Obituaries by LocationDorothy Schoch
Dec. 17, 2002
Mrs. Dorothy Mae Phipps Schoch, age 79, of 202 Water St., Dushore, PA, passed away
on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Dot was born on July 23, 1923 in Bellingham, WA, a daughter of the late Thomas Ethelburt and Rose Sheldon Phipps. Her family moved to Denver, CO where she was raised and attended high school. She met James B. Schoch, Jr. of Philadelphia, who was stationed in Philadelphia with the U.S. Marine Corps. They marriage on May 7, 1945 in Willow Grove. After WWII, they moved to Sullivan County to a rundown farm in Cherry Township to seek their fortune as potato farmers. Jim became the first audio-visual coordinator for the Sullivan County High School and predeceased her on Sept. 9, 1978.
Sometime in 1947, Dot took a "temporary" job at Miller’s Hardware in Dushore. Temporary, the word, does not fit because she’d been there ever since as a clerk and bookkeeper. Few, if any, women know the difference between a surface ell and a lag screw, but Dot did.
Her community service includes active participation in just about everything, including Dushore Borough’s 1959 centennial pageant; borough secretary; Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts; the Dushore Music Club; county chorus and the auxiliary of the Laporte United Methodist Home (now Highlands). She always donated blood to the American Red Cross bloodmobile when it came to Sullivan County and she had recently received recognition as a 50 year voter, never missing an election during that time.
Religion was a major part of her life. Her grandfather was a minister and her uncle was an Episcopalian priest. For many years, she drove to Canton every Sunday to teach Sunday School. For the past 15 years or so, she could be found every Sunday at St. Basil’s, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School.
Dot was a Republican through and through. She was re-elected Sullivan County Jury Commissioner every four years since 1977 and has been the Dushore Borough Committeewoman since 1988. She had also held the office of vice-chairman of the Sullivan County Republican Committee for several terms. She was involved in the campaigns of Kenneth B. Lee, Carmel Sirianni, Ken Lee, Sandra Major and Tina Pickett, and she also worked on Don Sherwood’s Sullivan County campaign. Over the years, Dot obtained thousands of signatures on petitions for local, county, state and congressional offices.
Her grandchildren were very special to her, having been marriage 20 years before being blessed with Christopher and Mary.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Krista Schoch, Camillus, NY; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary and James Bish of Longmont, CO; three grandchildren, Jenna Schoch, Cody Bish and Kayla Bish; longtime friend, Ruth (Auntie/Sis) Campbell, Dushore.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 21 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 St. Basil’s Church in Dushore, with the Rev. Michael B. Harris, her pastor, presiding. Interment will be in Thrasher (Old Zion) Cemetery, Dushore.
Friends may call at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore on Friday, Dec. 20 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The Catholic Women’s Guild will recite the Rosary at 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the Dushore Music Club, c/o Peggy Anderson, PO Box 223, Dushore, PA 18614 or to Guthrie Hospice, RR1, Box 154, Towanda, PA 18848.
Ruth Jones
Dec. 17, 2002
Ruth S. Jones, age 61, of RR3, Box 90-A, Meshoppen, PA (Auburn Center), passed away at the Mid Valley Hospice in Dickson City on Tuesday morning, Dec. 17, 2002 after an illness.
Born in Wilkes-Barre on July 18, 1941, she was the daughter of the late John and Irene Baker Jones.
Ms. Jones was a homemaker all of her life for her family. She attended the Elk Lake Community Church. In her spare time, she enjoyed solving word search puzzles and enjoyed being with her grandchildren.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, with whom she lived, Gerald and Colleen Parkhurst of Auburn Center; four daughters and sons-in-law, Carole and Richard Burgess of Meshoppen, Sharon and George Davis of Meshoppen, Hope Smith of Laceyville, Ruth and Michael Hongach of Meshoppen; two brothers, Richard Jones of Hagerstown, MD and Kenneth Baker of Pennsylvania; three sisters, Audrey Torlish of Bridgewater, NJ, her twin sister, Rita Barney of Manville, NJ and Joan Buda of Manville, NJ; eight grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Arlene Petrosky, who passed away in 1999.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. from the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main St., Meshoppen, with Rev. Charles Bishop of the Elk Lake Community Church, officiating. Interment will be in the Jersey Hill Cemetery. Friends and family may call at the funeral home on Thursday evening, Dec. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing, may make memorial contributions to the Preferred Choice Hospice, Inpatient Unit, 799 Northern Blvd., PO Box 210, Clarks Summit, PA 18411.
