Obituaries by LocationR. Wayne Button
Nov. 9, 2002
R. Wayne Button, 80, a well-known resident of Main St., Ulster, passed away on Saturday morning, Nov. 9, 2002 at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre.
Born Aug. 2, 1922 in Springville, he was a son of the late Glenn and Emma "Jean" Lance Button.
Wayne, as he was known by his many friends, was a graduate of Springville High School, Class of 1941. He later served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, in the Pacific Theatre and during the Korean Conflict.
On Nov. 6, 1949, he married the former Elizabeth Ellis in Camptown. Wayne and Elizabeth celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.
Wayne operated his own air conditioning, refrigeration and electrical business in the Bradford County area for many years until his retirement.
He was a member of the Ulster Village Presbyterian Church; Union lodge 108 F&AM, Towanda; Towanda American Legion Post #42 and the Modern Square Dance Clubs in Elmira and Athens.
Wayne loved square dancing, antique cars and traveling with his wife, Elizabeth in their motor home.
Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth "Bette" Button, at home; two sons, Kevin F. Button of Ulster and Brian W. Button, Sr. of Sayre; a daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie L. and Richard Hunsinger of Sayre; three grandchildren, Andrea L. Button, Brian W. "Bub" Button, II and Dannie Elizabeth Button, all of Sayre; two sisters, Bette Carr of Wyalusing and Cynthia Button White of Springville; a brother, Darwin Button of Harpursville, NY and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Herbert K. Button and by a sister, Lillian "Billie" Warner Stalford.
The family received friends on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bowen-Farr Funeral Home, Gordon Farr St., Ulster, PA.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. at the Ulster Village Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dale Bird, pastor, officiating.
Interment was in the Tyler Hill Cemetery , Springville, Susquehanna County.
The family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to the Ulster Village Presbyterian Church, in care of Esther Rinebold, RR2, Box 312, Ulster, PA 18850, in Mr. Button’s memory.
Robert Fike
Nov. 3, 2002
Robert W. Fike, age 72, of Meshoppen, PA, died on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2002 at his residence. Born Feb. 20, 1930 in Springville, he was a son of the late Charles and Helen Fuller Fike. On Feb. 1, 1969, he was married to Alice (Welch) Fike, who survives.
He was self-employed as an excavator and previously worked at Coralisle Swimming Pools, Vestal, NY. He enjoyed woodworking at home and loved making things for his family and grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, survivors include daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Larry Snowden, Elmore, AL, Robin and David Tinna, Meshoppen, Trina Jayne, Red Lion, Renee and Kenny Sherman, Springville, Carol and Robert Wandall, Meshoppen; sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Debbie Fike, Forest Lake, Larry and Susan Fike, Dimock, John Blaisure, Philadelphia, Joseph Blaisure, Hallstead, Edwin and Mary Blaisure, Meshoppen; sisters and brothers-in-law, Marion and William Williams, Holly Hill, FL, Dawn and Edward Pennington, Kodiak, AK; daughter-in-law and spouse, Rosemary and Rick Chase, New Albany; many grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a son, Lenny Fike in 1975 and a brother, Garth Fike in 1989.
Services will be 9 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Bartron Funeral Home, Inc., a Selected Independent Funeral Home, 74 Church St., Montrose. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 1101 Hill St., Jessup, PA 18434 or to the American Heart Association, 630 Pittston Ave., Scranton, PA 18505.
Dr. Robert Smith
Nov. 1, 2002
Dr. James Robert Smith, age 54, of Poway, CA, formerly of Towanda, PA, passed away on Friday evening, Nov. 1, 2002 at the Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA.
Jim was born in Sayre on Dec. 29, 1947, a son of the late Vernon F. and Rita Murphy Smith. He graduated from St. Agnes High School, where he was a member of the basketball team and the Class of 1966. He attended the University of Scranton, Mansfield University and graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. During his college years, Jim drove taxi for Red Barrett in Towanda.
