Obituaries by LocationVerna F. Thomas
(February 23, 1926 - November 29, 2015)
Verna F. Thomas, 89, formerly of Stroudsburg, died early Sunday morning, November 29, 2015, at Pleasant Valley Manor in Hamilton Township where she was a resident since July 2011. She was the widow of Ottmar F. Thomas who died August 2, 2011.
Born on February 23, 1926 in East Stroudsburg, she was a daughter of the late Charles J. and Emma I. (Osborne) Getz and was a lifetime resident of Monroe County.
She was bookkeeper for the former East Stroudsburg National Bank and also for her husband's business, O.F. Thomas Auto Electric.
Verna was a member of Stroudsburg United Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star #99, VFW Cooties, Stroudsburg Fire Department Auxiliary, American Legion Auxliary, Fraternal Order of Eagles #1106, member and past president of the local VFW auxiliary, and also past president of the state VFW auxiliary.
She enjoyed going to casinos with her late husband, Ott.
Surviving are two sisters, Lois Knope and Judy Houck and her husband William all of Stroudsburg; a brother, Donald Getz of Bartonsville; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles M. Getz, Jr. and Walter L. Getz, Sr. and three sisters, Nina Hay, Shirley Fish and Catherine Getz.
Viewing will begin at 10:00AM followed by the funeral service at 11:00AM on Thursday, December 3, at the William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main Street, Stroudsburg. Pastor Theodore Good will officiate. Burial will follow at Custard's Cemetery in Bartonsville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be made to a charity of one's choice.
The family would like to thank the staff of Pleasant Valley Manor for their care and compassion.
Ida Mae Belcher
(May 22, 1924 - November 25, 2015)
Ida Mae Belcher, 91, of Hamilton Township, died early Wednesday morning, November 25, 2015, at the Pocono Health System Hospice House in East Stroudsburg. She was the widow of John Norman Belcher who died August 1, 1996.
Born on May 22, 1924 at home in Mountainhome, she was a daughter of the late Leo Horace and Marion Marie (Townsand) Smith and was a lifetime resident of Monroe County.
She worked as a maid at Pocono Manor and as a clerk at the Rea & Derrick drug store in Barrett Township.
Ida attended St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Swiftwater.
Surviving are four children, Bonnie Martinell and her husband Jeff of Troy, Patricia Frailey of Temecula, CA, Norma Blackwell of Wilmington, NC and Norman Belcher and his wife Jane of Cresco; 10 grandchildren (Kerri Roberts, Kristi Belcher, Tanya Frailey, Amanda Long, Becky Rigby, Dan Martinell, Tara Martinell, Michael Strausser, Donna Wilson, Bobbi Jo Strausser) 14 great grandchildren; and a nephew Bradley Oliver of Mountainhome. She was preceded in death by a sister, Eleanor Oliver; a brother, Leo Irvin Smith; and a son-in-law, Reginald "Doc" Blackwell.
Viewing will be from 3:00 to 4:30PM on Sunday, November 29, at the William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main Street, Stroudsburg. As per her wishes, there will be no service and private burial will take place at St. Paul's Cemetery in Swiftwater.
In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be made to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ.
Marjorie A. Griffin
(May 7, 1940 - November 9, 2015)
Marjorie Ann (Myers) Griffin, 75, of Lawndale, NC, died Monday, November 9, 2015 at home.
Born on May 7, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Ed Myers and Hilda (Mansfield) Possinger and the step-daughter of the late Wilber L. Possinger.
A native of Stroudsburg, she retired from Lisa Bee Blouse Factory after 23 years of service. She also worked at Cooper Industries and Pump N Pantry in Stroudsburg.
She is survived by her children's father, Charles D. Griffin of Summit Hill; two sons, Todd Alan and wife Joann (Davidson) Griffin of Summit Hill, and Brian Eugene and wife Shelia (Dalton) Griffin of Lawndale, N.C; 6 grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren.
Viewing will begin at 1:00PM followed by the funeral service at 2:00PM on Friday, November 13, at the William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main St., Stroudsburg. Rev. Candy LaBar will officiate. Burial will follow at Keller’s Cherry Valley Cemetery.
Ruth Sibley Bensinger
(April 14, 1921 - November 7, 2015)
Ruth Sibley Bensinger, 94, wife of Alex L. Bensinger, passed away Saturday evening, November 7, 2015 at Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg.
