Obituaries by LocationGeorge Welles died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, February 16, 2000.
George was a fifth generation Welles, born in 1916 to Fisher and Florence Welles in Wyalusing, Pa. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1941 and served 24 years in the Army before retiring in 1965 to take the job of Assistant Commandant at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, N.M. He retired from NMMI in 1980 and remained in Roswell, until his death.
George is survived by his wife, Sallie, whom he married in Hawaii in 1942; four children, Vicki and her husband, Ray of Salinas, CA, Penny of San Francisco, CA, Connie of Las Cruces, NM and Jim and his wife, Kelly of Albuquerque, NM; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and a sister, Barbara Brooks of Newport News, VA. A second son, George, III, preceded him in death in 1993.
It was George's wish that there be no memorial service. A private service will be held at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, where George's ashes will be interred with his son, George, III. Contributions in George's memory may be made to the NM Rehabilitation Center, 31 Gail Harris Ave., Roswell, NM.
Throughout his remarkable 83+ years, "Curious" George shared his gift of humor and childlike adventures with friends, family and perfect strangers. Life was never dull when George was around. And when his bright blue eyes took on that "extra sparkle," everyone knew George was up to something. His playfulness and zest for life were contagious. And the common memory we all share of George is that he lightened many moments with the gift of laughter. If you've noticed that the stars are twinkling a bit brighter recently, 'tis more than likely a sign that George is greeting past friends and family and creating a bit of a fun-loving commotion with his new halo and wings. We can only imagine!
In celebration of his life and his love of laughter, friends and family are invited to send one of their fondest memories of a personal "Adventure with George Welles" to be read at his service in Santa Fe, NM. Letters to: Sallie Welles, 2611 N. Kentucky, #108, Roswell, NM 88201.
Mrs. Irene A. Brown, age 84, of Colonial Towers, Apt. 206, Towanda, Pa., passed away at the Memorial Hospital in Towanda on Friday morning, May 26, 2000 after a long illness.
Born in LeRaysville on February 23, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Burt and Elizabeth Frisbie Woodruff. Mrs. Brown, along with her husband, owned and operated the Shady Nook Restaurant in New Albany from 1957 until 1973.
She was a member of the Franklindale Christian Church and was a member of the Colonial Towers Senior Citizens Band of Towanda.
She is survived by her husband, Robert D. (Bob) Brown, to whom she was married for 52 years, celebrating their anniversary on March 31; a daughter and son-in-law, Clara M. and Donald Gowin of New Albany; a sister Mrs. Marie VanDeMark of Laceyville; two brothers and their spouses, Ralph and Pam Woodruff of Laceyville and Gerald and Veda Woodruff of Wyalusing; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Roberta Elizabeth Shrimp, and four sisters, Vera Salsman, Kathryn White, Gertrude Salsman and Bernita Snyder.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 30 at 1 p.m. from the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main St., Laceyville, with Rev. Craig Merritt of the Franklindale Christian Church and Rev. Dennis Fox, of Ohio, officiating.
Interment was in the Lacey Street Cemetery , Laceyville.
Family and friends called at the funeral home on Monday evening, May 29 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Olive E. Coleman, 82, of LeRaysville RR1, Pike Township, Pa., went home to be with her Lord late Thursday evening, May 18, 2000 at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre after a brief illness.
She was born November 8, 1917 in Potterville, a daughter of the late William and Mary (Bennett) Williams.
Olive was a graduate of the Orwell High School, where she actively participated on the girls' basketball team. She was a devoted member of the Neath Welsh Congregational Church, where she attended the women's Bible Study. Olive was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 498, LeRaysville, and the VFW Post 6824 Ladies Auxiliary.
Her family will always remember the many homemade meals and the talented cook she was. She also enjoyed flowers and was a talented seamstress. For many years, Olive was employed at the LeRaysville Exchange as a phone operator and was a retired employee of Sylvania.
