Obituaries by LocationApril 1, 1997
George Halmi
George Halmi, 73, of 805 Columbia Ave., Palmerton, died Monday in the Palmerton Hospital. He was the husband of Jean L. (Siddlow) Halmi. They observed their 45th wedding anniversary last June.
He was last employed as a hardware salesman for Allen Hardware, Allentown, retiring in 1989 with 25 years of service.
Born in Palmerton, he was a son of the late Lajos and Julia (Nemeth) Halmi.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Palmerton.
An Army veteran of World War II, he served in Africa and Italy. He was also a member of the Palmerton American Legion Post and the Palmerton Hungarian Club
Surviving in addition to his widow are a brother John of Palmerton; and two sisters, Irene of Palmerton and Mary, wife of John Sipos of Cherryville.
The Thomas K. Thomas Funeral Home, 145 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Raymond F. Honicker Sr.
Raymond F. Honicker Sr., 74, formerly of Barnesville, died Saturday in his home in West Patterson, N.J. He was the husband of Betty Mae (Evans) Honicker of Hazleton.
He worked most of his adult life in the textile industry in New Jersey.
Born in Shamokin, Northumberland County, he was a son of the late Frederick and Helen (Glassic) Honicker.
Surviving in addition to his widow are four daughters, Nancy Jean Ward of Barnesville, Barbara Ann Schnaufer of Freeland, Helen Mae of Mahanoy City and Tressa Kathleen Jilek of Middletown, Dauphin County; three sons, Raymond Frederick of Drifton, Luzerne County, Frederick Howard of Freeland and Howard Lester of Waterloo, Iowa; 16 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother Howard.
A memorial service will be held in New Jersey.
Mrs. Charles Barlow
Mrs. Dolores Barlow, 58, of 643 E. Center St., Shenandoah, died Monday. She was the wife of Charles Barlow.
Born in Shenandoah, she was a daughter of the late James Willis and Victoria (Buchinsky) Willis Thomashefsky.
A 1955 graduate of the former Mahanoy Township High School, she lived in Shenandoah most of her life. She was a member of St. Casimir Catholic Church, Shenandoah.
Surviving in addition to her husband are two sons, Walter and Mark, both of Shenandoah; two daughters, Victoria Kutsko of Brandonville and Edna Melnick of Tamaqua; two brothers, James Willis of Chicago, Ill., and Joseph Thomashefsky of Brandonville; three grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
LaRizzio death
Mrs. Bessie LaRizzio, 80, a guest at the Gnaden Huetten Nursing Home, Lehighton, for the past four years, formerly of Nesquehoning, died Sunday in the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Lawrence Hartranft of Hometown, Tamaqua R.2, where she was visiting.
April 2, 1997
Dr. Ruth L. Wrigley
Dr. Ruth L. Wrigley, 84, of 675 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster, a former long-time Tamaqua general practitioner, died Monday morning in Willow Valley, Lancaster, following a long illness.
She was the widow of Dr. Francis J. Ditchey, who died in 1964, and John E. Wrigley, who died in 1983.
Born in Orwigsburg, she was a daughter of the late Hiram G. and Mary Sophia (Reidler) Legmeister.
She was a member of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, Lancaster, and the American Association of Family Practitioners.
She was a graduate of the former Orwigsburg High School and Bucknell University in 1934, and the Temple University Medical School in 1938.
She and her first husband practiced general medicine in Tamaqua for more than 30 years.
In 1970, she moved to Charlotte, N.C., to work in public health for Mechlenburg County, and, in 1980, received the county's Most Valuable Employee for Professional Service award. She retired in 1983.
She moved to Willow Valley Manor North in Lancaster in 1993.
Surviving are two daughters, Edith D. Burkey of Havertown and Ruth M., wife of Walter C. Brill of Phoenix, Ariz.; two sons, Robert L. Ditchey of Santa Monica, Calif., and Frank J. Ditchey of Califon, N.J.; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son Charles, who died in 1960.
The Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home, Lancaster, is in charge of the arrangements.
John Gorsky
John Gorsky, 80, of East Amwell Township, N.J., died Sunday in his home. He was the husband of the late Pauline Gorsky, who died in 1996.
