Vicinity, 1963 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464. The arrangements were handled by the Houck Funeral Home Inc., Pottstown.
CAROL A. EIDLE
Services were held for Carol A. (Hall) Eidle, 50, wife of Kerry J. Eidle Sr. of Yoder Road, Oley, who died July 11 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient. Born in Pottstown, she was a 1969 graduate of Boyertown High School. Mrs. Eidle was a housewife. Surviving in addition to her husband are two stepsons, Kerry J. Eidle Jr., of Earl Township and Mark A. Eidle of Chicago; one stepdaughter, Tina M. Eidle, wife of Thomas Borcher of Fleetwood, one step-granddaughter; one brother, Thomas Hall of Wyalusing, four sisters, Jane, wife of George Dierolf of Pottstown; Pearl, wife of Thomas Kirlin of Pottstown; Mary, wife of Gary Neiman of Boyertown and Doris, wife of Richard Bates of Oley. The arrangements were handled by the Daniel R. Christ Funeral Home, Oley.
CATHERINE H. GEHMAN
Services will be held for Catherine H. (Frey) Gehman, 86, of Barto, Washington Township, who died July 15. She died from injuries received from an auto accident. Gehman was the widow of Ralph H. Gehman. Born in Berks County, she was a housewife and a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Niantic. Surviving are four daughters, Arlene G., wife of David C. Houck of Blandon; Virginia M., wife of George H. Reifsnyder of Boyertown; Dorothy A., wife of William J. Houser of Pottstown; Anna M. Gehman of Barto; four sons, Russell H., Richard J. and Ralph R. Gehman, all of Barto, and Ernest E. Gehman of Boyertown; 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by a daughter Helen, wife of Donald P. Bauer of Barto. Also a sister and a brother. Funeral services will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Barto. The Rev. Richard H. Schaefer, retired pastor, will officiate. Friends may call at 10 a.m. at the church until the time of the service. Contributions may be made in her memory to Christ Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 222 Niantic Road, Barto, PA 19504. The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home, Boyertown.
PEARL M. EVANS
Graveside services will be held for Pearl M. Evans, 85, formerly of Boyertown, who died July 8 in Berks Heim, where she had been a resident since 1990. Her husband, Bernard W. Evans, died in 1985. Born in Shanesville, she had been employed for many years as a tubing machine operator at Judson Smith Co., Boyertown, retiring in 1985. Evans was a member of Church of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, Boyertown. She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Deborah J. Evans, Gilbertsville; a nephew, two nieces and two grandchildren. Evans was predeceased by a son, Robert B. Evans. Services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. in Hill Church Cemetery , Pike Township. The arrangements were handled by the L. W. Ott Funeral Home Inc., Boyertown.
MARION B. WILSON
Visitation will be held Thursday for Marion B. (Dengler) Wilson, 97, widow of Dallas Wilson, formerly of Pottstown, who died July 8 at Manatawny Manor, East Coventry. Born in Boyertown, Wilson was a telephone operator for Bell Telephone in Pottstown for 40 years. Surviving is a sister. She was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the Houck Funeral Home Inc., Charlotte and Grace streets, Pottstown. The Rev. David Jones, pastor at Limerick Chapel, will officiate. Burial will be in Florida at a later date.
JOHN H. HARING
A memorial service will be held for John H. Haring, Ph.D., 51, husband of Susanne M. (Daly) Haring of Kirkwood, Mo., and formerly of Gilbertsville, who died June 21 in Kirkwood. Born in Pottstown, he was the son of Willard and Helen (Dykan) Haring of Gilbertsville. He was a professor of anatomy and neurobiology at St. Louis University Medical Center. Haring was a 1967 graduate of Boyertown Area High School, he received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va. Between 1971 and 1975, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a first lieutenant. Following his tour of duty, Dr. Haring received his master’s degree in biology from West Chester University, West Chester, and his doctorate from Hershey Medical Center of Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Haring then finished his post-doctorate internship with Duke University, Durham, N.C. He was a member of Invera-An Bag Pipe Band of St. Louis and was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church in Kirkwood. He had formerly been a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gilbertsville. In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by two daughters, Megan A. and Amanda G. Haring, both of Kirkwood; and a brother. A memorial service for Dr. Haring will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 5 at St. Luke Lutheran Church. The Rev. Christopher Weidner, pastor, will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 35 Wilson Ave., Gilbertsville, PA 19525; or to V.M.T. Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 932, Lexington, Va. 24450. The Warker-Troutman Funeral Home, Pottstown, is in charge of the arrangements.
