Obituaries by LocationCharles S. Shearer
LOCK HAVEN - Charles S. Shearer, 54, of 287 South Jones St., died Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, in Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. He and his wife, the former Anna R. Bauman, observed their 5th wedding anniversary July 3. He was employed by Jersey Shore Steel Co. A Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, he was a member of the Jersey Shore and Beech Creek American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of Castanea Fire Co. Born here Oct. 1, 1946, he was a son of Archie W. and Mae E. Confer Shearer. Surviving, besides his wife, are his mother of Woolrich; a son Neil W. of Avis; a daughter, Jessica of Waterville; four stepsons, John Shirk of Jersey Shore, Wayne Shirk of McElhattan, Merril Shirk of Mill Hall and Scott Shirk of Stanford, Conn.; a stepdaughter, Tina Powell of Lock Haven; a brother, Archie R. of Kennewick, Wash.; two sisters, Sylvia Newberry of Dunnstown and Sharon Allen of Jersey Shore; three grandchildren; and 11 step-grandchildren. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Walker’s, 231 High St., Flemington, with the Rev. John Welshans, officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.
Flora Anne Hackett
WELLSBORO - Flora Anne Hackett, 88, of this borough died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, in Dar-Way Nursing Home, Forksville. She was former owner and operator of the Horseshoe Inn Bar and Restaurant, retiring in 1970. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Liquor Association. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church. Born Feb. 11, 1912, in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of Michael and Anna Foemmel Noeppel. Surviving are a daughter, Sandra Anne Oates of Bradenton, Fla.; a son, Barry Lee Oates; a sister, Elizabeth A. Noeppel of Forksville; and two grandchildren, Jason Lee and Jennifer Lee Oates. Services will be private at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are being handled by Tussey-Mosher’s, 139 Main St.
David L. Chaplain
MILL HALL - Word has been received of the death of David L. Chaplain, 52, of Mill Hall, who died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2000, in ManorCare North. He was employed at Jersey Shore Steel for more than 20 years as a laborer and forklift operator. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and woodwork
cabinetry. Born Sept. 3, 1948, in Lock Haven, he was a son of Charles and Mildred Cryder Chaplain. Surviving are his mother of Castanea; four brothers, Charles in Texas, James of Lock Haven, Keith of Antes Fort and William of Castanea; and a sister, LeAnne Caseman in New Hampshire. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. today at Helt Hanna Kline’s, 232 Hogan Blvd., with the Rev. Wayne Hixon officiating. Burial will be in Cryder Cemetery, Dunnstable Township. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 to 11 a.m. today.
Mary K. Rode
Mary K. Rode, 90, formerly of 315 Sidney St., South Williamsport, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2000, in Rose View Center. Her husband, Ralph R. Rode, died in 1974. She was 1928 graduate of Williamsport High School. She attended Bethel United Methodist Church. Born June 18, 1910, in Loyalsock Township, she was a daughter of Fredrick and Cora M. Bower Tebbs Sr. Surviving is a daughter, Ruth Naomi, with whom she lived before entering the center. She was preceded in death by a son, Ralph Richard Jr. Private graveside services were held in Green Lawn Memorial Park. Arrangements were handled by Sanders’, 821 Diamond St.
Donald E. Henry
RENOVO - Donald E. Henry, 60, of 222 Seventh St. died Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, at home. He and his wife, the former Donna Watt, observed their 40th wedding anniversary Aug. 20. He had been employed by Speno. He was a life member of Emerald Hose Co. He was a member of Zions Evangelical Lutheran Church. Born March 30, 1940, in Renovo, he was a son of Conrad and Ruth Fox Henry. Surviving, besides his wife, are a son, Donald of Renovo; a daughter, Kim Probst of Castanea; two brothers, Robert of Renovo and Daniel of Buckhanan, W.Va.; and two grandchildren. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday in North Bend Cemetery, North Bend, with his brother-in-law, the Rev. Larry Haines, officiating. Arrangements are being handled by Maxwell’s, 205 Fifth St.
Olive L. Gilhart
Olive L. Gilhart, 89, of 172 Valley Heights Drive died Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, in Rose View Manor. Arrangements are being handled by Kaufman’s, 2102 Northway Road.
John Aumick
MAINESBURG - John Aumick, 72, a village resident, died Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital, Wellsboro. He retired after 39 years of employment with Ralph J. Haskle Construction Co. Born here Aug. 11, 1928, he was the son of Roy Sr. and Ruth Edwards Aumick. Surviving are his wife, the former Ida Lowry; two sons, David of Mansfield and Rex of Wellsboro; two daughters, Susan Hill and Gail Harzinski, both of Mansfield; two brothers, Stanley of Mansfield and Jim of Mainesburg; two sisters, Sarah Pfeifer and Essie Thomas, both of Mansfield; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Wilston’s, 18 N. Main St., Mansfield. Burial will be in State Road Cemetery here. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight.
