Obituaries by LocationFebruary 1, 1997
J. Ford Fritzinger
J. Ford Fritzinger, 95, of Allentown, died Friday, Jan. 31, in the Phoebe Home, Allentown. He was the husband of the late Elsie (Faga) Fritzinger.
He was employed by PP&L from 1922 to 1966 at various capacities from clerk at the Hauto Power Station to assistant superintendent of power and engineering at the time of his retirement.
He resided in Allentown since 1960. Prior to that he lived in Hazleton from 1931 to 1960.
Born in Jim Thorpe, he was a son of the late Edward E. and Elizabeth H. (Sinex) Fritzinger. He was member of Grace-St. Paul United Methodist Church, Jim Thorpe. He was the Past Master of Carbon Lodge 242 F.&A.M. A past high priest of Lilly Chapter No. 181 and Past Commander of Packer Commandery No. 23, Knights Templar all of Jim Thorpe. He was the oldest past officer of all those above bodies.
He was the oldest member of the Mauch Chunk Alumni Association.
The Stephen Funeral Home, 1335 Linden St., Allentown, is in charge of arrangements.
February 3, 1997
Leonard Alabovitz
Former Summit Hill Mayor Leonard Alabovitz, 76, of 347 W. White St., died Saturday in the Good Samaritan Hospital, Pottsville. He was the husband of Elizabeth (Zuber) McLaughlin and the late Katherine (Campbell) Alabovitz.
He served as mayor of the community from 1973-77 and was also a former zoning officer in the town. Alabovitz was the longtime president and a past treasurer of the Summit Hill Community Improvement Organization, which he helped found in 1973, and a former coordinator of the Summit Hill gypsy moth program.
He served for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a master sergeant in 1966. He served in World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War and was the recipient of many medals.
Following his military career, Alabovitz was a supervisor in the proof department of the Northeastern National Bank, Scranton; credit manager of Evans Delivery Company, Pottsville; supervisor of the shipping department of the J.E. Morgan Knitting Mills, Hometown; director of the Carbon County Tax Claims Bureau; auditor and field investigator with the State Bureau of Liquid Fuels; Carbon County recorder of deeds; and as an auditor in the Carbon County Controller's Office.
Born in Dickson City, Lackawanna County, he was a son of Mrs. Wanda (Lebicjesky) Alabovitz of Blakely, Lackawanna County, and the late John Alabovitz.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Summit Hill.
Alabovitz was a past president of the Jeffersonian Democratic Club, Summit Hill; chairman of the Summit Hill Bicentennial Committee; and a life member of Lehighton Fire Company.
He was a member of the Carbon-Monroe Blind Association; the former Polish-American and Rod and Gun clubs, both of Summit Hill; the Air Force Sergeants Association; Retired Enlisted Association; American Legion Post 316, Summit Hill; and AMVETS Post 83, Lansford.
Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are two sons, TIMES NEWS Productions Manager Leonard J. of Lansford and Lawrence of Summit Hill; two sisters, Ramona Violanti of Archbald and Joan Geroula of Peckville, both in Lackawanna County; a stepdaughter, Eloise K. Ahner of Summit Hill; three stepsons, Clem McLaughlin III of Lancaster, N.Y., Anthony McLaughlin of Summit Hill and Richard McLaughlin of Bethlehem; five grandchildren and several step-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a brother Sanford.
The Thomas J. Parambo Funeral Home, 54 W. Fell St., Summit Hill, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Mary Boyle
Mrs. Mary Boyle, 95, formerly of Tamaqua, died Sunday in the Engleside Care Center, Hockessan, Del. She was the widow of Leroy Boyle.
Prior to retiring in 1967, she worked for the Atlas Powder Company, Reynolds, for 41 years.
Born in Summit Hill, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Elmira (Betz) Rickert.
She was affiliated with Trinity United Church of Christ, Tamaqua.
Surviving are a son Wilbur and a daughter, Meurice Southam, both of Wilmington, Del.; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The Roche Funeral Home, 237 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Evelyn V. Kelshaw
Mrs. Evelyn V. Kelshaw, 85, formerly of Hazleton and Weatherly, a guest at the Sunny Knoll Personal Care Home, Drums, Luzerne County, died Sunday in the emergency room of the Hazleton-St. Joseph Medical Center. She was the widow of Clayton Kelshaw, who died in 1963.
