Obituaries by LocationKathryn Tompkins
Kathryn A. Tompkins, 82, of Montrose, PA and formerly of Johnson City, NY, passed away
after an extended illness at the Endless Mountains Health Systems, Montrose.
She was born to the late Walter and Tressa (Pickett) Tompkins in Johnson City, NY. Kathryn was a graduate of Johnson City High School, a life-long employee of EJ Shoe Corp. and a member of Primitive Methodist Church, Johnson City.
She is survived by a brother-in-law, Robert E. Goerlitz, Montrose; two nephews, Douglas Goerlitz, Montrose, David Bruce Goerlitz, Berlin, NJ.
A graveside memorial service was held at 12 noon on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002 at the Beaver Meadows Cemetery in Tuscarora Twp., Bradford Co., PA. Pastor Robert E. Goerlitz, officiated.
Donations can be made to the Susquehanna County Library, Monument Square, Montrose, PA, 18801 in Kathryn’s name.
John Skvasik
September 3, 2002
John Skvasik, age 85, of Sugar Run, PA, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, September 3, 2002 at the Memorial Hospital, Towanda.
John was born in Freeland, PA on June 10, 1917, son of the late Stephen and Susan Gasper Skvasik. He marriage the former Marie Gauer of Elizabeth, NJ in Osbornville, NJ on June 2, 1940. John worked as a welder in the Bayonne Shipyards during WWII and after the war, was a contract home builder in New Jersey until his retirement in 1968. He and Marie moved to Standing Stone where they farmed until moving to Sugar Run in 1982. Marie predeceased him on Aug. 3, 1999.
John was a member of the American Red Cross and also Meals on Wheels. He was a Mason and was the former Worthy Patron for Azure Chapter 87 OES, Cranford, NJ and attended local meetings of Wyalusing Lodge #618 F&AM.
Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, John and Tamara Skvasik, Wyalusing; two daughters, Elaine Marie Grover and Andrea Loggins, both of Gillett; brothers, Joseph G. Skvasik, Freeland, Albert Squasic, Las Vegas, NV; sisters, Elizabeth Angeli and Delores Angeli, both of Medford, OR; special friends, Diane Kruger, Sugar Run and Bill and Florence Brotzman, Laceyville; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a grandson, Charles McKelvey on Oct. 10, 1985 and by brothers, Andrew and Stephen and sisters, Marie Trautner and Pauline Skvasik.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 1 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing, with the Rev. Beverly Davenport, his former pastor, officiating.
Friends may call at the Homer Funeral Home on Friday from 12 noon until the time of the service.
Memorials may be directed to the Wyalusing Volunteer Fire Company, PO Box 86, Wyalusing, PA 18853 or to the Wyalusing Ambulance Association, PO Box 787, Wyalusing, PA 18853.
Helen Karge
Sept. 1, 2002
Mrs. Helen Karge, age 89, of Ringdale, Sullivan County, PA passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2002 at home with her family.
Helen was born Sept. 12, 1912 in Cherry Township, a daughter of the late Joseph J. and Elizabeth Harney Farrell. Helen attended St. Basil’s School in Dushore. She marriage Walter Clarence Karge of Ringdale on Nov. 28, 1930. Walter predeceased her on May 13, 1959.
Helen worked for eight years for the former Weldon Manufacturing Company of Dushore until her husband’s death. At that time, she took over the management of the family dairy farm. Helen milked, drove tractor and operated the farm until retiring.
Helen was a member of St. Basil’s Catholic Church in Dushore and a member of its former Altar and Rosary Society, now the Catholic Women’s Guild.
Surviving are two sons and daughter-in-law, W. Douglas Karge, at home, John R. and Cathy Karge, Ringdale; two daughters and son-in-law, Eunice E. and Francis Richart, Dushore, Irene H. Karge, at home; a sister-in-law, Kathryn Farrell, Dushore; grandchildren, Francis Richart, Jr., Dushore, Jennifer Wettlaufer, Mildred, Jody and Jamie Karge, Ringdale; several nieces and nephews.
Helen was predeceased by brothers, John Farrell, who died in action in WWII; Patrick P. Farrell on Feb. 20, 1990; Edward J. Farrell on Feb. 23, 1994; Leo P. Farrell on April 15, 1995 and Frank J. Farrell on Jan. 24, 1999.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday (today), Sept. 5 at 9:30 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 a.m. in St. Basil’s Church, Dushore, with the Rev. Michael B. Harris, her pastor, presiding. Interment will be in Peace Cemetery, Dushore.
Friends called on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The Catholic Women’s Guild recited the rosary at 3 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to St. Basil’s Restoration Fund, PO Box 307, Dushore, PA 18614, the Laporte Ambulance Association, PO Box 31, Laporte, PA 18626 or the Mildred Ambulance Association, PO Box 74, Mildred, PA 18632.
