Obituaries by LocationJanuary 2, 1997
LeRoy E. Anewalt
LeRoy E. Anewalt, 80, of 482 Franklin Ave., Palmerton, died Monday in the Palmerton Hospital. He was the husband of Mary A. (Duris) Anewalt. They observed their 57th wedding anniversary last August.
He was an operator at the Rolling Mill of the former New Jersey Zinc Company, Palmerton, before retiring in 1978 after 42 years of service.
Born in Palmerton, he was a son of the late Franklin and Ida (Altemose) Anewalt.
He was a member of First United Church of Christ, Palmerton, where he served on the consistory for 12 years and was property chairman for nine years.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son Thomas of Glenshaw, Pa.; two daughters, Janet, wife of Russell Fortini of Valpariso, Ind., and Mrs. Carolyn Mertz of Parryville; two sisters, Mrs. Esther Nothstein of Allentown and Mrs. Flaura Trainor of Warminster, Pa.; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
The Thomas K. Thomas Funeral Home, 145 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Raymond L. Ziegenfus Jr.
Raymond L. Ziegenfus Jr., 60, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., died Monday. He was the husband of Linda Ziegenfus.
A resident of Lehigh Acres for the past eight years, he formerly resided in Walnutport, and was a son of Raymond Ziegenfus Sr. of Walnutport.
He was a retired employee of Mack Trucks, Inc., Allentown, and Material Transport Services, Northampton. He was employed at Wal-Mart in Lehigh Acres.
Ziegenfus was a member of Araba Shrine Temple, Fort Myers, Fla., F. & A.M. Lodge No. 440, Slatington, and the Lehigh Consistory, Allentown.
Surviving in addition to his widow and father are two sons, Raymond III of Walnutport and Robert of Lehigh Acres; a daughter Ramona of Lehigh Acres; a sister, Mildred George of Palmerton; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held in Fort Myers.
Almeida services
Graveside services for Robert Almeida Sr., of 287 Fireline Road, Parryville, who died suddenly on Sunday in the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery , Annville, Lebanon County.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday in Christ Evangelical Free Church, 2420 Blakeslee Blvd., Lehighton.
The Roche Funeral Home-McNamara Chapel, 3 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of the arrangements.
Gerald L. Deering
Gerald L. "Jerry" Deering, 68, of HC-2 Box 2643, Jim Thorpe, formerly of Ossining, N.Y., died Tuesday in the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton. He was the husband of Patricia A. (Niklas) Deering.
He was a retired New York State corrections officer, having been employed at the Ossining Correctional Facility.
Born in Ossining, he was a son of the late Louis and Anna (Whalen) Deering.
He was a member of St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, Lake Harmony.
Deering was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, having been a master sergeant with the 57th Range Battalion of the 7th Division. He received the Commendation Medal for Bravery and Meritorious Service, the Korean Conflict Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the Asiatic Theatre Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Deering was a past commander of the American Legion Post 1123 and a member of the Washington Hook and Ladder Fire Company, both of Ossining, and a member of the Shoemaker-Haydt American Legion Post 314, Lehighton.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a daughter, Marie C. of Croton on Hudson, N.Y.; and a son, Louis K. of Woodstock, N.Y.
The Edward F. Melber Funeral Home, 524 Center St., Jim Thorpe, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. George W. Kukol
Mrs. Marie A. Kukol, 67, of 813 E. Ridge St., Lansford, died Tuesday in the Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale. She was the wife of George W. Kukol. They were married for 41 years.
She was employed in local dress factories before retiring.
Born in Lansford, she was a daughter of the late John and Anna (Danchak) Osilka.
She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, Lansford, where she sang in the funeral choir and was a member of the St. Ann Society and the Slovak Catholic Sokols.
A lifetime resident of Lansford, she was a 1947 graduate of the former Lansford High School.