Donald Hillis
Dec. 16, 2002
Donald Erwin Hillis, age 80, of Wyalusing RR1, PA, passed away at the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre on Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, following surgery for a broken hip.
Donald was born on Aug. 24, 1922 at his family home in Rummerfield to Erwin and Emily Robinson Hillis. He attended Camptown School and graduated in the Class of 1941.
He served in the United States Army in the Western Pacific as a Sergeant with the 1717th Signal Service Company as a high speed radio operator from Oct. 1942 until Jan. 1946.
He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal of the Asiatic Pacific Campaign with two Bronze Stars.
After his discharge, he returned to his home in Rummerfield where he owned and operated a dairy farm and drove milk truck for a number of years, until 1989 when he retired from milking, but still maintained his farm until his passing. His farm and family were his life.
He marriage the former Betty Otis in 1953. They raised two daughters and ran the farm side by side. They also parented and grandparented countless other young people through the years.
Don was a lifetime member of the Dairymen’s League and served as secretary for a time. He served as a Herrick Township Supervisor for many years and was a Lay Leader in the Camptown Church of which he still was a member.
Don leaves behind his wife, Betty of 49 years; daughters and sons-in-law, Faith and David Jaynes of Rummerfield, Ava and Ricky Tunnicliff of Rummerfield and his grandson and "special little buddy," Cody Allan Tunnicliff.
Other survivors are a brother, Ralph Hillis and wife, Ann of Hudson, FL; sisters and brothers-in-law, Doris and Gene Sharer of Spring Hill, Joan and Frank Rockefeller of Friendsville and Mary Agnes and Chet Ostrowsky of Rummerfield and many nieces and nephews.
Don also enjoyed two "special" children, Leonice Jones and Keshan Gardner of Rummerfield.
He was predeceased by his parents, a brother, Kenneth and an infant brother, Wayne.
Don was always ready to lend a helping hand and knew the right meaning of being a true neighbor. He enjoyed cutting wood, hunting and visiting with the hay customers.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and "PaPa Don" to so many. He will be greatly and sadly missed by all.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday (today), Dec. 19 at 2 p.m. in the McHenry Funeral Home, 106 Church St., Wyalusing, with the Rev. Helen Learn, his pastor, officiating.
Interment will follow in Camptown Cemetery .
Friends and family called on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at McHenry Funeral Home, from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Thursday, from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the HOPS Ambulance Association, the Wysox Ambulance Association or to the Wyalusing Ambulance Association in Mr. Hillis’s memory.
Stanley Frystak
Dec. 11, 2002
Stanley A. Frystak, age 75, of Wyalusing RR2, PA, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002 at Memorial Hospital in Towanda.
He was born on Feb. 6, 1927 in Montrose, a son of the late John and Julia Brudz Frystak.
Mr. Frystak was a veteran of the United States Army, having served during the Korean Conflict.
On April 24, 1954, he marriage the former Frances Watkins in Montrose.
Prior to his retirement in 1975, he was employed by Commonwealth Telephone Company. Stanley and his wife, Frances also had owned and operated the Edgefield Court, a motel in Wyalusing and in 1986, they sold the motel and retired to their farm in Terrytown.
He was a member of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church of Wyalusing. He had lifetime memberships to the American Legion Post #534 of Wyalusing, the VFW and the Wyalusing Valley Fire Department. At one time, he served the Wyalusing community as Constable. He was also a past president of the Wyalusing Rainbow Club.
He enjoyed time spent with his family, farming and hunting when he was able.
Stanley remained active and possessed a great fondness for the people of the Wyalusing Valley area and loved coming to town to see what was happening. He spent many years volunteering his time wherever needed, especially for our local Senior Citizens’ programs and leaves behind a host of friends.
Surviving are his wife of 48 years, Frances Frystak, at home; two children, Winifred Mosier and friend, Thomas Brown of Terrytown, Thomas and Susan (Wiles) Frystak of Macedonia; brothers and sisters-in-law, Edward Frystak, John Frystak, Chester and Janet Frystak, Walter and Alyce Frystak, all of Montrose; grandchildren, Jason and Janet Otis of Terrytown, Malinda Otis of Meshoppen, Betsy Ball of Terrytown, Valerie Mosier of Meshoppen, Russell and Leslie Peterson of Camptown and Keegan and Vicky Canfield of Dushore and by his 10 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Charlotte Frystak; a sister and brother-in-law, Theresa and Bob Decker and a son-in-law, John Mosier.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. in the McHenry Funeral Home, 106 Church St., Wyalusing, with the Rev. Kenneth Seegar as celebrant.