Jim set up practice in Mesa, AZ and later moved to Clayton, NY in 1987, where he operated his practice until moving to Poway two years ago.
Jim was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clayton and a former member of the Clayton Lions Club.
Surviving are stepdaughters and spouses, Bethany and Christian Miller, Middletown, RI, Amanda and Michael Bickford, Chandler, AZ; an aunt, Helen Murphy, Montoursville; three grandchildren, Jason, Cameron and Ethan Bickford; two cousins, Mike Murphy, Montoursville, Carol Murphy D’Mar Shimun, San Francisco, CA.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. from the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, and will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Basil’s Church, Dushore, with the Rev. Michael B. Harris, pastor, presiding. Interment
will be in St. Basil’s Cemetery .
Memorials may be directed to the charity of one’s choice.
Jonas Mast
Nov. 5, 2002
Jonas S. Mast, 79, of Warren Center, PA, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2002 at the home.
Jonas was born on Aug. 5, 1923 in Holmes County, OH, a son of the late Samuel S. and Anna Swartzentruber Mast.
He married Elma Mae Miller on March 5, 1942 in Dover, DE.
A carpenter for most of his life, he and his wife, Elma raised 12 children-eight sons and four daughters, Anna, Enos, Henry, LeRoy, Gertrude, Sadie, Jonathan, Andy, David, Samuel, Elma and Melvin; 112 grandchildren and 173 great-grandchildren.
Family and friends called at the home in Warren Center on Wednesday evening and may call on Thursday evening from 8 until 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 8 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Interment
will follow in the Valley View Cemetery .
Theodore Solowiej
Oct. 1, 2002
Theodore (Ted) Solowiej, age 76, of RR4, Wyalusing, PA, died on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002 at the Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre.
Ted was born on Jan. 13, 1926 at Port Griffith, son of Michael and Sophia Waxmonsky Solowiej. Ted was a graduate of the Camptown High School, Class of 1943.
In the 1950s, Ted worked on major road construction in the New York and Connecticut regions. From 1960 until 1966 he was a self-employed contractor and stone mason. In 1966 he started work at the Towanda DuPont plant until 1972, when he returned to his contracting business. In 1984 he and his son, Peter started a dairy operation on the family farm. Ted’s joy was being with his family and being on the farm tractor doing field work.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Josephine Terascavage Solowiej; his son and daughter-in-law, Peter and Kendra of Wyalusing; his two beloved granddaughters, Kayleen and Kristen; a brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Janice Solowiej of Myrtle Beach, SC; a brother-in-law, John Moss of Vestal, NY; a sister-in-law, Jean Solowiej of Horseheads, NY; his mother-in-law, Helen Terascavage and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Anthony and Joseph; sisters, Josephine, Ann and Dorothy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Oct. 4 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s of the Assumption Church, Wyalusing, with the Rev. Kenneth Seegar, his pastor, presiding.
Interment will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery , Stowell.
Friends may call at the McHenry Funeral Home, 106 Church St., Wyalusing, on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Friday, Oct. 4, from 9 to 10 a.m.
Memorials may be sent to St. Mary’s Parish Building Fund, Wyalusing, PA 18853 in Mr. Solowiej’s memory.
Regina Homer
Oct. 2, 2002
Mrs. Regina Ella Tubach Homer, age 85, well-respected funeral director for 60 years, of Dushore, PA, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002Oct. 2, 2002.
Regina was born on March 2, 1917, daughter of the late Arthur Leo and Marcella Brogan Tubach of Dushore. She graduated from St. Basil’s High School, a member of the Class of 1933. She began working by teaching ballroom and tap dancing for 50 cents an hour at St. Basil’s Hall. In 1935, she and her mother, her brother, Cyril and friend, Arlene North traveled to California by bus. In California she attended Pasadena Junior College and graduated from the Pasadena Beauty School where she was a teacher and also graduated from Siegelman’s Make-up Studio in Hollywood. In 1939, her parents spent the winter in California where they purchased a beauty college in Los Angeles, where Regina taught and also was the manager.