Edwin Grow
Sept. 2, 2002
Edwin D. Grow, 61, of Springville, PA, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Sept. 2, 2002 at Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock.
He was born to Lois A. (Wilbur) Grow and the late George M. Grow, who passed away in 1975.
Edwin was a member of the Springville United Methodist Church, an honorary member and former fire chief for the Springville Volunteer Fire Company. He liked camping, hunting and traveling and he loved to help his neighbors and friends.
His wife, Beverly (Way) Grow; daughter and son-in-law, Shelley and Thomas Krishak; granddaughters, Allison, Kayla and Kristi Krishak; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Alyne and John Horn, Marlene and Edward Pompey, all of Springville; nephews and nieces survive Ed.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 5 at the Daniel K. Regan Funeral Home, Montrose, with Rev. Edwin A. Simmons of the Lemon United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in the Lynn Cemetery, Springville Township. Visitation was on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Thursday at the funeral home.
Donations can be made to the Springville Volunteer Fire Company, PO Box 107, Springville, PA 18844.
Thomas Davis
Sept. 1, 2002
Thomas E. Davis, 61, of John Brady Drive, Muncy, PA, died on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2002 at his home. He and his wife, the former Shirley A. Fowler, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on Nov. 19. Born June 9, 1941 in Williamsport, he was a son of the late Ellis and Edith Miller Davis.
Tom had worked at the former GTE Sylvania Plant in Montoursville for over 17 years, at Rheem’s Textile in Dushore, at Wheeler’s Tool Company in Sayre and Marshelek Machine Shop in Montoursville. He was a 1961 graduate of Williamsport High School and a Navy veteran of Vietnam, serving on the USS Yorktown. Tom was a member of the New Life Church in Pennsdale.
He had several inventions including a device used in Navy helicopters and several items purchased and used by GTE Sylvania. Tom loved the outdoors enjoying hunting and working with black powder guns. He was also a beekeeper.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are three children, Mechelle Warren, a resident of Kramm, NH, Gary Davis of Hughesville and Denise Davis, at home; two brothers, Charles of Pennsdale and Howard of Montoursville; two sisters, Nina Houseknecht of Hughesville and Debra Hensler of Cogan Station and two grandchildren, Felicia and Rachel Warren.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the New Life Church in Pennsdale with the Rev. Robert A. Lauver officiating. Burial was in the Twin Hills Memorial Park with graveside military rites by combined veterans organizations.
Friends called on Wednesday at the church.
The McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home in Hughesville was entrusted with arrangements.
Helen Hottenstein
Oct. 27, 2002
Helen Jeannette Hottenstein of Forksville, PA, a pioneer in modern nursing, organizer of a local home health agency and world traveler, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002 at the Memorial Hospital in Towanda.
Helen was born April 23, 1928 at the Dr. A. J. Bird Maternity Home, New Albany, a daughter of the late Willard Bryon and Blanche Kester Hottenstein. She graduated from New Albany Vocational High School, Class of 1946, received her RN degree from the Robert Packer Hospital in Oct. 1949 and a BSN from UCLA in 1976. Helen credited her aunt, Ruth Arey for inspiring her to nurse and care for others. She began her nursing career in Allentown State Hospital, moving on to the Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, upon the recommendation of Dr. Guthrie of Sayre, who was a friend of Alton Ochsner, a world-class surgeon. Due to the low salaries then paid nurses, Helen also babysat and thus met the president of Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, who offered her a job in Saudi Arabia.
Helen spent 14 years in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (1955-1970), with the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) in various capacities in the hospital. She traveled extensively to Jordan, Lebanon, Vietnam, Europe, Africa, China, Japan and around the world14 times. She even ended up in a few scenes in the movie, "Bridge Over the River Kwai," which was filming when she was in Ceylon.
Helen was in Dhahran during the Six-Day War when the Arabs attacked the hospital. In 1968, Helen and her comrades received a blessing from Pope Paul II in his quarters in Rome for their relief efforts in the aftermath of the Six Day War.
To be closer to her aging parents in 1970, Helen returned to the U.S. and went back to UCLA, working in Los Angeles at the Veterans Administration and then the County Hospitals. She was also clinic coordinator for the Foothill Chapter of the Flying Samaritans, a non-profit group devoted to medical and educational aid to remote villages in Baja, California and Mexico, flying to remote areas of Mexico every two weeks.
