Obituaries by LocationJanuary 29, 1997
Mrs. Rita Ritter
Mrs. Rita Ritter, 74, of 2326 Stonehenge Road, Bethlehem, died Monday in the St. Luke Hospital, Fountain Hill, Bethlehem. She was the widow of Thomas R. Ritter, who died in 1989.
She and her husband owned and operated the former Sanitary Food Market, Bethlehem, for many years before retiring.
Born in Plainfield, N.J., she was a daughter of the late James and Amelia (Bertollo) Nickele.
She was a member of Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethlehem.
Surviving are a son, Thomas W. of Bethlehem; two daughters, Bonnie J. Pahula of Walnutport and Judy R., wife of Jeffrey Hoffert of Bethlehem; a sister, Helen Buss of Yucca Valley, Calif.; 12 grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Mrs. Mary A. Kuyan
Mrs. Mary A. Kuyan, 72, of Allentown, died Monday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. She was the widow of Frank J. Kuyan.
Born in Nesquehoning, she was as daughter of the late Anthony and Mary Staivecki.
She was a member of St. John the Baptist Slovak Catholic Church, Allentown.
Surviving are a son, Frank A. of Bethlehem; two daughters, Virginia and Nancy, both of Allentown; three brothers, Joseph and John, both of Nesquehoning, and Andrew of Lansford; and a sister, Helen Hutnyan of Pittsburgh.
Mrs. Joyce D. Finley
Mrs. Joyce D. Finley, 77, of Allentown, died Tuesday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. She was the widow of Willard R. Finley.
She was a sewing machine operator for Lehigh Valley mills before retiring, and later had worked part-time for the American Association of Retired Persons, Allentown.
Born in Slatington, she was a daughter of the late Russell and Pauline (Bennington) Miller.
She was a member of Salem United Church of Christ, Catasauqua.
Surviving are three brothers, Rodney of Springfield, Va., Richard of Emmaus and Robert of Mountaintop, Luzerne County; two sisters, Mildred Smith and Jean Piff, both of Allentown; four grandchildren, including Holly Stearne, with whom she resided; and four great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a daughter by two daughters, Judith Ann Schlegel and Gloria Gemmiti.
Elvin J. Miller
Elvin J. Miller, 84, of 4185 Seemsville Road, Northampton, died Tuesday in his home. He was the husband of the late Caroline (Fogelman) Miller.
He was the owner-operator of the former Elvin Miller and Son Excavating and Paving Company, Northampton, until retiring in 1979, and was also a carpenter for area construction companies until retiring in 1975.
Born in Beersville, he was a son of the late Stewart and Clara (Nolf) Miller.
He was a life member of the Petersville Rod and Gun Club, Raccoon Club, Northampton, and the Allen Township Fire Company, and a member of the Danielsville Democratic Club and the Coplay Saegerbund.
Surviving are a son George of Northampton; three daughters, Barbara, wife of Frank O'Donnell of Seemsville, Dianne, wife of Roland Dieter of Northampton, and Ruth, wife of Walter Green of Northampton; a sister, Hilda McIlhaney of Bath; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Lillian M. Smith
Lillian M. Smith, 63, of 650 Franklin Ave., Palmerton, died Tuesday in the Palmerton Hospital.
Born in Palmerton, she was a daughter of the late Akron W. and Mabel M. (Frantz) Smith.
Surviving is a brother, Charles A. of Palmerton.
The Thomas K. Thomas Funeral Home, 145 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Esther L. Sechler
Mrs. Esther L. Sechler, 70, of 932 Edgemont Ave., Palmerton, died Tuesday in her home. She was the widow of Robert Sechler.
A 1948 graduate of the former Allentown Hospital School of Nursing, she was an assistant evening supervisor and charge nurse at Cedarbrook, South Whitehall Township, from 1961-68, and previously was employed by the Allentown Hospital for 13 years.
Born in Whitehall Township, she was a daughter of the late Albert M. and Elda B. (Wink) Hein.
She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Slatington.
Surviving are a daughter, Jo Ann Reed of Slatedale; three brothers, Robert of Wescosville, Lester of Palm and Lou of Pennsburg, Montgomery County; and three sisters, Mrs. Joyce Klotz and Nancy Ann, wife of Richard Snyder, both of Bethlehem, and Lois, wife of Francis Baumann of Emmaus.
The Harding-Fox Funeral Home, 25-27 N. Second St., Slatington, is in charge of arrangements.
Brown services
Funeral services for Lamont W. Brown, 74, of 115 Bankway St., Lehighton, who died Monday in the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday from the Richard M. Miller Funeral Home, 137 Fairview St., Union Hill, Lehighton, with the Rev. William Bartron officiating, followed by interment
in the Gnaden Huetten Cemetery , Lehighton. No calling hours are planned.
Norwood E. Klotz Sr.
Norwood E. Klotz Sr., 73, of 441 N. Second St., Lehighton, died Tuesday in his home. He was the husband of Mary (Wentz) Klotz. They observed their 49th wedding anniversary last February.