After the beauty school was sold in 1941, Regina returned home in May, and in September entered Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia. She graduated in 1942 and served her year’s apprenticeship under her father. She received her Pennsylvania Funeral Director’s License in 1943. Regina managed the funeral business, the furniture store and rural bottled gas service for her father. She expanded and modernized the facilities in 1954. She succeeded to the ownership of the family funeral home in 1960. Regina operated the funeral home with the help of the late Paul North and the late Tony Recupero until her son Dean, who served his apprenticeship with her, was licensed in 1972. Dean succeeded to ownership in 1979. She was actively engaged in the business until her death.
Regina was an avid fisherwoman and fished at her ponds and other locations every chance she had. She loved to listen to other fishermen tell tall tales of luck from casting and trolling from a boat, while she (using a bobber from shore) almost always came home with a full creel, which she immediately cleaned, scaled and prepared for freezing. She was also very accomplished at needlepoint. She completed several large pieces until her eyesight prevented her from discerning the very fine color changes in the fabrics.
Regina was a member of St. Basil’s Roman Catholic Church in Dushore and a member of its former Altar and Rosary Society. She was a past president and member of Tri-County Funeral Directors Association and a member of P.F.D.A. and N.F.D.A. Regina also served on the Dushore Sewer Authority for five years from its inception.
She cherished her membership in the Dushore Music Club and friendships made there. She hosted the group once a year at her home.
Regina was well known for her stylish attire and hat when at work and at mass.
Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, P. Dean and A. Kay Welles Homer, Dushore; three grandsons, J. Jeffrey Homer, Dushore, Nicholas C. Homer, Baltimore, MD, J. Bradford W. Homer, Dushore; one granddaughter, Amelia Regina Homer, Dushore, and several very loved cousins.
She was predeceased by her brother, Cyril on Nov. 28, 1941.
Funeral services will be held from the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated at St. Basil’s Church, Dushore, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Eugene R. Carr, her former pastor, presiding. Interment
will be in St. Basil’s Cemetery .
Friends may call on Friday, Oct. 6 at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
The family will provide the flowers. Please direct memorials to St. Basil’s Restoration Fund, PO Box 1, Dushore, PA 18614 or to the Dushore Music Club, c/o Peggy Anderson, PO Box 223, Dushore, PA 18614.
Clarence Frick
Sept. 28, 2002
Mr. Clarence Eugene Frick, age 82, of RR4, Box 143-B, Montrose, PA (Retta) passed away on Saturday morning, Sept. 28, 2002 at the Tyler Memorial Hospital in Tunkhannock.
Born in Pottstown on June 29, 1920 he was the son of the late Clarence and Mary Rosenberry Frick. Mr. Frick was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Lorraine Kinckiner Frick, who passed away in 1982.
Serving his country during WWII, he was a sergeant in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific Theater from 1942 until 1945. He was employed in the maintenance department for the Pennsylvania State Department of Welfare at Pennhurst Center in Spring City, retiring in 1977.
He was a member of the Spring City American Legion, Spring City and also a member of the NRA.
Surviving are his wife, the former Mary Jane Sciscio Frick, to whom he was married for 18 years; his sons and their spouses, Richard E. and Vera Frick of Montrose, John J. and Jean Frick of Kinberton and Thomas E. and Donna Frick of Chesapeake City, MD; stepsons, Darryl L. Smale of Pottstown, Thomas H. and Jody Smith of Pottstown; brothers, Ralph Frick of Limerick and Harry Frick of Reading; 11 grandchildren; several grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Smith, in 1982.
Memorial services will be held at the Springville Baptist Church on Friday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Thomas Rodway of the church officiating. Interment
will be at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Arrangements were through the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main St., Meshoppen.
