Obituaries by LocationTheodore R. Sessamen
Theodore R. Sessamen, 69, of Leader Drive, Williamsport, passed away
Monday, Dec. 30, 2002.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, 125 N. Broad St., Jersey Shore, and will be announced when complete.
William C. ‘Bill’ Butler
William C. “Bill” Butler, 51, of Morris, Pa. (Pine Twp.) died unexpectedly, Dec. 29, 2002, at the Williamsport Hospital.
Born March 9, 1951, in Oak Park, Ill., he was the son of Janet (Claar) Butler and the late Spencer Butler.
Mr. Butler graduated from high school in 1969. He obtained a bachelors of science degree in Culinary Services at Triton College in Chicago and later a masters degree at Penn State University. Most recently Bill was proud to be within a semester of achieving his Ph.D. at PSU.
He was employed as Dean of the School of Hospitality at Penn College in Williamsport for several years. He was a member of the Oregon Hill Grace Chapel, the ACD and the AAAC Clubs.
Bill’s family and home were most important in his life. He enjoyed times spent working on his car, a classic 1931 Auburn.
In addition to his mother, surviving are his loving wife of 25 years, Debra; three children, April “Lea”, Iris and Ethan Butler; several siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends may call from 10 to 12 p.m. Thursday at the Oregon Hill Grace Chapel. The funeral will follow with Pastor Lon Williams, officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to their children’s college trust fund, C/O 86 Hunter Road, Morris, PA 16938.
Arrangements are under the care of Zwicharowski Funeral Home, Blossburg.
Edward J. Knapp Sr.
Edward J. Knapp Sr., 70, of Blossburg, formerly of RD3 Wellsboro, died Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at Broad Acres Health and Rehabilitation Center, Wellsboro.
Ed’s Life Celebration will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 24 at Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home, a “Life Celebration Home,” 139 Main St., Wellsboro. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, at the funeral home with Pastor David Weaver officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Bloss Township.
Hazel L. Barto
Hazel L. Barto, 88, of 896 Dr. Poust Road, Hughesville, died April 22, 2003, at the Muncy Valley Hospital, Skilled Nursing Unit. Born Aug. 6, 1914, in Penn Township, she was a daughter of the late William and Anna Reese Snyder.
Hazel was a member of Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. She enjoyed quilting and gardening.
Surviving are two sons, Dale Barto of Hughesville and Carl Shaner of Bloomsburg; a daughter, Inez Moss of Benton; a stepdaughter, Marie Benscoter of Watsontown; a stepson, W. Neil Barto of Hughesville; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Hazel is predeceased by her first husband, Harold A. Shaner; her second husband, Clyde L. Barto; a stepson, Doyle Barto; a brother, Hervey Snyder and a sister, Martha Barto.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at McCarty-Thomas’ 557 E. Water St., Hughesville with the Rev. George Doran officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Hazel’s name may be made to the Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, c/o the Rev. George Doran, 122 S. Main St. Hughesville, PA 17737.
Joyce Marion Hoffman
Joyce Marion Hoffman, 84, died April 8, 2003.
Surviving are four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and a local sister and brother, Becky Waltman of Muncy and brother, Ira Bryan of Picture Rocks. Mrs. Hoffman is predeceased by her husband, a daughter and a son.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made to the Hughesville Library in Mrs. Hoffman’s name.
Myrtle Louise Kyler
Myrtle Louise (Konkle) Kyler, 88, of 693 Starr Road, Montoursville, passed away at 1:30 a.m., April 22, 2003, at the Williamsport Home where she had resided since May 23, 2002. Louise was born Dec. 18, 1914, the daughter of George A. and Jeane Davison Konkle, Greenview Farm, Montoursville.
She was predeceased by her husband, Francis, on Sept. 20, 1999.
Louise is survived by two daughters, Connie Kyler and Bonnie (Charles) Garner as well as by two grandchildren, Jennifer and Joshua Garner all of Montoursville. Also surviving is her brother, John D. Konkle of Montoursville as well as a nephew John Konkle of Dillsburg and a niece, Barbara Konkle of Williamsport.