Prior to retiring, she had worked as a nurse's aide at the St. Joseph Hospital, Hazleton.
Born in Quakake, she was a daughter of the late Henry and Martha M. (Banks) Brobst.
She was a member of Salem United Church of Christ, Weatherly, and the Weatherly and Quakake Senior Citizens.
Surviving are a daughter Alberta, wife of Carmen Corch of Weatherly; a sister, Mrs. Robert (Alberta) Titus of Allentown; four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a brother Russell and a sister, Catherine Brobst.
Joseph J. York
Joseph J. York, 85, formerly of Lehighton, died Sunday in Gracedale, Upper Nazareth Township. He was the husband of the late Rose (Didonato) York, who died in December.
A self-employed contractor, he owned and operated York Roofing and Contracting, Lehighton and New York, for 50 years. He last worked for Carpenters Union, Allentown, retiring in 1976.
Born in Jim Thorpe, he was a son of the late Joseph and Ida (Leonard) York.
He was of the Protestant faith.
Surviving are a two sons, Jerry of Newark, Del., and Joseph of Bath; a daughter Connie, wife of Gary Rex of Northampton; two brothers, Bernard of Glenville, Neb., and Francis of Walnutport; three sisters, Ruth, wife of Louis Fortuni of Pittsburgh, Mrs. Margaret McLanghlan of Lakehurst, N.J., and Mrs. Evelyn Lithkousky of Tucson, Ariz.; six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Mrs. Joseph J. Rauscher
Mrs. Arline Mary Rauscher, 64, of 7985 Saw Mill Road, New Tripoli, died Sunday in her home. She was the wife of Joseph J. Rauscher. They observed their 36th wedding anniversary in July.
Born in Pringle, Luzerne County, she was a daughter of Mrs. Helen V. (Bush) Schnappauf of Mountain Top and the late Joseph G. Schnappauf.
She was a member of the Heritage Baptist Church, Orefield.
Surviving in addition to her husband and mother are two daughters, JoAnn M., wife of Randall A. Wise of Vicksburg, Miss., and Mary Ann F., at home; three sons, Joseph J. Jr. of Fleetwood, Karl F. of Naperville, Ill., and Frank L. of Tinton Falls, N.J.; two sisters, Charlotte H. Kapral of Edwardsville, Luzerne County, and Irene T., wife of Samuel G. Korey of Mountain Top; a brother, Richard J. of Dowell, Md.; and eight grandchildren.
Karl P. Bretney
Karl P. Bretney, 79, of Yarnell, Ariz., formerly of Lehighton, died Thursday in his home. He was the husband of the late Margie (Lower) Bretney.
Born in Lehighton, he was a son of the late Charles F. and Mary (Portz) Bretney.
Surviving are three sons, John of Yorba Linda, Calif., Kirk of Hawthorne, Calif., and Mark in Wisconsin; a sister Carolyn, wife of Lester Plank of Hollidaysburg, Blair County; and five grandchildren.
Mrs. Freda D. Middlecamp
Mrs. Freda D. Middlecamp, 80, formerly of Lehighton, died Thursday in the Easton Nursing Center. She was the widow of David Middlecamp, who died in 1995.
Born in Greenwood, Neb., she was a daughter of the late Ezekiel and Nellie (Davis) Eden.
She was a member of Salem Bible Fellowship Church, Lehighton.
Surviving are nieces and nephews.
Gary L. Bartholomew
Gary L. Bartholomew, 48, of Blakeslee, died Friday in his home. He was the husband of Carol (Wieand) Bartholomew.
He was a custodian for the Pocono Mountain School District, working at the Tobyhanna Elementary Center in Pocono Pines.
Born in Bethlehem, he was a son of Robert H. Bartholomew of Blakeslee and the late Esther (Trayes) Bartholomew.
The deceased was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Blakeslee, the Sons of the American Legion, Nazareth, and the Lower Nazareth Rod and Gun Club.
He was a former firefighter for the Tunkhannock Fire Company and a volunteer for the Wind Gap Ambulance.
Surviving in addition to his widow and father are a daughter Carrie, at home; a son, Arlington J. of Wind Gap; and a sister, Susan J. of Oxford, N.J.
Dr. Frank M. Capobianco
Dr. Frank M. Capobianco, 84, of 2639 Liberty St., Allentown, died Friday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.