The casket was escorted in procession to Wyalusing Cemetery by fire trucks from the Wyalusing Valley Volunteer Fire Department.
Full military honors were accorded by American Legion Post #534 of Wyalusing.
Pallbearers were Kevin Potter, Wayne Felter, Jack Milne, Rick Shaffer, Tom Miller and Paul Cresho.
Friends and family called on Friday evening, Dec. 13 at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wyalusing Fire Company, PO Box 86, Wyalusing, PA 18853 or to the Wyalusing Public Library, 202 Church St., PO Box 98, Wyalusing, PA 18853 in Mr. Frystak’s memory.
Evelyn Fisk
Dec. 11, 2002
Evelyn L. Fisk, 85, of Wyalusing RR3, Herrick Township, PA, passed away early Wednesday morning, Dec. 11, 2002 at her home, following declining health.
Born Aug. 28, 1917 in Wyalusing, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Leatha Decker Kissell.
Evelyn was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother, whose life surrounded her family. She enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, traveling, square dancing, reading and working crossword puzzles.
Evelyn attended the Herrickville United Methodist Church.
Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, Melvin "Mel" and Monica "Linda" Fisk of Lockwood, NY; her daughter and son-in-law, Sandra "Sandy" and Wayne "Jim" Lantz of Litchfield; 13 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bernard and Arlene Kissell of Cayuta, NY, Robert and Pat Kissell of Waverly; several nieces, nephews and cousins; her very special friend, Paul Strong, Sr. of Wyalusing RR3; her extended family, Paul, Jr. and Marge Strong of Wyalusing RR3, Sally and Fred Ross of Wyalusing RR3, Pat Edwards of Selbyville, DE, John and Beverly Strong of Wyalusing; Joyce and Nelson Frisbie of Athens and their families.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton Fisk in 1984; a son, Ronald "Ron" Fisk in 1986; a grandson, Craig Fisk in 1966; two sisters, Eleanor Burke and Marguerite Crown and a brother, Victor Kissell.
The family received friends on Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home, 217 York Ave., Towanda.
The funeral service was held on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with her pastor, Rev. Helen Learn of the Herrickville United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment was in the Wyalusing Cemetery .
The family suggests that memorial contributions be directed to the charity or organization of one’s choice in Evelyn L. Fisk’s memory.
Marie Cole
Dec. 12, 2002
Mrs. Marie R. Cole, age 90, of Dushore, PA, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002 at The Highlands in Laporte.
Marie was born Aug. 20, 1912 in Philadelphia, a daughter of the late Louis and Margaret Carroll Capelli. She graduated from the South Philadelphia High School, a member of the Class of 1930. She marriage Thomas A. Cole in Philadelphia in 1938. He predeceased her in 1972.
Marie worked as a secretary for Sears Roebuck, BF Goodrich Tire Co. and Livingston & Co., a cabinet manufacturer. She retired to Sullivan County in 1984.
Marie was a member of St. Basil’s Catholic Church in Dushore.
Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas A. and Deborah Cole, Dushore; brothers and sister-in-law, Louis Capelli, and Thomas and Mary Ann Capelli, all of Levittown; sisters and brother-in-law, Dorothy and George Huntzinger, Shawnee on the Delaware, Margaret Nuttal, Philadelphia; five grandchildren, William Cole, Philadelphia, Theresa Cole Weaver, Kansas City, MO, Thomas Cole, Lambertville, NJ, Matthew Cole, Silva, NC, Michael Cole, Dushore; three great-grandchildren, John, Hayden, Derrick Weaver, all of Kansas City, MO; several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held on Monday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Darby, with the Rev. Eugene R. Carr, her former pastor, presiding.
Memorials may be directed to the Goodwill Industries, Montoursville, PA 17754.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore.
Rebecca Burgess
Dec. 14, 2002
G. Rebecca (Becky) Burgess, 70, of Wyalusing, PA, passed away in the early morning of Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002 at her home, with her loving family by her side.
She was born on Nov. 12, 1932 in Ashboro, NC, a daughter of the late Glen and Grace Quick Burkhart.
Becky was raised in North Carolina and started working at the age of 14, where she later marriage and had two daughters. She worked in a hosiery mill in North Carolina and later learned how to operate the key punch machine. Thereafter, she was employed by Hollingshead of Camden, NJ.