He worked in the No. 5 rolling mill of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 33 years before retiring in 1978.
Born in Lehighton, he was a son of the late Raymond E. and Beatrice (Campbell) Klotz.
He was a member of Bethany Evangelical Church, Lehighton.
Klotz was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, having served on Iwo Jima.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Darryl of Lehighton and Norwood E. Jr. of Schuylkill Haven; two daughters, Marleah, wife of Richard Borger of Parryville, and Cynthia, wife of Maxwell Balliet of Lehighton; two brothers, Blaine J. and Dean C., and two sisters, Beverly M., wife of Charles Frantz, and Shirley J., wife of Allen Christman, all of Lehighton; and 12 grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a brother Dale and a sister Marleah.
The Kenneth N. Phifer Funeral Home, Third and Alum streets, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Harlan J. West
Harlan J. West, 87, of Bethlehem, died Tuesday in Westminster Village, Allentown. He was the husband of Mary (Lubrecht) West.
He was project manager of the Martins Creek oil supply for the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company before retiring in 1974 after 40 years of service. He started at P.P. & L. at the former Harwood generating plant and became a junior engineer two years later, later being named supervisor of operations for the former Lykens power plant.
Other positions he held were senior project engineer in electrical engineering, assistant atomic plant engineer in the atomic engineering department, station electrical engineer, manager of power supply and assistant to active vice president of system power and engineering.
He was a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
Born in Coaldale, he was a son of the late John F. and Mary Jane (Jones) West.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem, where he sang in the choirs.
West was a Mason and member of the Bethlehem Mora Club chorus.
Surviving in addition to his widow are three daughters, Mary Jane, wife of F. Albert Ely of San Antonio, Tex., Wendy, wife of Bruce F. Smith of Cupertino, Calif., and Fran, wife of Thomas F. Halloran of Durham, Conn.; a brother, Daniel J. of Barnesville; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Raymond E. Strunk
Raymond E. Strunk, 70, of 766 McNair St., Hazleton, died late Monday in the Hazleton General Hospital. He was the husband of Ruth (Van Horn) Strunk.
Born in Weatherly, he was a son of the late Robert and Ellen (Kline) Strunk.
He spent his early years in Weatherly and lived in Hazleton since 1951.
He was a member of Grace United Church of Christ.
Strunk was Army veteran of World War II.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a daughter Kathryn, wife of Robert Skrinak of West Wyoming; a son Robert of Edwardsville; a sister Dorothy of Kunkletown; a brother Herman of Reading; three grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Charlotte Van Horn; and two granddaughters.
William Stembroski
William "Jamsy" Stembroski, 82, formerly of Coaldale, died at the Montgomery County Geriatric and Rehabilitation Center in Norristown. He is the former husband of Anna McHugh.
Surviving is a sister, Mrs. Anna Priggins of Coaldale.
A private funeral will precede the burial at St. Patrick Cemetery in Norristown.
Eugene B. Bickelman
Eugene B. Bickelman, 73, of 403 Railroad St., Tamaqua, died Monday in his home. He was the husband of Madeline (Hanney) Bickelman.
Prior to retiring, he was employed by the U.S. Postal Service in Philadelphia.
Born in Tamaqua, he was a son of the late John H. and Margaret (Farber) Bickelman.
An Army veteran of World War II, he served in the European Theater of Operations and was a Purple Heart recipient.
Bickelman was a member of the C.H. Berry American Legion Post 173 and the V.F.W. Post, both of Tamaqua.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a daughter Lynn, wife of Joseph Smith of Philadelphia; a son, John J. Sr. of Tamaqua; a sister, Mrs. Rosemary Smarr of Tamaqua; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a son James, who died in 1979.
The Jon M. Zizelmann Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
Matula services
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary (Behun) Matula, 89, of 222 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, who died Monday in the Geriatric Center of Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale, will be held at 9:15 a.m. Friday from the August M. Gulla Funeral Home, 130 E. Ridge St., Coaldale, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Jerome Catholic Church, Tamaqua, and interment
in SS. Cyril and Methodius Cemetery , Nesquehoning. Calling hours will be from 8-9:15 a.m. Friday in the funeral home.
Vincent J. Gryzik
Vincent J. Gryzik, 70, of 106 E. Holland St., Summit Hill, died Monday in the Mahoning Valley Convalescent Home, Mahoning Township, where he was a guest for one year. He was the husband of Louise (Gardiner) Gryzik. They were married for 47 years.
He was employed as a crane operator for the Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem, before retiring.
Born in Lansford, he was the son of the late Michael Repko and Mary Gryzik.
He was affiliated with the First Presbyterian Church, Summit Hill.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Wayne of Clayton, Del., and Vincent of Summit Hill; five daughters, Donna, wife of Edward Kaminitsky, and Grace, both of Summit Hill, Barbara, wife of James Evans of Coaldale, Marion, wife of Thomas Sabulsky of McAdoo, and Nancy Swartzwood of Allentown; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was the last member of his immediate family.
The August M. Gulla Funeral Home, 130 E. Ridge St., Coaldale, is in charge of the arrangements.
