Obituaries by LocationMarch 5, 1997
Mrs. Mary Knecht Carey
Mrs. Mary Knecht Carey, 84, a Tamaqua native, died Saturday in Lakewood, Calif. She was the widow of Francis Knecht and Albert Carey.
Born in Tamaqua, she was a daughter of the late William and Mary (Whitehair) Hughes.
She was employed at the Atlas Powder Company, Reynolds, while she lived in Tamaqua.
A resident of Philadelphia for many years, she was active in the Patriotic Order of Americans Lodge, where she held state and national offices.
Surviving are a son, Herbert Knecht, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all residing in California; and two sisters, Mrs. Martha Wentz of Tamaqua and Mrs. Blanche Koch of Walnutport.
She was also preceded in death by 11 brothers and sisters.
Services were held Tuesday in Cypress, Calif.
Mrs. William A. Young
Mrs. Linda L. Young, 51, of 112 Mauch Chunk St., Lehighton, died Monday in the Palmerton Hospital. She was the wife of William A. Young. They observed their 35th wedding anniversary last June.
Born in Lehighton, she was a daughter of Mrs. Madeline M. (Drumbore) Bowman of Lehighton, and the late Howard E. Bowman.
The deceased was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Packerton, and the Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club.
Surviving in addition to her husband and mother are two sons, William A. Jr. of Orefield and Todd of Packerton; a daughter Machelle of Jim Thorpe; a brother Ronald of Packerton; three sisters, Delores, wife of Fred Ficher, and Betty, wife of Ralph Graver, both of Lehighton, and Ruthann, wife of Ronald Ahner of Mahoning Valley; and two grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Knappenberger.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron streets, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Earlmond Davis
Mrs. Earlmond Davis, 80, of Ashland, Ky., died Monday in the Our Lady of Bellefont Hospital, Russell, Ky. She was the widow of William P. Davis Sr., who died last year.
Born in Lansford, she was a daughter of the late William B. and Sally A. (Griffith) Cunning.
She was a member of the Normal Presbyterian Church, Ashland.
Surviving are two daughters, Carolyn Brown and Sally A., both of Ashland; two sons, Robert Davis of Harleysville and William P. Jr. of Perkasie; a sister, Sarah Donald of Lansford; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Rev. Thomas J. Richter
The Rev. Thomas J. Richter, 83, of Laguna Hills, Calif., formerly of Allentown, died Feb. 14 in Laguna Hills. He was the husband of Caroline (Miller) Richter. They were married for 52 years.
He was ordained in St. John Lutheran Church, Allentown, in 1942, and was pastor of the Friedens-Jerusalem Parish, including Friedens Lutheran Church, Slatington, and Eastern Jerusalem Church, Salisbury Township, for 20 months before entering the Navy in December 1943.
During World War II, he served as a chaplain at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif., and aboard the USS Kingsbury in the Pacific, where he witnessed the raising of the American flag at Mount Surabachi, Japan.
The deceased also served as chaplain at various locations, including the Philadelphia Naval Hospital; Cape May Coast Guard Training Station, Cape May, N.J.; Pacific Missle Range and Naval Air Station, Point Mugu, Calif.; and Naval air stations at Atlantic City, N.J., and Willow Grove, Montgomery County.
White stationed at Point Mugu, he initiated action to build a new chapel and held the first service there.
He retired from the Navy as a chaplain in 1973.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late James and Elsie (Romig) Richter, and a stepson of the late James Rabenold.
A 1938 graduate of Muhlenberg College and 1941 graduate of the Mount Airy Lutheran Seminary, Philadelphia, he received his master's degree in theological science from Harvard University in 1955.
He received an honorary doctor of divinity degree in 1965 from the Union Theological Seminary, Tokyo, in appreciation of his work and support of the community.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son Peter of San Diego; a daughter Mary, wife of Gary Thrasher of Schaumburg, Ill.; and three grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by an infant son, Thomas L. Jr.
Mrs. Mary Martin
Mrs. Mary Martin, 86, formerly of 121 Lehigh Ave., Palmerton, died Tuesday in Manor Care Health Services, Salisbury Township. She was the widow of Michael J. Martin.
She was a sewing machine operator for Fernbrook, Palmerton, for eight years before retiring in 1967.
Born in Czechoslovakia, she was a daughter of the late Paul and Magdalena (Latak) Polakovic.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Palmerton.
Surviving are three sons, Michael T. of Quakertown, Paul G. of Ironton and John J. of Palmerton; six grandchildren and a great-grandson.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Ferdinand 'Fritz.'
John G. Sabol
John G. Sabol, 78, of 525 W. Pine St., Mahanoy City, died Monday in a two-car accident along SR54 in Mahanoy Township. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale. He was the husband of the late Gloria (Wychulis) Sabol.
He was a guard for several years at the Schuylkill County Prison before retiring, and also worked at the Graterford Prison, near Pottstown, for 28 years as a guard and infirmary administrator.
Born in Mahanoy City, he was the son of the late John and Elizabeth (Chihul) Sabol.
He was a 1936 graduate of Mahanoy City High School and was a member of Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary Church, American Legion Post 74 and the West End Fire and Rescue Company, all of Mahanoy City; the Mahanoy Area Senior Citizens; the Greater Shenandoah Senior Citizens; and the Mahanoy City Social Club.
He served in the Army Air Force during World War II.
Surviving are a son, John Jr. of Barnesville; three grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a sister Mary, who died in 1996.
Ernest Balliet
Ernest Balliet, 88, a resident of Weatherwood, the Carbon County Home for the Aged, Weatherly, died there on Feb. 21.
He was a miner at the Spring Mountain (Lehigh Valley) Coal Company, Jeanesville, Luzerne County, before retiring.
Born in Jeanesville, he was a son of Percy and Jennie (Hinkle) Balliet.
He lived in Jeanesville most of his life, moving to Weatherly in 1983.
Surviving are a brother Ben of Hazleton; a niece and a nephew.
Mrs. Muriel Shinn
Mrs. Muriel Shinn, 69, of Gradview Heights, Ohio, died Saturday in her home. She was the widow of Billy T. Shinn, who died many years ago.
Born in Tewksbury, N.J., she lived in Bernardsville, N.J., before moving to Ohio 12 years ago.
Surviving are four daughters, Beverly Lumia of Albuquerque, N.M., Wendy DeGregorio of Tampa, Fla., Kathy Dennis of Jim Thorpe and Deborah Kurtz of Columbus, Ohio; a brother, Charles A. Lindabury Jr. of Columbus; a sister, Hilda O'Rourke of Somerville, N.J.; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Jennifer Lynn Mattern
Jennifer Lynn Mattern, 17, of 140 S. Sixth St., Coaldale, died Monday as a result of an accident on the Blue Mountain. She was a daughter of Aaron L. and Dawn M. (Spink) Mattern.
She was employed as an aide at the Blue Mountain Early Child Development Center, New Tripoli.
A senior at Panther Valley High School, she had been accepted as a Fall term candidate at Dickinson College.
President of the Panther Valley High School Band, she played the clarinet and attended the First Congregational United Church of Christ Bible School in Coaldale. Her high school activities also included: peer helper, P.V. High Buddy and yearbook staff.
Surviving in addition to her parents are two sisters, Amanda and Kimberly, and a brother, Aaron J., all of Coaldale; maternal grandparents, James Spink of Lansford and Mrs. Patricia Carnes of Coaldale; paternal grandmother, Mrs. Ida Fetter of Tamaqua; great-grandparents, Ferdinand and Margaret Spink of Lansford; and aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was also preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Sylvester L. Mattern.
The E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home, 655 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