But "once you get your feet wet in the Loyalsock, you’ll always come back," and Helen did in 1976, following the death of her mother. In 1977, she assumed a position as director of nursing at DarWay Nursing Home, Forksville until 1983 when she assumed a position at Memorial Hospital, where she established the hospital’s Home Health Care Agency. April 19, 1995 was designated Helen Hottenstein Day by the Sullivan County Commissioners in recognition of her "total involvement and commitment to her county and community" and for her efforts to "assure that residents enjoy healthier and happier lives." A retirement party at the Memorial Hospital in 1995 honored her for "her dedication and commitment in pioneering home health care for the hospital in Bradford and Sullivan counties."
Her memberships include the Towanda Chapter No. 76, Order of the Eastern Star, the State Nurses Association Alumni and Dushore Lions Club. Helen donated her time and energy to many worthwhile causes, serving on the board of the following: Area Agency on Aging, the Sullivan County Council on the Arts, the Sullivan County Council on the Arts, the Sullivan County Historical Association, St. Paul’s Consistory, St. Paul’s Women’s Guild, the Sullivan County Library Board, Bradford-Sullivan County Red Cross and Dushore Tuesday Club. Helen served as the chairperson of the Sullivan County Assistance Board since 1978 and rarely missed serving as a nurse at the local bloodmobiles.
She is survived by "Duke" and numerous cousins. Helen was predeceased by her mother in 1975 and father in 1991.
A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Overton on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Robert W. Martin, her pastor, officiating. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery .
There will be no calling hours. Memorials may be directed to Memorial Home Health, c/o Debra Hicks, RN, BSN, MS, One Hospital Drive, Towanda, PA 18848.
Funeral services are under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA.
Gertrude Kunkle
Oct. 25, 2002
Gertrude M. Kunkle, age 97, of Wyalusing, PA, passed away on Friday evening, Oct. 25, 2002 at her home.
She was born on Jan. 19, 1905 in Wilmot Township, Bradford County, a daughter of the late Elmer G. and Lela Potter Arey.
On May 28, 1924, Gertrude became the bride of Robert F. Kunkle. He preceded her in death in June of 1970.
She lived her entire lifetime in this area.
Mrs. Kunkle was a member of the Wyalusing United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women.
In 1975, she served as Past Matron for Wyalusing Chapter No. 523, Order of the Eastern Star and was a present member of Meshoppen Chapter No. 70 Order of the Eastern Star.
She enjoyed time spent sewing, making her home and tending to her flowers and gardens. She especially loved time spent with her grandchildren.
Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Reta and Floyd Oliver of Wyalusing; three sisters, Lydia Vose of Orlando, FL, Gladys Storrs of Elmira, NY and Margaret Arey of Wyalusing; a sister-in-law, Genevieve Arey of Wysox; her five grandchildren and their spouses, Robert and Irene Oliver, Linda and Dennis Brown, Curt and Tina Oliver, Thomas and Debbie Rounsville and Timothy Rounsville; seven great-grandchildren, Robert, Oliver, Jr., Jason Oliver, Adam Oliver, Jenny Brown, D.J. Brown, Rachel Rounsville and Thomas Rounsville; three great-great-grandchildren, Fontana Oliver, Janie Lynn Oliver and Haley Elizabeth Hemmerly.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter and son-in-law, Lois and Thomas Rounsville; a brother-in-law, Niles Storrs; brothers, Ralph Arey and Glen Arey and a sister, Mildred Arey.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. in the Wyalusing United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Russell Pierce, her pastor, officiating.
Meshoppen Chapter No. 70 Order of the Eastern Star conducted services at 9:45 a.m.
Friends and family called on Monday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Interment followed in the Wyalusing Cemetery .
Pallbearers were her grandsons and great-grandsons, Robert Oliver, Curtis Oliver, Dennis Brown, Thomas Rounsville, Timothy Rounsville, Robert Oliver, Jr., Adam Oliver, Jason Oliver and D.J. Brown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Guthrie Hospice, RR1, Box 154, Towanda, PA 18848 or the Wyalusing United Methodist Church in Mrs. Kunkle’s memory.
McHenry Funeral Home, 106 Church St., Wyalusing were entrusted with Mrs. Kunkle’s arrangements.
Harriet Edsell
Oct. 28, 2002
Harriet Alice Edsell, age 77, of Stevensville, PA passed away on Monday, Oct. 28, 2002 at her home with her loving family at her side.
Alice was born in Warren Center on Dec. 16, 1924, a daughter of the late Olin and Anna Bowen Jones. She graduated from the LeRaysville High School, a member of the Class of 1944.
Alice marriage J. Bernard Edsell of Stevensville on June 30, 1945. She and her husband operated the family farm in Pike Township until retiring.
Alice was a loving spouse and mother and enjoyed being with and cooking for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to go snowmobiling during the winter and also was very gifted working with ceramics. She was an avid gardener, both with flowers and vegetables. She was always with her great loved dog, Pepper.
