Obituaries by LocationDecember 31, 1996
Calvin D. Shellhamer Sr.
Calvin D. Shellhamer Sr., 51, of Tamaqua R.3, died Sunday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, where he was admitted the previous day. He was the husband of Jocelyn E. (Henninger) Shellhamer. They observed their 34th wedding anniversary in September.
He was an electrical equipment repairman for the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company, Hazleton, since 1970, and previously was an installer for the former Twin County Cable TV Company, Northampton, for five years.
Born in Hazleton, he was a son of Mrs. Betty R. (Powell) Shellhamer of Tamaqua R.3 and the late Calvin A. Shellhamer.
He was a member of the United Church of Christ congregation of Zions Union Stone Church, New Ringgold R.2.
Shellhamer was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of F. and A.M. Lodge No. 238, Tamaqua, The Rajah Temple, Reading, and the Schuylkill County Shrine Club.
He was a 1963 graduate of Tamaqua High School.
Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are a daughter, Lori L., wife of Alan D. Steigerwalt of Tamaqua R.3; two sons, Calvin D. Jr. of Mary D and Daniel N. of Quakake; a sister, Rebecca Sue, wife of Joseph Kutcher Jr. of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Marion Powell of Bethlehem; and four grandchildren.
The Robert S. Nester Funeral Home, Rt. 309, Snyders, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Daisy E. Ahner
Mrs. Daisy E. Ahner, 70, of 623 Fairyland Road, Franklin Township, died Monday in the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton. She was the widow of Russell 'Bups' Ahner, who died in 1989.
She was a sewing machine operator for Indigo Jeans Company, Lehighton, until retiring, and previously had owned and operated the Pohopoco Restaurant, Lehighton.
Born in Yorkshire, England, she was a son of the late George and Ethel (Sowerbutts) Ashworth.
She was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Lehighton.
Mrs. Ahner was a charter member, former officer and an organizer of the auxiliary to the Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company. She was also active in the Franklin Township Little League.
Surviving are three daughters, Marylyn Szakacs and Lisa, wife of James Hauser Jr., both of Lehighton, and Debra Turner of Bowmanstown; two sons, Jeffrey Shellhammer and Trevor Shellhammer, both of Franklin Township; a stepson, Rusty Ahner, and a stepdaughter, Karen Tracy, both of Lehighton; three sisters, Edna Guider and Lillian Parkinson, and a brother George, all of Lancashire, England; 13 grandchildren, including Kelly, wife of Eugene Olenick of Schnecksville, whom she raised; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Selina.
The Mayes-Melber Funeral Home, 200 Franklin St., Weissport, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Pearl Searles Hawk
Mrs. Pearl Searles Hawk, 90, of Easton, died Monday in the ManorCare Health Services, Palmer Township. She was the widow of Allan Hawk and Kenneth Searles.
A member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, she was a seamstress for the former Delaware Dress Company and the Betty Lee Dress Company, both in Easton, for many years before retiring in the early 1970s.
Born in Kresgeville, she was a daughter of the late James E. and Ida (Smith) Switzgable.
She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Easton.
Surviving are four daughters, Jocelyn Friedman of Bethlehem Township, Jacqueline Price of Bethlehem, Dorothy Smith of Sandts Eddy and Joan Price of Catasauqua; a son, Kenneth Searles in Tennessee; a sister, Lily Eckley of Kresgeville; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Catherine P. Fritz
Mrs. Catherine P. Fritz, 82, of 3311 W. Walker Road, Moore Township, died Sunday in her home after a long illness. She was the widow of George A. Fritz.
Born in Flemington, N.J., she was a daughter of the late Robert Smith and Viola (Rake) Smith Snyder.
Surviving are six sons, Harry Pursell and David Fritz, both of Northampton, Martin Fritz of Walnutport, Melvin Fritz of Danielsville, George Fritz of Slatington and Terry Buskirk of Bath; nine daughters, Evelyn, wife of Rodney Youse of Alburtis, Shirley Bender of Nesquehoning, Maryann, wife of Frederick Bahner of Bartlesville, Okla., Sharon, wife of Dennis Zanders of Palmerton, Brenda, wife of Joseph Cesanek of Bethlehem, Linda, wife of John Laba, and Irene Yost, both of Walnutport, Elva, wife of Ray Conover of Pottstown, and Betty, wife of Frank Suranofsky of Bath; two brothers, Edward of Harrington, Del., and Stanley of Flemington; two sisters, Grace Bori of Flemington and Emma, wife of Albert Eneu of Pittstown,, N.J.; 42 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
William L. Hallman
William L. Hallman, 53, of 3333 William Circle, Slatington, died Sunday in the Allentown Osteopathic Medical Center. He was the husband of Caroline (Minnich) Hallman.
He was a self-employed truck driver.
Born in Rextown, he was a son of the late Lawrence C. and Dorothy M. (Rohlfing) Hallman.
He was a member of St. George Russian Orthodox Church, Palmerton.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, William L. Jr. of Slatington; two sisters, Faye M., wife of Donald Kleintop of Slatington, and Joyce I., wife of Richard House of New Tripoli; and three grandchildren.
The Campton Funeral Home, 525 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Clayton Schwank
Mrs. Ruth Schwank, 88, of Tamaqua R.2, died Monday in the Hometown Nursing Center, Tamaqua R.2. She was the widow of Clayton Schwank.
Prior to retiring, she had been employed as a waitress.
Born in Mahanoy City, she was a daughter of the late Yeseral and Caroline Eckroth.
Surviving in addition to her husband are two sons, Robert C. of Mahanoy City and William of Mahanoy City; two daughters, Mrs. Ruth M. Kuhn of Tamaqua and Mrs. Carol Sullivan of Wilmington, Del.; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
The Robert C. Reeser Funeral Home, 655 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
Helen M. Haydt
Helen M. Haydt, 93, of Kresgeville, died Sunday in the Pleasant Valley Manor, Snydersville. She was the wife of Robert C. Haydt. They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary on Nov. 30.
Born in Kresgeville, she was a daughter of the late David and Elizabeth (Berger) Griffith.
She was a sewing machine operator at Kresgeville Manufacturing and later Scotty's Fashions, Kresgeville 19 years, retiring in 1965.
She was a member of Jerusalem UCC Church, Tracksville; and the Polk Township Volunteer Fire Co. Ladies' Auxiliary.
Surviving with her husband are three daughters, Margery M. Getz, Dorothea Kreiger, both of Kresgeville, and Gloria Weiss of Effort; two sisters, Olive Hahn of Lehighton R.D., and Madlyn Getz of Palmerton; also six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of arrangements.
Gerald M. Weider
Gerald M. Weider, 58, of 128 Ashfield Road, Ashfield, died Monday in the Gnaden Huetten Hospital. He was the husband of Helen E. (Bobst) Weider. They were married 38 years on Dec. 24.
Born in Bowmanstown, he was a son of the late Earl and Flossie (Weider) Hedrick.
He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1975 after serving 20 years.
He was an avid sportsman, especially in hunting and fishing, and was a member of Dinkey Memorial Lutheran Church, Ashfield.
Surviving with his widow is a son, Gerald m. Weider Jr. of Pineville, La.; two daughters, Dicki, wife of David Schaus of Slidell, La., and Cindy, wife of Robert Boer, Forest, Ill.; three brothers, Allen of Catasauqua, LaMar and Eugene, both of Palmerton; a sister, Irene, wife of Arthur Meckes Sr. of Lehighton, and nine grandchildren.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron Streets, Lehighton, is in charge of arrangements.