She relocated to Pennsylvania and worked for the Bendix Corporation of South Montrose. In 1964, she moved to the Lime Hill area with her two daughters. She met her present husband, Donald Burgess and was marriage in the Wyalusing United Methodist Church on June 15, 1968.
Becky and Don started her second family with a set of twins. She stayed home to raise her family and two years later, started working at Farm & Home Gas Service as a secretary, and was bookkeeper for Farm & Home Furniture and the Farm & Home Plaza on Route 6. She was co-owner of Farm and Home Gas Company and the Wyalusing Farm and Home Supply Company. She retired on Dec. 31, 2000.
She was a member of the Wyalusing United Methodist Church and was an active member of the United Methodist Women and the Wyalusing Lioness Club.
Becky will certainly be remembered as being one of the kindest people, and possessed a host of friends and family here and in North Carolina that loved her.
Becky loved young children and it was of great enjoyment to her to be Santa Claus. Many grew up and had never forgotten the joy she brought them. God bless you, Becky Burgess.
Becky’s greatest love in life was raising her two families and she loved time spent with them, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed time spent traveling, also.
Surviving are her husband, Donald Burgess, at home; her mother-in-law, Marjorie Burgess, Wyalusing; her children, Pat and Phil Kelly of Mustang, OK, Cathie Elliott and Donny Baker, Quicks Bend; her twins and their spouses, Ted and Ana Burgess of Lime Hill, Amy and Doug Eberlin of Lime Hill; a stepdaughter and husband, Lori and Steve Wade of Crestone, CO; a stepson and wife, Jamie and Tammy Burgess of Wyalusing; a sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Bob Freeman of Eagle Spring, NC; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Sheldon and Kay Johnson, Alice and William Hillis and David and Suky Burgess; 16 grandchildren, Michele, Debbie, Jasmine, Eleanor, Joe, Oliver, Julian, Steven, Christopher, Nicholas, Colby, Shelby, Sydni, Travis, Courtney, Madison and by three great-grandchildren, Kristine, Miranda and Chloe; very special friends, Jim and Beverly Colson and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. in the Wyalusing United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Russell Pierce, her pastor, officiating, assisted by Rev. Barry Ballard, pastor of the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church.
Interment was in the Wyalusing Cemetery .
Friends and family called on Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the McHenry Funeral Home, 106 Church St., Wyalusing.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the American Cancer Society, Bradford-Sullivan County Unit, Williamsport or to the Arthritis Foundation, 1330 West Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309 in Mrs. Burgess’s memory.
Ronald Beegle
Dec. 14, 2002
Ronald Herbert Beegle, age 66, of Dushore RR2, PA, passed away at his home on Saturday morning, Dec. 14, 2002.
He was born on Dec. 18, 1935 in Johnstown, a son of Mark and Betty Berkey Beegle.
Mr. Beegle was a veteran of the United States Air Force, retiring in June of 1974 after 21 years of service.
He served in the National Guard from 1953 to 1954; and in June of 1954, he began active duty in the United States Air Force and served as a Radar Technician and electronic computer system technician. Ron worked on the guidance systems of the minuteman missiles. His final duty station was at the Benton Air Force Radar Station as a computer technician on the radar systems.
On Oct. 7, 1973, he marriage the former Irene Minnier in the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Zion Chapel of Dushore.
Ron then began employment with the Fitzpatrick and Lambert Ford Dealership in Dushore as a mechanic and body mechanic. He finally retired in Dec. 31, 1997 after 23 years.
He was a member of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Zion Chapel of Dushore; the American Legion Post No. 996 of Dushore, the VFW Post No. 384 of New Albany and Evergreen Lodge No. 163 F&AM of Monroeton.
Ron was an avid gun collector and enjoyed model building.
He is survived by his wife, Irene Minnier Beegle, at home; his mother, Betty Beegle; two sons, Ronald Beegle, Jr. of Pine Grove, Mark and Dawn Beegle, at home; two stepsons, William and Brenda Chilson of Tunkhannock, Tina Bizup of Lopez; a brother, Robert Beegle of Johnstown; two sisters, Elaine Peterson of Johnstown, Francis Abinader of Coral Springs, FL and four grandchildren, David, Allyssa, Shane and Dalton.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. in the Russell P. McHenry Funeral Home, 119 Carpenter St., Dushore.
Friends and family are invited to call on Saturday at the funeral home from 1 to 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Athens Animal Hospital or the American Diabetes Foundation in Mr. Beegle’s memory.
