Obituaries by LocationPaul Bashore Jr.
Paul R. Bashore Jr., 56, of Pine Grove Mills, died Monday, February 15, 1999 at home.
He was born February 12, 1943 at home in Middletown to Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. Bashore Sr. of Lebanon. On June 22, 1963 he marriage
Zelda K. DuMond, now Zelda K. Klinefelter of Bellefonte. On November 23, 1985 he marriage Ella M. Peavler who survives at home.
In addition to his wife and his parents, he is survived by a son, Paul R. Bashore III of Pine Grove Mills; a daughter, Karen L. Grubb of Bellefonte; a stepdaughter, Tammy P. Gentzel of State College; a stepson, Terry W. Peavler of Pine Grove Mills; four granddaughters, Amanda, Danielle, Jennifer and Leah; three grandsons, Christopher, Tyler and Harley; and a brother and sister-in-law Donald E. and Shirley A. Bashore of Elizabethtown. He was preceded in death by a brother, Dennis L. Bashore.
He was a 1961 graduate of Middletown Area High School. He was vice president of Glenco Construction Services, Inc. in Lewistown where he developed personnel guidelines, safety programs and served as project manager. He was recognized in 1998 by the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. for his dedication to the Education Committee.
He was an Eagle Boy Scout with Troop 101 in Middletown and served as a Boy Scout leader with Troop 35 in Bellefonte for 17 years. He served as deputy game protector for the Pennsylvania Game Commission for nine years with his friend and colleague John Harchak of Julian. He was a former member of the Bellefonte Chapter of Jaycees, the Logan Fire Company and is currently an honorary member of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association. He served on the Board of the Ferguson Township Water and Sewer Authority. He enjoyed leather tooling. He was an avid outdoorsman who worked for the preservation of wildlife and the natural environment. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and bird watching.
There will be a celebration of life for Paul at the convenience of the family and friends. No public visitation or graveside services will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to Boy Scout Troop 101, care of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Middletown, PA 17057.
Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street, State College, PA handled the arrangements.
Mary Keller
Mary E. Keller, 77, of Middletown died Tuesday, February 16 at home.
Kenneth Mertz
Kenneth G. Mertz, 79, of North Union Street, Middletown, died Tuesday, February 16 in Polyclinic Hospital.
Born in Kutztown, he was the son of the late William and Mamie Zettlemoyer Mertz.
He retired as a salesman from Hoffman Ford in 1993 after 35 years; was a graduate of Kutztown High School; a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Middletown, its Arthur King Sunday School class and a former member of the finance committee of the church; Middletown Moose Lodge 410; and a life member of the Social Club of Kutztown.
He is survived by his wife, Edna L. Rahn Mertz, with whom he celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in June 1998; a son, Kenneth G. Mertz II, husband of Shirley, of Lititz; a daughter, Laura K., wife of Rev. James M. Emerick of York-New Salem; two sisters, Verna Eshelman of Wernersville and Virginia Fisher of Levittown; and four grandchildren.
Private viewing and funeral services were held at the Coble-Reber Funeral Home, Middletown with the Rev. Dr. J. Richard Eckert officiating. Burial was in Middletown Cemetery.
Coble-Reber Funeral Home, Middletown, handled arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to the building fund of his church, Union and Spring streets, Middletown, PA 17057.
C. Elwood Whye
C. Elwood Whye, 92, of Shellie Street, Lebanon, died Thursday, February 18 in his residence.
He was born in Dauphin County on November 30, 1906, a son of the late John and Edna Keller Whye.
He was a superintendent at Wincroft Stove Works, Middletown; the owner and manager of Whye-Not Drive In in Colebrook for over 14 years; and a member of the Lebanon Senior Citizens Center, Middletown Fire Co. and Cumberland Valley Fire Association.
He was the husband of Margaret A. Redinger Whye, with whom he would have celebrated a 37th wedding anniversary in July and was the husband of the late Louise Kipp Whye.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Edna M. Hurlock, Middletown, Patricia A. Gutshall, Hershey, Jack K. Whye, Middletown, and Ann, wife of Harry Lippert, El Paso, TX; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a stepsister, June Hiller, Syracuse, NY; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Faye Gantz.
Private funeral services were to be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Middletown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 1263, Lebanon, PA 17042.
The Rohland Funeral Home, 508 Cumberland Street, Lebanon, PA, handled arrangements.
Edward Patton
Edward W. Patton, 85, of Carlson Drive, Orlando, FL, died Saturday, February 6 of cancer.
Born in Middletown, PA, he moved to central Florida in 1955.
Mr. Patton was a retired parts manager for a commercial laundry equipment company; and a member of Orlando Moose Lodge 766.
He is survived by his wife, Genevieve; two sons, Edwin W., Roberta, GA and Thomas L., Omaha, NE; a daughter, Jane Hurt, Maitland, FL; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Carey Hand Cox-Parker Funeral Home, Winter Park, FL, handled arrangements.
Frances VanAuken
Frances C. VanAuken, 81, of Frey Village Nursing Center, Middletown, formerly of Lower Swatara Twp., died Thursday, February 18 at the center.
She was a former member of Tranquility United Methodist Church, Tranquility, NJ; and a past worthy matron of Eastern Stars, Chapter 509, Hershey.
She is survived by a nephew, Emmett W. VanAuken of Marshalls Creek, PA; a niece, Carrie E. Aptar of Gilberts, PA; and a sister-in-law, Winifred VanAuken of Columbia, NJ.
Services and burial will be in Tranquility Cemetery, Tranquility, NJ at the convenience of the family. There will be no viewing.
The Frank E. Matinchek & Daughter Funeral Home, Middletown, handled arrangements.