Born in Coaldale, he was a son of the late Frank and Annie (Borshowsky) Gorsky.
He was employed by DeLaval Corp. in Trenton, N.J., until retiring.
He resided in New York City before moving to East Amwell Township 42 years ago.
Surviving are a stepsister, Pauline Kuleba of Lvov, Russia; and a niece.
Joseph Zlomsowitch Jr.
Joseph Zlomsowitch Jr., 75, of Allentown, died Tuesday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of Phyllis M. (Oberdorf) Zlomsowitch. They observed their 35th wedding anniversary last September.
He worked at the basic oxygen furnace of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 41 years before retiring in 1983.
Born in Bethlehem, he was a son of the late Joseph Sr. and Alice (Gambler) Zlomsowitch.
He was a member of St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church, Allentown.
Zlomsowitch was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Mahoning Valley Lions Club.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two daughters, Cheri L., wife of Bruce E. Lawrence, and Jo Ann, wife of Lester C. Lauer III, both of Allentown; a sister, Anna Sandor of Bethlehem; and three brothers, Andrew of Lehighton, Walter of Lehighton R.2 and Frank of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Stephen Stefchak
Stephen Stefchak, 79, of Allentown, died Monday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of Mary (Gaydos) Stefchak. They observed their 56th wedding anniversary last September.
He worked for Spirax Sarco, Inc., Allentown, for 30 years until retiring.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Stephen and Mary (Verdun) Stefchak.
He was a member of St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, Allentown.
Stefchak was a 4th degree member of Lehigh Valley General Assembly of the Knights of Columbus, Allentown.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son Stephen of San Diego, Calif.; a daughter Barbara, wife of Michael Anthony Jr., and two brothers, Peter and Joseph, all of Allentown; two sisters, Irene Farber of Palmerton and Marie of Allentown; and four grandchildren.
Alvin M. Itterly
Irvin M. Itterly, 60, of 801 George St., Pen Argyl, died Monday in his home. He was the husband of Betty (McElhone) Itterly for 36 years.
A 1958 graduate of East Stroudsburg University, he was a science teacher at Nazareth High School for 27 years before retiring in 1933.
Born in Flicksville, he was a son of Mrs. Lucilla (DeLong) Itterly of Pen Argyl and the late Morris W. Itterly.
He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Plainfield Township, where he belonged to the Lutheran Men, sang in the choir and served on the council and Cemetery board.
Itterly was a member of the Pennsylvania State Educational Association and the Kunkletown Rod and Gun Club.
Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are a son, Michael H., at home; a daughter, the Rev. Allyn, wife of Scott Giuffre of New Florence, Westmoreland County; and five grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a son Stephen.
Franklin E. Christman
Franklin E. Christman, 78, of Gilbert, died Monday in his home. He was the husband of Virgil (Feller) Christman. They observed their 50th wedding anniversary in December.
He was a mechanic for Krome Chevrolet, Gilbert, for 45 years before retiring in 1993, and was also a self-employed lawn mower mechanic for more than 40 years.
Born in Gilbert, he was a son of the late Franklin and Verna (Miller) Christman.
He was a member of Effort United Methodist Church.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, Franklin L., at home; and a sister, Marian Featherman of Bethlehem.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Robert W. Schindler
Robert W. Schindler, 76, of 358 N. Second St., Lehighton, died Tuesday in the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton. He was the husband of Marian F. (Kunkle) Schindler. They observed their 44th wedding anniversary in December.
He was a car repairman for the Philadelphia, Bethlehem and New England Railroad, a subsidiary of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, for 17 years before retiring in 1982. Previously, he worked at the Packerton Shops of the former Reading and Lehigh Valley railroads.
Born in Egypt, he was a son of the late Fred and Bella (Kemmerer) Schindler.
He attended Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, Lehighton.
A Marine Corps veteran of World War II, he was a member of American Legion Post 314, Lehighton, and the Marine Corps Association.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Robert A. and Thomas E., both of Lehighton; and two grandchildren.
The Kenneth N. Phifer Funeral Home, Third and Alum streets, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