Surviving in addition to her husband are three daughters, Judith, wife of William Wilkinson of Hudsondale, Karen, at home, and Janet, wife of Gregory Steigerwalt of Lehighton; three brothers, John and Michael, both of Morrisville, and Bernard of Mahanoy City; two sisters, Mrs. Anna Panchura of Buckingham and Mrs. Margaret Battaglia of Hamilton, N.J.; and three grandchildren.
The Al M. Sverchek Funeral Home, Powell and East Bertsch streets, Lansford, is in charge of the arrangements.
Emma S. Hilbert
Emma S. Hilbert, 51, of Box 5, Breinigsville, died Monday in the St. Luke Hospital, Quakertown.
She was a waitress and bar maid for the Royal Sportsmen, Trexlertown, and previously was a seamstress for Red Cap Industries.
Born in Williamsport, she was a daughter of the late Murry and Ann (Haldeman) Oliphant.
Surviving are a daughter Melissa, wife of John Segan of Fogelsville; a brother Murry of Wescosville; and two half-brothers, Keith and Larry Oliphant, both of Tamaqua.
Ray E. Smith
Ray E. Smith, 86, of 3115 Friedens Road, Slatington, died Tuesday in the Palmerton Hospital. He was the husband of Frances N. (Kuntz) Smith. They observed their 61st wedding anniversary in September.
He was a test expediter for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for many years before retiring in 1972.
Born in Palmerton, he was a son of the late Robert and Beulah (Smith) Smith.
He was a member of St. John United Church of Christ, Slatington.
Smith was a pilgrim in the Moose Lodge No. 1375, Slatington, where he was the longtime secretary and treasurer.
He was also secretary of the Delview Rod and Gun Club in Pike County and a former secretary of the Allentown-Bethlehem chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Singing in America.
The deceased was a member of the Friedens Fire Company, No. 1 Fire Company and Skeet Club, all of Slatington; the Emerald Fire Company; Kunkletown Rod and Gun Club; and the Copeechan Fish and Game Club, Neffs.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, Robert W. of Slatington; two daughters, Martha J., wife of Bruce W. George of Slatington, and Mrs. Patricia A. Jackson of Philadelphia; a sister, Mrs. Mae Roper of Boca Raton, Fla.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Mary C. Kozak
Mrs. Mary C. Kozak, 77, of 345 W. Ridge St., Lansford, died Tuesday in the Arlington Villa, Arlington, Tex. She was the widow of Walter J. Kozak.
She was employed by the former Lansford Fashions.
Born in Lansford, she was a daughter of the late John and Mary (Sniscak) Katkocin.
She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, the Senior Citizens and the Panther Valley Golden Age Club, all of Lansford.
Surviving are two sons, Eugene of Allentown and Daniel J. of Arlington; two brothers, Steve of New Hyde Park, N.Y., and Michael of Bristol Township; and six grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, John Jr. and Joseph; and a sister, Ann Pathroff.
The Skrabak-Parambo Funeral Home, 210 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of the arrangements.
Samuel Kuba
Samuel Kuba, 81, of Allentown, died Monday in his home. He was the husband of Kathryn S. (Schiefly) Kuba.
He was an engineer for the former Western Electric, Allentown, before retiring in 1980.
Born in Lansford, he was a son of the late George and Anna (Yunas) Kuba.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son Kenneth of Allentown; a brother Paul of Highspire, Dauphin County; a sister Anna of Reno, Nev.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Paul I. Barthol
Paul I. Barthol, 77, formerly of 899 E. Rock Road, Allentown, died Monday in ManorCare Health Services I, Bethlehem. He was the husband of the late Pearl M. (Schaller) Barthol.
He was a fitter in the pipe shop of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 33 years before retiring in 1981.
Born in Northampton, he was a son of the late William P. and Ida R. (Schindler) Barthol.
Surviving are two sons, Dennis E. of Allentown and Roy H. of Tucson, Ariz.; a daughter, Dorothy A. Lambert of Allentown; three brothers, Jacob and Levi, both of Salisbury Township, and Claude of Jim Thorpe; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by three sons, Kenneth, Edward and Russell; and a daughter Evelyn.