Louise was a 1937 graduate of the Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing. Her main occupation was that of being a housewife and being a partner in the poultry, egg and farm produce business run by her husband.
Her main hobby was flower gardening and love of dogs.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Williamsport, the Williamsport Hospital Auxiliary and a longtime member of the Montoursville Garden Club.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 24, 2003, at the Montoursville Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Robert L. Close and the Rev. Richard D. Waters officiating.
The family will provide the flowers.
Contributions in Louise’s memory may be made to her church or to the Williamsport Home in thanks to everyone who has had any part in her care over this past year.
Arrangements are being handled by Spitler Funeral Home, Montoursville.
R. Owen Kelchner
Mr. R. Owen Kelchner, 82 of 710 Helen Ave., Deland, FL, died Saturday, April 19, 2003 at his home.
Born April 26, 1920 in Jersey Shore he was the son of Ralph E. Kelchner and former Myrtle Owens. He was preceded in death by his wife the former Nancy B. Bardo Feb. 12, 2000, they were united in marriage Feb. 8, 1942. During WWII he served in the United States Army Medical Corps as a laboratory and surgical tech. As well as entertaining troops in the 107th Musical Yanks as a trombonist.
Owen graduated of the Jersey Shore High School and Eckels College of Embalming. He was the 3rd generation owner/operator of the Kelchner Funeral Home until he retired in 1984. For many years he was active member of the Jersey Shore Rotary Club. He was a member and Past Master of the Labelle Vallee Lodge 232 F.&A.M. in Jersey Shore. For many years he was a member and choir member of the First United Methodist Church in Jersey Shore, and the Yalaha Community Church of Yalaha Florida.
Surviving are 2 sons, Owen W. Kelchner of Brookside, Jeffrey R. Kelchner of Leland, NC, 3 daughters, Carol A. Waldvogel of Yalaha, FL, Pamela J. Crooks of Brookside and Jennie L. Kanski of Deltona, FL, 22 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson, 3 sisters, Ruth Brown of Berlin, MD, Jane K. Adams of Jersey Shore and Joyce Knittle of Williamsport.
Funeral services will be Friday, April 25, 2003 at noon in the Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, 125 N. Main St., Jersey Shore. Friends may call from 11 a.m. Friday until time of services in the funeral home. Burial will be in Jersey Shore Cemetery. Rev. W. Keith Rockwell will officiate.
Ralph Joseph McCracken Jr.
Ralph Joseph McCracken, Jr., age 77 of Wellsboro, PA, died Monday, April 21, 2003 at the home of his daughter. He was the husband of Rosalie A. (Weber) McCracken. Ralph was born on December 18, 1925 in Indiana, PA, a son of Ralph Joseph McCracken, Sr. and Cora (Logue) McCracken. Ralph was a proud Marine who fought in World War II. He retired in 1990 from the John MacIntyre Company as a Union Plasterer after thirty plus years in the field. He was an outdoorsman and an avid deer hunter.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Rose of Wellsboro, PA; one son and daughter-in-law, Thomas (Michelle) McCracken of Newport, PA; two daughters and sons-in-law Lisa (Kevin) Dewert of Westfield, PA, Michelle (Charles) Startweather of Asheoro, NC; nine grandchildren, one great grandchild, two brothers, Irvin Lee McCracken of San Antonio, TC and David McCracken of Homer City, PA; three sisters Lucille Johnson of Bartow, FL., Twila DePrimo of Auburn, GA, and Shirley Rynders of Fargo, FL. Ralph was one of 12 children.
Friends may send flowers to the Trout Run United Methodist Church, Trout Run, PA, where there will be a memorial service, Thursday, April 24, at 2 p.m. The Jacquelyn A. Buckheit Funeral Chapel, Crematory & Monuments, P.C. 637 S. Main St., Mansfield, PA, was entrusted with the arrangements.