Olive is survived by her husband of 65 years, Fay A. Coleman; her sons and daughters-in-law, Brian D. Coleman of LeRaysville, Howard J. Coleman and Pat Foster of Warren Center; daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy Faye and Harrison Johnson of Rome; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Donald and Mildred Williams of Rome, Phillip "Bud" and Mickey Williams of Barstow, CA; her sisters and brother-in-law, Sarah Louise Emerson of Conklin, NY, Cleola and Charles Mann of Huntington; a sister-in-law, Inez Williams of Camptown; her special grandchildren, Jodilyn Coleman, Michael, James and Richard Coleman, Kevin Johnson and Sheila Horton; six great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Olive was predeceased by her sons, Gary William Coleman and Dean Elmer Coleman; brother, Harold Williams and sister, Dorothy Phillips.
Funeral services for Olive were held on Sunday, May 21 at 3 p.m. at the Neath Welsh Congregational Church, Neath, with her pastor, the Rev. George Jatko, officiating. Organ and piano music was provided by Ann Dean.
Interment followed in the Neath Cemetery .
Pallbearers were her grandsons, James Coleman, Michael Coleman, Richard Coleman, Kevin A. Johnson.
The family provided flowers and asks that memorial contributions be made to the Neath Welsh Congregational Church, c/o Calvin L. Bacorn, HCR 34, Box 12D, Warren Center, Pa. 18851 or HOPS Ambulance Association, James Seipler, RR1, Box 287, Rome, Pa. 18837, in loving memory of Olive E. Coleman.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Cooley family of the Sutfin Funeral Chapel, 273 S. Main St., Nichols, NY.
Otis S. Comstock of Hanover, Pa., son of the late Ray Victor and Reta M. Comstock, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 at 69 years of age, following a lengthy illness. He was surrounded by his family.
Otis was born on October 26, 1930 in Tunkhannock. He lived and worked in the Mehoopany/Laceyville area until 1965 when he moved to Easton to work as a dairy herdsman and raise his family. In March 1979, they moved to Hampstead, MD where he also worked as a herdsman. In September 1978, he suffered a massive heart attack and in April 1980, moved back to the Jenningsville area. In October 1999, he and his wife, Peggy moved to the Hanover area to live near their son and have his help in meeting day to day medical needs.
Otis was a member of the Mehoopany Baptist Church, where he was a former deacon and supervised the junior church program for approximately ten years.
Otis will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, a faithful friend and a hard worker.
Preceding him into heaven are two grandchildren, Timothy Adam and Tiffany Comstock; a loving mother-in-law, Alberta Donahue; brothers and sisters, Bette Davis, George Comstock, Lucy Bowman, Howard Comstock and Mable McLaren.
The blessings he left on this earth are his wife of 46 years, Peggy (Donahue) Comstock of Hanover; his children, Rita Holmes of Easton, Charles and Carol Comstock of Pen Argyl, Otis Kent and Mary Comstock of Hanover, Denny and Linda Comstock of Easton, Todd and Tammy Comstock of Bolivia, South America, Peggy Jo and Stephen Brinton of Sanford, FL and Rebekah and Tom Kristunas of Tunkhannock; 26 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The viewing will be held on Thursday, June 1 (today), from 2 until 4 and 7 until 9 p.m. at Sheldon's Funeral Home in Laceyville. Funeral services will be held at Mehoopany Baptist Church on Friday, June 2 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, Otis requested that donations be sent to the New Tribes Mission, 1000 East First Street, Sanford, FL 32771-1487 marked for the "Otis Comstock Memorial Fund."
James Edward Kauffman, age 43, of Marion, Montana, formerly of Sonestown and Dushore, PA, died on Monday, May 22, 2000 in Lost Prairie County.
He was born on May 20, 1957 in Chester, a son of Robert and Kathleen Potser Kauffman. He was a graduate of Sullivan County High School.
Mr. Kauffman was a self-employed contractor.
His memberships include the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Lost Prairie Sky Diving Club.