Jack J. Marek
Jack J. Marek, 42, of 379 W. Ridge St., Lansford, died Tuesday in his home.
He was employed by Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, Tamaqua.
Born in Palmerton, he was a son of Mrs. Betty (Student) Marek of Lansford and the late Frank J. Marek, who died last June.
The deceased was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, Lansford.
An Army veteran of the Vietnam War era, he also belonged to the AMVETS and American Legion posts and the Italian Club, all of Lansford.
He was an avid dart shooter and shuffleboard player in local leagues.
Surviving in addition to his mother are two brothers, Joseph of Jacksonville, Fla., and Richard of Coaldale; two sisters, Frances Flickinger of Lansford and Marilyn, wife of David Stum of Neffs; and nieces and nephews.
The Skrabak-Parambo Funeral Home, 210 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of the arrangements.
Chauncey L. Williams
Chauncey L. Williams, 72, of Saylorsburg, died Wednesday in the Easton Hospital. He was the husband of Betty Mae (Walters) Williams. They observed their 50th wedding anniversary last May.
He was a maintenance worker for Laneco, Wind Gap, and Bishop Colony, Saylorsburg, for over 30 years before retiring in 1986. He also owned a garbage business in Saylorsburg for many years and previously was a machine operator for the former Dixie Cup, Easton, for five years.
Born in Snydersville, he was a son of the late Chauncey S. and Cula (Roth) Williams.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son LeRoy, a daughter, Maria Williams-Wright, and a brother Herbert, all of Saylorsburg; three grandchildren, a step-granddaughter and a step-great-granddaughter.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Eleanor L. Reitz
Mrs. Eleanor L. Reitz, 85, of Reeders, died Tuesday in the Pleasant Valley Manor, Snydersville. She was the widow of Frank Reitz.
Born in Newark, N.J., she was a daughter of the late John W. and May (Clark) Lawley.
She was a Protestant.
The deceased was a member of the West End Senior Citizens, Gilbert.
Surviving are a son Frank of Reeders; a brother Harold of Rahway, N.J.; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Emily M. Heyer
Mrs. Emily M. Heyer, 77, of 139 S. Broad St., Nazareth, died Tuesday in her home. She was the widow of William F. Heyer.
She was a machine operator for Kraemer Textiles, Nazareth, for 20 years before retiring in 1976.
Born in Easton, she was a daughter of the late William and Esther (Bailey) Longley.
Surviving are a daughter, Patricia A. Bonser of Bath; a son, William H. of Wind Gap; three sisters, Mary O. Hamm of Lehighton, Ruth Nagy of Catasauqua and Ida Rehrig of Bath; three brothers, George and Arthur, both of Nazareth, and Earl of Bath; 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Lillian E. Edwards
Mrs. Lillian E. Edwards, 82, of 10 W. Center St., Mahanoy City, died Wednesday in the Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic, Pottsville. She was the widow of William Edwards, who died in 1961.
Prior to retiring, she had been employed at the former City Shirt Company, Mahanoy City.
Born in Jersey City, N.J., she was a daughter of the late Fred and Elizabeth (Hoyer) Keuscher.
She was a member of the Mahanoy Area Senior Citizens and was of the Protestant faith.
The last immediate member of her family, she is survived by a daughter, Elaine Clouser of Washington State; and a son, David of Santa Paula, Calif.
The Jane Clifford Ritz Funeral Home, 19 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Esther M. Kressley
Mrs. Esther M. Kressley, 84, formerly of 75 Lentz Ave., Lehighton, died Wednesday evening in the Gnaden Huetten Hospital, Lehighton. She was the widow of Clinton A.W. Kressley, who died Jan. 7, 1983.
Born in Weatherly, she was a daughter of the late James and Lillie (Kocher) Young.
She was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lehighton.
Surviving are two daughters, Mary, wife of Joseph Pavlik, and Anna, wife of Philip Williams, both of Lehighton; two sisters, Stella Ahner of Franklin Township, and Doris Fortwanger of Weatherly; and two grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Alice Gerhard.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron streets, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