Shelva J. Bieber
TURBOTVILLE - Shelva J. Bieber, 63, of Turbotville RR 1, died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000, at home. She and her husband, Harry A. Bieber, observed their 44th wedding anniversary April 21. A homemaker, she enjoyed reading. She was a 1955 graduate of Danville High School. She was a member of St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, and a former member of the Buffalo Valley Church of the Brethren, Mifflinburg. She was a former member of the Turbotville Lioness Club. Born Sept. 30, 1937, in Beaver Springs, she was the daughter of Allen S. and Belva E. Ocker Fleming. Surviving, besides her husband and her mother of Danville, are two sons, H. Randal of Winterville, N.C, and Jeffrey S. of Turbotville; three daughters, Patricia J. Bieber of Washingtonville, Sandra J. Mullay of Swoyersville and Pamela S. Lenig of Watsontown; two brothers, Kenneth Fleming of Winfield and Joseph Fleming of Pfasfftown, N.C.; one sister, Nancy Baylor of Sunbury; and five grandchildren, Evan J., Tessa J., Blyssalyn V., Zachary A. and Chelsea A. Bieber. She was preceded in death by a son, William A., in 1976; and a grandson, Joshua Ryan Lenig, in 1987. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Charla M. Grieves, her pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Turbotville Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Brooks, 207 Broadway St.
Rev. James S. Dittmar
Rev. James S. Dittmar, 85, of New Kensington, a city native, died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000, in the Natrona Heights Hospital. He was the retired pastor of Hillcrest Alliance Church of Lower Burrell and the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of New Kenington, where he lived since 1970. Born here May 1, 1915, he was a 1933 graduate of Williamsport High School and a 1939 graduate of Nyack College, Nyack, N.Y. His wife, Sarah, died in 1987. Surviving are three sons, Samuel M. of Cleveland, Ohio, James K. of New Brighton and John N. of Washington Township; and two grandchildren. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Hillcrest Church, 232 Hillcrest Drive, Lower Burrell. Burial will be in the Plum Creek Cemetery, Plum. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Walker’s, 217 Freeport Road, New Kensington, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
Miriam A. Evans
COVINGTON - Miriam A. Evans, 72, a former village resident, died Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, in Groton Nursing Home, Groton, N.Y. She was a retired hairdresser. She was a member of the Covington United Methodist Church. Born Sept. 22, 1928, in Johnson City, N.Y., she was a daughter of Ralph and Miriam Nottingham Luh. Surviving are a daughter, Linda Natale of Marathon, N.Y.; a son, James of Hartford, Conn.; two sisters, Barbara Quackenbush of Wellsboro and Laura Beam of Binghamton, N.Y.; a brother, Donald Divet of Ariz.; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Evans, in 1988. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Wilston’s, 18 N. Main St., Mansfield, with the Rev. James Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in Arbon Cemetery, Blossburg. Friends may call at the Wilstons from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Mary Lape Metzger
Word has been received of the death of Mary Margaret Lape Metzger, city native, who died Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2000, in Garden Terrace Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Fort Worth, Texas. She and her husband Charles “Skip” Metzger, observed their 36th wedding anniversary in September. She had worked at the former Glyco Chemical before she moved to Philadelphia to work with the Bible Club movement. She was a 1958 graduate of Williamsport High School. She served in various capacities at Pantego Bible Church, Arlington, Texas. Born March 19, 1940, in this city, she was a daughter of Monroe and Margaret Good Lape. Surviving, besides her husband, are two sons, Curt of Mansfield, Texas, and Steve of Arlington, Texas; a sister, Beverly Peters of this city; a brother, James Lape of Jersey Shore; and six grandchildren, Jessica, Sarah, Zachery, Addison, Brandon and Alyssa. She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Pysher. A local memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Baptist Church, 2100 W. Third St.
Noreen M. Winner
Noreen M. Winner, 63, of 1833 Cemetery Road, Montoursville, died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000, at Manor Care Nursing Home. She and her husband, James H. Winner, observed their 44th wedding anniversary Feb. 11. She was a beautician at the former Fuller’s Beauty Shop. She was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church. Born, Jan. 12, 1937, in this city, she was a daughter of Bruce and Edna Bowes. Surviving, besides her husband, are two sons, James B. and Todd K.; two brothers, Reynold Stryker of Williamsport and Robert Swank of Baton Rouge, La.; two grandchildren, Teresa M. Fladd and Ashley Mae Winner; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Spitler’s, 733 Broad St., Montoursville, with the Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
L. LaRue Yost
McEWENSVILLE - L. LaRue Yost, 87, a resident and former mayor of this borough, died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000, at the home of his son, C. James Yost of Turbotville. His wife of 48 years, the former Ethel G. Schuck, died in 1981. He retired in 1978 from the former Philco-Ford Zenith Corp. plant, Watsontown, after 38 years. He received the company’s Town Crier Bell Citizen of the Year Award in 1972. He previously worked for his father in the C. G. Yost Trucking and was a driver for the federal Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. He was borough mayor from 1963 to 1972 and previously served as president of borough council. He was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ here and its consistory board. An Army veteran, he was past commander of American Legion Post 323, Watsontown. He was a life member of Elks Lodge 913 and Moose Lodge 171, both in Milton, and the McEwensville Volunteer Fire Co. He also was a member of the Friends of Montgomery House Library, Turbotville Lions Club and the Fort Freeland Heritage Society. He was a 50-year member of Lodge 401, F&AM, Watsontown, and a member of Royal Arch Chapter 246 and the Williamsport Consistory. Born May 12, 1913, in Delaware Township, Northumberland County, he was a son of Clarence G. and Katherine Whipple Yost. Surviving, besides his son, are a daughter Patricia K. Cooper of Danville; a brother, William of Milton; three sisters, Helen Bortz in Florida, Katherine Derr of Milton RR and Virginia Callenberger of Hughesville; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a twin brother, Lavine; two other brothers, Eli and Stanley; and a sister, MaryEllen Yost. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Brooks’, 207 Broadway St., Turbotville. Burial will be in Presbyterian Cemetery here. Military rites will be provided by combined veterans organizations. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday. Lions and Masonic services will be held. The family will provide the flowers.