He left surviving, his parents, Robert and Kathleen Potser Kauffman of Dushore; six brothers, Robert Kauffman of Ridley Park, Thomas Kauffman of Richmond, VA, William Kauffman of Morgantown, Kenneth Kauffman of Kenmore, WA, Daniel Kauffman of Dallas and Gary Kauffman of San Diego, CA.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 27 at 2 p.m. in the Russell P. McHenry Funeral Home, 119 Carpenter St., Dushore, with the Rev. John Klim, pastor of the Fundamental Baptist Church of Dushore, officiating.
Interment followed in Fairview Cemetery , Dushore.
Friends and family called on Saturday, May 27 at McHenry Funeral Home from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.
Donna Kirk, age 55, passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2000 at her home following a lingering illness.
She was a native of Terrytown and the daughter of the late Carl and Mildred Johnson.
Mrs. Kirk was a graduate of Wyalusing Valley High School, Class of 1962 and married Bernard Kirk, who also graduated with her. They lived in the Weatherly area for many years and made their home in recent years in White Haven.
Her interests were mainly centered around her family and home.
Survivors include her husband, Bernard S. Kirk, White Haven; four children, Angeline Kirk, Chris Kirk, Michelle Kirk, Kim Schafer and husband, Jason Schafer; six grandchildren; three brothers and sisters-in-law, William, Sr. and Janice Johnson of Frasier, Henry and Grace Johnson of Terrytown and Ralph and Marilyn Johnson of Terrytown; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Marge and Raymond Darnell of Honeybrook, June and Miles Randall of Rome, Sharon and William Neal of Niles, OH; several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by an infant daughter, Kathy and two sisters, Hazel Johnson and Carol Jean Johnson.
Funeral services were private.
Memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society.
Frederick R. Swingle, age 62, of Laceyville, formerly of Montrose, PA, died on Sunday, May 28, 2000 at Endless Mountains Health Systems, Montrose. He was born in Sugar Run, son of the late William H. and Lenna (Justin) Swingle. He was married to Betty J. Baker on June 8, 1991, who survives. He worked as a grader operator for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and was a member of the National Rifle Association and enjoyed playing guitar, fishing, hunting and woodworking.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Shirley and Alan Fairchild of Endicott, NY, Carol and Terry Hunsinger, Delores and Charles Hunsinger, both of Laceyville, Barbara and Dan Johnson of Montrose; three sons and daughter-in-law, Richard S. Swingle of Springville, Frederick R. Swingle of Friendsville and Robert J. and Jill Swingle of Montrose; three stepdaughters, Cynthia Spencer, Meshoppen, Dawn Parkhurst, Stevensville, Kelly Spencer, Laceyville; three stepsons, Richard Spencer, II of Stevensville, Duane Spencer of Laceyville and Jerry Spencer of Binghamton, NY; 22 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; three sisters and brother-in-law, Emma Swackhammer of Waverly, NY, Betty and Robert McClintic of Franklindale and Marjorie Nichols of Athens; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald and Sally Swingle of Sayre, Donald and Rayetta Swingle of McClure and William Swingle, Jr. of Endicott, NY. He was predeceased by his first wife, Donna Swingle in 1989, and stepson, Brian Spencer.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 1 at the Bartron Funeral Home, Inc., 74 Church St., Montrose, with the Rev. Charles S. Bishop of Elk Lake Community Church officiating.
Interment will be in the Montrose Cemetery .
The family received friends on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that if desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Montrose Minute Men, PO Box 32, Montrose, PA 18810.
Betty I. Galloway, age 72, died Sunday, June 4, 2000 at 10:50 a.m. at her residence at 400 Ada Drive, Exeter Township, Pa.
She was the wife of Edgar Galloway.
Born in Wyalusing, Bradford County, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Richard and Hazel (Donovan) Pond.
Galloway had retired after several years as a part-time beautician in her residence.
She was a 1945 graduate of Wyalusing High School.
Galloway is survived by a son, Larry R., Reading; a daughter, Diane V. (Galloway) Hafer, Exeter Township; a sister-in-law, Emma Whitney, Wysox.
Other survivors include five grandchildren.
Services were held on Wednesday, June 7 at 1 p.m. in Lutz Funeral Home, Inc., Mount Penn. Burial was in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton.