Elizabeth Bonhamer
Sept. 29, 2002
Elizabeth M. (Peggy) Bonhamer, 83, formerly of Lee Park Towers, Hanover Twp., passed away on Sept. 29, 2002 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Born in Hanover Green on Sept. 6, 1919, she was the daughter of the late David and Edith (Fuge) Lane.
A graduate of Elmer L. Meyers High School, Class of 1938, she was married to Henry G. Bonhamer on July 14, 1941 at St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church in New York City. The couple, who recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary, resided in New York City for several years before returning to the Wyoming Valley where they have lived for most of the past five decades.
She was a member of the Albright United Methodist Church, Wilkes-Barre, where she served for many years as a Sunday School teacher. She was also formerly employed by the RCA Corporation in Mountain Top prior to her retirement in 1980.
An avid sports fan all of her life, Mrs. Bonhamer was a devoted supporter of both the New York Yankees and the New York Giants, as well as the Meyers Mohawks - and later in life, the Wyalusing Rams.
In addition to her husband, Henry, she is survived by a son, Lee and a "daughter," Linda of Wyalusing, a grandson, David and wife, Michelle of Wyalusing; two great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Michael, also of Wyalusing; a brother, David of Orlando, FL; several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by sisters, Florence Shaw, Hattie Price and Jeanne Jones and brothers, Leland Lane and Jack Lane.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m. at the Kniffen-O’Malley Funeral Home in Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. Patricia Goodwin of the Albright Methodist Church officiating. Interment
was at Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Dallas. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Albright United Methodist Church.
Robert Benscoter
Sept. 25, 2002
Robert Kenneth Benscoter, 79, of West River Rd., Nichols, NY, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002 at the Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre.
He is survived by his wife, Betty (Snell) Benscoter; sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Barbara Benscoter, Kenneth Benscoter, Wayne and Ann Benscoter, Gary and Holly Benscoter; a brother and sister-in-law, Walter and Kate Benscoter; grandchildren, Jessica, Tammy, Noel, Jon Paul, Cortney, Daniel, Gregory and Douglas; a great-granddaughter, Mya Benscoter; his nephew, Mark and wife, Catherine Benscoter; a great nephew, Samuel Benscoter.
Robert was born on July 23, 1923, a son of the late Alfred Kenneth and Nellie (Deets) Benscoter. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving his country during WWII.
Robert was a retired employee of IBM, Owego and was also employed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He loved to spend time hunting, fishing and enjoyed traveling. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Family and friends gathered on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 2 to 7 p.m. at Wayne and Ann Benscoter’s home for a time of sharing stories and memories.
Those who wish may kindly consider a memorial contribution to the Berkshire Fire and Emergency Squad, Main St. Berkshire, NY 13736.
Caring assistance provided by the Cooley Family of Sutfin Funeral Chapel, 273 S. Main St., Nichols.
Hope Armitage
Sept. 24, 2002
Hope M. Armitage, age 78, of Wysox, PA, passed away on Tuesday evening, Sept. 24, 2002 at the Memorial Hospital in Towanda.
She was born on Sept. 7, 1924 in Sayre, a daughter of the late Floyd and Anna Brown Merritt.
Mrs. Armitage had spent her entire life in the Bradford County area.
She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and had a great love for her family and enjoyed time spent with the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
On March 18, 2002, she was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Walter I. Armitage.
She is survived by her children, Leroy (Amy) Armitage, Wyalusing, Richard (Debbie) Armitage, Clearwater, FL, Dale (Laura) Armitage of Wyalusing, Gary (Barbara) Armitage of Wysox; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Rose Marie; a son, Walter; sisters and brothers, Emma Heeman, Edith Heeman, Fred Merritt, Floyd Merritt, Edward Merritt, Walter Merritt and Robert Merritt.
Funeral services were held on Friday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. in the McHenry Funeral Home, 106 Church St., Wyalusing.
Interment followed in the Camptown Cemetery .
Friends and family called on Thursday evening, Sept. 26 at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations or contributions may be made to the Wysox Ambulance Association, Wysox, PA in Mrs. Armitage’s memory.