A urologist, he maintained a private practice in Allentown since 1953, and previously had been in family practice in Pen Argyl, 1950-53.
He was on the staff of the Sacred Heart Hospital, the former Allentown Hospital and the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton, where he was named chief of staff in 1971. He was also a member of the courtesy staff of the Palmerton Hospital with privileges in urology.
A 1936 graduate of Lafayette College and a 1945 graduate of Hahnemann University Medical School, Philadelphia, he received additional training in urology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his internship at the St. Luke Hospital, Fountain Hill, Bethlehem, and his residency in urology at the former Allentown Hospital.
Born in Bangor, he was a son of the late Michael and Marie (Sachetti) Capobianco.
He was of the Catholic faith.
Dr. Capobianco was an Army veteran, having served at various Army hospitals in the U.S. from 1946 until his discharge in 1948 with the rank of captain.
He was a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Pennsylvania and Lehigh County medical societies and the American Urological Association.
The deceased was a football star at Bangor High School and Lafayette College. he was master of ceremonies for the annual Coaches' Night of the Lehigh Valley Chapter, National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, at the Easton Eagles' Home in 1967, and served as chapter president in 1968 and 1969.
Surviving are three sons, Anthony of Allentown, Michael of Reading and Dr. Frank of Easton; a sister, Rose Skrapits of Allentown; and nine grandchildren.
Harold H. Smith
Harold H. Smith, 86, of Kunkletown R.2, died Saturday in his home. He was the husband of the late Eva (Borger) Smith.
He was a maintenance man for the former New Jersey Zinc Company, Palmerton, for more than 30 years before retiring in 1973.
Born in Smith Gap, he was a son of the late Freeman and Ellen Smith.
He was a member of St. Matthew United Church of Christ, Kunkletown.
Surviving are a daughter Geraldine of Kunkletown; two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a son Gerald, who died in 1989.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Raymond L. Hannis
Raymond L. Hannis, 67, of 226 E. Juniata St., Allentown, died Saturday in the St. Luke Hospital, Fountain Hill, Bethlehem. He was the husband of Althea W. (Werner) Hannis. They were married for 50 years.
He was a conductor and trainman for the former Reading Railroad and Conrail for 31 years before retiring, and was a past local chairman of the United Trainmen's Union.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late James and Dorothy (Moyer) Hannis.
He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Allentown.
Hannis was a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean Conflict.
He belonged to the Mingo Pigeon Club, Allentown.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two daughters, Sharlene M. Bortz of Allentown and Susan R., wife of Charles Griffaton of Quakertown; five sons, Jeffrey A. and Scott J., both of Allentown, Ronald L. of Bethlehem, Randy A. of Macungie and Terry L. of Lehighton; three brothers, Gerald of Macungie, Gene of Bath and Rollin of Allentown; a sister June, wife of Merritt Troxell of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; and 12 grandchildren.
Mrs. Violet R. Taylor
Mrs. Violet Rae Taylor, 77, of Derry, N.H., died on Sunday. She was the widow of Hugh Taylor.
Prior to retiring in 1970, she had been employed as a supervisor at Cosmair Manufacturing in Clark, N.J.
Born in Frackville, she was a daughter of the late John and Bertha (Motckus) Williams.
She is survived by a son, Hugh of Derry, N.H.; a brother, Ted Williams of Shenandoah; a sister, Lorraine of Lancaster; and two grandchildren.
The E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home, 655 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Ruth Collins
Mrs. Ruth Collins, 89, formerly of 611 Arlington St., Tamaqua, died Sunday in the Hometown Nursing Center, Tamaqua R.2. She was the wife of the late Leroy W. Hein and the late Charles E. Collins.
Born in Tamaqua, she was a daughter of the late Conrad and Elizabeth (Behr) Clausius.
Mrs. Collins was a member of St. John United Church of Christ, Tamaqua.
She is survived by two sons, Franklin Hein of Tamaqua, and William Hein of Miners Memorial Geriatric Center, Coaldale; two daughters, Ruth, wife of William Hartranft of Lehighton, and Kathleen, wife of Richard Jones of Tamaqua; a stepdaughter, Mildred, wife of Robert Weaver of New Ringgold; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and two nephews.
She was also preceded in death by a brother, Charles Clausius, and a sister, Alberta Walsh.
The Jon M. Zizelmann Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of arrangements.