Surviving are her spouse, Bernard, at home; three sons and daughters-in-law, Carl and Mary Edsell, Gene and Gloria Edsell, Leo and Cheryl Edsell, all of Stevensville; four daughters and sons-in-law, Virginia and Alden Brown, LeRaysville, Harriett Payton, Stevensville, Oma and Ed Taylor, LeRaysville, Dawn and George Bolles, Laceyville; sisters-in-law, Marian Jones, Rome, Ruth Jones, North Orwell, Marian Jones of Florida; 18 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Alice was predeceased by brothers, Fenton Jones, Llewellyn Jones and Paul Jones and a sister, Christine Rought.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 1 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing, with Rev. George Jatko, pastor of the Neath Welch Congregational Church, officiating. Interment was in the Stevens Cemetery, LeRaysville.
Friends called at the funeral home on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to the charity of one’s choice.
Mary Kithcart
Oct. 28, 2002
Mary Jane Kithcart, 53, wife of Daniel C. Kithcart of Ulster RR2, PA, passed away Monday evening, Oct. 28, 2002 at her home, following an extended illness.
Born April 7, 1949 in Sayre, she was a daughter of Aletha Myers Porter of Wyalusing and the late Denton Porter. Mary Jane spent her early years growing up in Terrytown and was a graduate of Wyalusing Valley High School, class of 1967. On April 13, 1968, she marriage Daniel C. Kithcart in Laceyville. Mary Jane was employed by GTE Sylvania in Towanda for 25 years until declining health no longer permitted her to continue. She enjoyed bowling for many years and attended the Terrytown Baptist Church.
Surviving are her husband of 35 years, Daniel C. Kithcart, at home; her mother, Aletha Porter or Park Place, Wyalusing; a son, Daniel C. Kithcart, Jr., of Washington; a sister, Barbara Porter of Park Place, Wyalusing; two brothers and sister-in-law, Robert and Linda Porter of Wyalusing and Gordon Porter of Athens; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her father, Denton Porter.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home, 217 York Ave., Towanda, with the Rev. Dennis Fox, pastor of the Terrytown Baptist Church, officiating. There were no calling hours.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Memorial Hospice, 1 Hospital Drive, Towanda, PA 18848 in Mary Jane Kithcart’s memory.
Marie Mraz
Oct. 29, 2002
Marie A. Mraz, age 52, of LeRaysville RR1, PA, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002 at her home.
She was born on Dec. 12, 1949 in Reraitin, NJ, a daughter of Harold and Ann Pelicko Lukas.
On Oct. 25, 1969, Marie marriage John C. Mraz in Summerville, NJ. They celebrated 33 years of devoted marriage.
Mrs. Mraz had been a resident of the LeRaysville area for nine years, having moved from Piscataway, NJ.
She left surviving her husband, John C. Mraz, at home; her mother, Ann Lukas of Port Charles, FL; two sisters, Ann Marie Brienza of Lebanon, NJ and Diane Clim of Port Charles, FL and her two nephews, Robert Luke Clim and Russell Clim.
She was preceded in death by her father, the late Harold Lukas.
The family received friends and family on Thursday evening, Oct. 31 at the McHenry Funeral Home, 106 Church St., Wyalusing, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Interment will be at the convenience of the family at a later date in New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733 Third Ave., New York City, NY 10017 in Mrs. Mraz’s memory.
Eleanor Nazarene
Mrs. Eleanor Nazarene, age 74, of RR1, Wyalusing, PA (Indian Hill), passed away at the Tyler Memorial Hospital, Tunkhannock, after an illness.
Born in Philadelphia, on Feb. 25, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Anna Kaminski Boycheck. Mrs. Nazarene was a graduate of the William Penn High School for Girls, Class of 1946. She was the wife of the late Charles W. Nazarene, who passed away on Sept. 1, 1987.
From 1979 until 1992, Charles and Eleanor owned and operated the Nazarene Family Center on Main St. in Laceyville. During that time, Mrs. Nazarene was very active in the Laceyville Business Association.
She is survived by a son and his wife, Joseph and Colleen Nazarene of Diamond Point, NY; a daughter, Julianne Nazarene of Athens and a daughter-in-law, Joan Nazarene of Manasssas, VA; three grandchildren, Rebeccah Sitzman and Jessicah Nazarene, both of Manassas, VA and Michaela Nazarene of Diamond Point, NY; a great-granddaughter, Samantha Sitzman of Manassas, VA; two nieces and three nephews.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Charles Nazarene, Jr. in 1996 and a sister, Jennie Schimmel in 1996.
In abiding with Mrs. Nazarene’s wishes, there will be no calling hours or funeral services.
Arrangements were made through the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main St., Laceyville.
