Obituaries by LocationJanuary 24, 1997
Mrs. Ethel E. Marsh
Mrs. Ethel E. Marsh, 84, formerly of Rockville, Lehigh Township, died Thursday in ManorCare Health Services, Salisbury Township. She was the widow of Daniel P. Marsh.
She and her husband owned and operated a bakery route and the Rockville Hotel for many years.
Born in Lower Saucon Township, she was a daughter of the late Julius and Elizabeth (Netza) Yuhas.
She was a member of Christ United Church of Christ, Little Moore, Moore Township.
Surviving are three sisters, Gizetta Dettmer of Tamaqua and Elizabeth Mahelko and Eleanor Stull, both of Allentown; two brothers, Ernest of Allentown and Julius of Fullerton; and nieces and nephews.
Kenneth W. Locks
Kenneth W. Locks, 30, of Linden Street, Bethlehem, died Thursday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.
He was a construction worker for Laborers Union Local 1174 for the past 10 years.
Born in Scranton, he was a son of Mrs. Lorraine E. (Wallace) Locks of Chapman Lake and the late William S. Locks, and a stepson of Michael Carey of Chapman Lake.
The deceased attended Northampton Community College for two years.
Surviving in addition to his mother and stepfather are a companion, Suzan J. Moyer, with whom he resided; a brother, William J. of Chapman Lake; two sisters, Cheryl, wife of Stephen Farkas of Slatington, and Cynthia, wife of Jon Young of Hellertown; and nephews.
Mrs. Jean A. Kemp
Mrs. Jean A. Kemp, 76, of the Liberty Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Allentown, formerly of Fourth Street, Slatington, died Thursday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. She was the widow of Warren Kemp.
A 1943 graduate of the former Allentown Hospital School of Nursing, she was a registered nurse in the Lehigh Valley for many years before retiring.
Born in Slatington, she was a daughter of the late Harvey E. and Marion (Marshall) Roth.
She was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Slatington, where she belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society.
There are no immediate survivors.
Mrs. Rose C. Becker
Mrs. Rose C. Becker, 87, of Allen Township, died Thursday in her home. She was the widow of Stanley W. Becker.
Born in Beersville, she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Anna (Biss) Petko.
She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, Northampton.
Mrs. Becker was a kitchen volunteer at the Allen Township Volunteer Fire Company.
Surviving are two sons, Stanley A. of Stroudsburg and Richard P. of Dallas, Tex.; three daughters, Josephine A., wife of Frederick Wieand of St. Petersburg, Fla., Dorothy B., wife of Jerome Hess of Allen Township, and Kathleen B., wife of Dennis Petrie of Kutztown; two sisters, Helen Muessle of Spring Lake, N.J., and Pauline Koehler of Allen Township; a brother Andrew of Chapmans; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Sister Marie Antonia Poskaitis, C.J.C.
Sister Marie Antonia Poskaitis, C.J.C., 72, a member of the Poor Sisters of Jesus Crucified and the Sorrowful Mother, died Wednesday in the Mercy Hospital, Scranton, following a lengthy illness.
She entered the religious life in 1941 and made her first profession three years later, enjoying a subsequent 30-year teaching career that included a stay at the former SS. Peter and Paul Parochial School, Tamaqua.
Born in Plymouth, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Francis and Eva (Christian-Kriksciunas) Poskaitis.
She graduated from Plymouth High School, Plymouth, Pa., and received her bachelor of science degree from Marywood College, Scranton. She was certified as a teacher in elementary subjects in secondary Social Studies, and as an elementary school prinicpal.
Sr. Marie Antonia was an accomplished organist.
She taught at St. Ann School, Scranton, from 1980-87, and was again on the staff there since 1994.
In addition to teaching there and in Scranton, she taught in congregational schools in Frackville, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Carbondale, Cambridge, Mass., and South Boston, Mass.
Her leadership roles included being local superior and/or principal at St. Michael Parish and St. Ann parishes, both in Scranton; Holy Trinity Parish, Wilkes-Barre; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Carbondale. She was mistress at the Motherhouse in Brockton, Mass., for 10 years.
Surviving is a sister, Alfreda Reese of Clark's Summit.
She was also preceded in death by four sisters, Sr. Evarista Poskaitis, C.J.C., Ann Poskaitis, Mary Poskaitis and Mrs. John Gibas of Tamaqua; and three brothers, Anthony Reed, Raymond Poskaitis and Frank Poskaitis.
A concelebrated funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Ann Basilica, followed by interment
in St. Mary Villa Cemetery , Elmhurst, Pa. Calling hours are scheduled from 2-4 and 7-9 o'clock tonight at the Thomas J. Hughes Funeral Home, 1240 St. Ann St., Scranton. Contributions in her name may be made to the Sisters of Jesus Crucified, St. Mary Villa Convent, Elmhurst, Pa. 18416, or Sisters of Jesus Crucified, Our Lady of Sorrows Convent, Brockton, Mass. 02402.
Nelson T. Barron
Nelson T. Barron, 78, of East Railroad Street, New Ringgold, died Wednesday in his home. He was the husband of Eleanor M. (Miller) Barron.
He was a mixologist in the powderhouse at ICI Explosives, Reynolds, for 36 years before retiring in 1981.
Born in Coaldale, he was a son of the late William and Mary Ann (Stride) Barron.
He was a member of Friedens Lutheran Church, New Ringgold.
Barron was an Army veteran of World War II, having served in the European Theater of Operations.
He was a life member of the Community Fire Company, New Ringgold.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two daughters, Susan Barron of Harrisburg and Sandra Schmidt of Fleetwood; two brothers, Theodore and Clarence, and a sister, Alice Betz, all of Tamaqua; three grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
The John H. Lundbye Funeral Home, 116 S. Liberty St., Orwigsburg, is in charge of the arrangements.
Evan Beblavy
Evan "Jaker" Beblavy, 76, of 1314 Fritz Valley Road, Lehighton, died Thursday in his home. He was the husband of Mary (Yondura) Beblavy. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 10, 1996.
He was employed in the pouring department of Bethlehem Steel Corp., retiring in 1982 after 28 years of service.
Born in Lansford, he was a son of the late Paul and Kristina (Surcek) Beblavy.
He was a member of St. John Slovak Lutheran Church, Lansford.
He was a member of the Mahoning Valley Lions Club where he was twice awarded the courage award for loyalty and dedication to the club, in 1986 and 1995; charter member of the Mahoning Valley Fire Company; Beaver Run Rod & Gun Club, and the Andreas Sporting Club.
Surviving with his wife are two sons, Joseph of Allentown and Evan of Lehighton; three sisters, Amelia, wife of Michael Maholick, and Mary, wife of Thaddeus Kresge, both of Lehighton, and Elizabeth, wife of Frank Schimaneck of Allentown; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Paul and Milan.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron streets, Lehighton, is in charge of arrangements.