Howard Edward Z. Ensinger
Howard Edward Z. Ensinger, 89, of 2216 W. Third St. died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000, at the Williamsport Hospital. He and his wife, the former Gladys M. Riddell, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on June 16. He was a car inspector for Conrail for 30 years. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 844 of Williamsport. He was a member of Memorial Baptist Church and a trustee and Sunday school teacher. Involved in Boy Scouts, he was Camp Master of Camp Karoondinha, a Brown Sea member, a Scout Master for Troop 29 and a Club Master for Pack 47 and a member of the Order of Arrow. Born Feb. 27, 1911, in Trevorton, he was a son of Howard and Grace Ensinger Zerby. Surviving, besides his wife, are a daughter, Martha K. of Williamsport and two half-brothers, William and Robert Sellinger, both of Linden. He was preceded in death by a sister, Edith Jackson and two brothers, James W. Zerby, Sr. and Albert F. Ensinger. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Sanders, 821 Diamond St., with the Rev. Jeffrey J. Williams officiating. Burial will be in Twin Hills Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday. The family will provide the flowers.
Anthony James Gerace
Anthony James Gerace, 72, of 1199 Floral Court, Palm Bay, Fla., formerly of Williamsport, died Sunday, Nov. 5, 2000, at the home of his daughter, Sharon Sechler, 105 W. Hills Drive. He and his wife, the former Dolores O’Brien, celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on Sept. 1. He was a graduate of Williamsport Technical Services. He was a veteran of the Army and the Navy. He was employed by Lycoming Avco for 36 years. He owned and operated the former Atlantic Gas Station at Arch and Third streets. He was a member of American Legion Post 36, Jersey Shore, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7863, Duboistown, Moose Lodge 214, Jersey Shore and the Newberry Independent Club. Born June 4, 1928, in Pottsville, he was a son of Joseph and Anna Gallo Gerace. Surviving, besides his wife, are two daughters, Sharon Sechler and Renee Wheeland, both of Williamsport; a son, Craig of Williamsport; a brother, Jake of Pottsville; four sisters, Mary Claffey of Huntington Valley, Margaret Gerace of Ocala, Fla., Anna Marchetti of Glenn Mills and Lucy Lubinsky of Pine Grove; and five grandchildren, Erica Sechler, Julia, Bret, Shane and Breanna Wheeland. He was preceded in death by a brother, Michael Vincinetta Zugzda. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Annunciation, West Fourth and Walnut streets. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by the Korean War Veterans. Friends may call at Sanders’, 821 Diamond Street, from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and a vigil will be at 8:30 p.m.
James Kaminski
BLOSSBURG - James Kaminski, 58, of Rochester, N.Y., a Blossburg native, died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000, at St. Mary’s Hospice, Rochester. He and his wife, the former Victoria Tokarz, markd thier 26th wedding anniversary July 6. He retired from Eastman Kodak in 1992. He was a Navy vertan of the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Hillside Rod and Gun Club. Born July 11, 1942, he was a son of Thomas and Regina Nowak Kaminski. Surviving, besides his wife, are a sister, Tina Robinson of Pine City, N.Y. A sister, Kathleen Kaminski, died earlier this year. A prayer service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Freeberg’s, 120 N. Williamson Road, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, St. Mary’s Church Cemetary. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Eugene C. Spencer
WELLSBORO - Eugene C. Spencer, 67, of 9 Stickley St., died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000, in Soldiers and Sailors Hospital. He and his wife, the former Shirley Erway, celebrated their 44th anniversary Sept. 9. He was a lineman for the Wellsboro Electric Co. before retiring in 1991. He was a member of the Wellsboro Fire Department and Ambulance Association. He was a member of Moose Lodge #4117. He was a member of the Bake Oven Hunting Camp. He was an Army veteran. Born Aug. 16, 1933 in Wellsboro, he was a son of K.C. and Bernita Powers Spencer. Surviving besides his wife are two sons, Michael and Mark, both of Wellsboro; a daughter, Vicki Young of Wellsboro; a sister, Jo Fishel of Shiremanstown; and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Tussey-Mosher’s, 139 Main St., with the Rev. Gregory P. Hinton officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. The family will provide the flowers.