Infant Alexis Paige Garay passed away following birth at Tyler Memorial Hospital in Tunkhannock on June 9, 2000.
She was the daughter of Michael Andrew Garay and Laura Ann Hadsall Garay of Laceyville RR2, Pa.
Survivors include three sisters, Chantel Zionkowski, at home, Mikayla Garay, at home, Bethany Garay, Springville; maternal grandparents, Tom and Marsha Hadsall, Tunkhannock, and paternal grandparents, Andrew and Darlene Garay of Stowell.
A memorial service will be held at Tunkhannock Assembly of God Church on Saturday, June 17 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Richard Womer, pastor, officiating.
Arrangements were through Harding-Litwin Funeral Home, 123 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock.
Rev. Reuben H. Judson, age 91, of Mark Twain Apartments, Elmira, N.Y., formerly of Laceyville and South Auburn, Pa., went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, June 7, 2000 at the home of his sister in Pine City, N.Y.
Rev. Judson was born in South Auburn on April 4, 1909, the son of Edgar B. and Jennie Ace Judson. Reuben was second in a family of two boys and three girls. In his early life, Reuben trusted Christ as Savior through the Godly training of his parents.
During a missionary conference in the Braintrim Baptist Church in Laceyville, Reuben, then a teenager, surrendered his life to Christ for missionary service. He graduated from the Laceyville High School, Class of 1928, and later from Taylor University in 1932. But because of his father's death in 1931, he knew that it was his responsibility to operate the family farm and care for his mother and two sisters, the youngest of which was only six years old. During the next eleven years, Reuben led the youth ministry in the South Auburn Methodist Church and did some itinerant gospel preaching.
When a very liberal pastor who denied all of the fundamentals of the Bible was sent to pastor the Methodist Church in South Auburn, Reuben guided the believers in organizing a Bible Chapel. In the fall of 1943, Mary E. McMurray, a missionary from the Philippines, conducted a very successful conference.
Both Mary and Reuben recognized God's hand in bringing them together and carried on their courtship by airmail while Mary traveled across Canada in missionary conferences. Pastor and Mary were married August 10, 1944 in a garden wedding on the family farm.
The door was now wide open for missionary service. Reuben applied and was accepted by the Christian and Missionary Alliance. While fulfilling their requirement of one semester orientation at Nyack College, he heard a chapel speaker tell of the ministry of the "GI Gospel Hour" in Manila during the war which resulted in the salvation of Filipino young people who requested the GI's to return after the war and build a Bible School for their training. As a result, the Far Eastern Gospel Crusade (now SEND International) was incorporated and the Far Eastern Bible Institute started a few miles north of Manila.
Reuben was strongly impressed that this was the type of ministry for which he was gifted and called.
Requirements at Nyack College had been met, but they could not proceed because their visas were delayed. At this time Moody Monthly contained an article about F.E.G.A. and announced their first conference at Medicine Lake, MN. The Judsons attended and were convinced of God's leading. They applied and were accepted by the mission after the release and recommendation of the C.I.M.A. in August of 1949. They arrived in Manila to begin twenty years of rewarding ministry at Febia's College of Bible.
After the Judsons returned to Pennsylvania in 1968, Rev. Judson served as the northeastern representative of "SEND" until retiring in 1974.
Rev. Judson was a member of the Braintrim Baptist Church in Laceyville and served on many boards and was the assistant pastor and men's Sunday School teacher for many years.
Besides his mother and father, he was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary E. Judson, who passed away on September 25, 1997; a brother, Alvin Judson and a sister, Beatrice Judson.
Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Bernice Tillinghast of Millport, N.Y. and Mrs. Joseph (Doris) Long of Pine City, N.Y.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 11 a.m. from the Braintrim Baptist Church in Laceyville with Rev. Vic Millard and Rev. Richard Camp of the church officiating. Interment
was in the Lacey St. Cemetery in Laceyville.
Arrangements were made through the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main St., Laceyville.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make memorial contributions to the Braintrim Baptist Church in Laceyville.