Her first husband was John W. Sibley, Sr. who died in 1995. They were marriage
for 48 years. She marriage Alex in 1999. Other than her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Amanda Cunard of East Stroudsburg; son, John W. Sibley, Jr. and his wife Nancy of Tequesta, FL; grandson, Edmund J. Cunard of Lucerne Mines; one nephew, Edward Hagerty of Southport, NC; four step-children, Dianne and husband Phil Hansen of Albany, NY, John Bensinger of Stroudsburg, Margaret "Peggy" Bensinger of Portland ME, and Elizabeth and husband Jeff Weekes of Stroudsburg; four step grandchildren, Alex and Emily Weekes, Amy Hanson Puccio and Christopher Hanson; and four step-great grandchildren. Ruth was predeceased by a sister, Lola Sunday.
Born in Wilson Boro, Easton, on April 14, 1921, she was the daughter of the late William C. and Amanda (Jones) Sunday. She came to Stroudsburg at the age of two and graduated from Stroudsburg High School in 1938. Following graduation she was the medical secretary for Dr. W. R. Levering in Stroudsburg.
In 1943 she was employed in the offices of Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, 1697 Broadway, New York City. Returning to Stroudsburg in 1947, she marriage John Sibley and was employed at Shawnee Inn and County Club. Over her 29 years there she served as Executive Secretary, Director of Reservations, Assistant Manager of the Inn and Villa and Country Club Manager. She, also, during that time performed secretarial duties for Mr.Waring who, in addition to performing throughout the country with his famous musical group, was the owner of the hotel. She organized and directed the nationally known Waite Memorial Golf Tournament for 19 years and the Fred Waring Four Ball Tournaments for ten years, coming in contact with many prominent personalities.
In 1976 she resigned to return to the Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians organization, headquartered in Delaware Water Gap. As Director of Public Relations she arranged television appearances, eventually becoming General Manager, booking the groups concert appearances across the United States. It was a position she held until Mr. Waring's death in 1984. She continued to conduct his Memorial Golf Tournaments in Palm Springs California each year until 1991.
In 1985 she was appointed Director of Operations at Shawnee Press, Inc., an internationally known music publishing company in Delaware Water Gap and was thereafter named VP and CEO. It was a company Mr. Waring started in 1939 in New York moving it in the late forties to Pennsylvania. When Music Sales Corp. purchased the company in 1989, Ruth remained as VP and CEO until her retirement in 1995.
Ruth was active in community life and projects serving as President of the Stroudsburg Junior Women's Club, and officer in both the Monroe County Federation of Women's Clubs and the Pennsylvania Federation of Women's Clubs. She performed in several musicals in the area as a featured soloist. She was also a member of the Pocono Summer Community Chorus, the Shawnee Recording Choir, and for over 70 years was a member of the Stroudsburg United Methodist Church choir.
She served on the original committee to establish Burnley Workshop of the Poconos, a sheltered workshop for the disabled. She served as secretary of the Board of Directors and later as its President. While associated for many years in the growth of the workshop, she helped establish local housing for individuals with disabilities. She was awarded the Burnley prestigious honor - the James Trent award, given at the annual April Showers Ball.
In 1995 she was included in the publication of "Women Who Made History in Monroe County". More recently she served on the Board of Directors for the Monroe County Historical Association and as its President in 2007. At the Stroudsburg United Methodist Church she was appointed as a Trustee and served on several committees. She was also a Past President of the Shawnee Women's Golf Association, Shawnee County Club, Shawnee-on-Delaware.
Her most recent project was finishing a book about her business life encompassing three careers entitled " It Started With a Song".
Her memorial service and musical celebration of life will be held at 3:00PM on Sunday, December 6, at Stroudsburg United Methodist Church, 547 Main Street, Stroudsburg with Rev. Robert Shank officiating. Private burial will take place at Stroudsburg Cemetery. Cremation was private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances may be made to Stroudsburg United Methodist Church, Monroe County Historical Association or to a charity of ones choice.
Mary D. Mullen
(Died December 31, 2015)
U.S. Veteran
Mary Dolores Mullen, 62, of Stroudsburg, died in a tragic accident near her home on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2015. She was born on Oct. 20, 1953 to Dolores Mullen née Shelley and the late Walter F. Mullen of Warminster. She marriage Kimberly A. Dakan on Sep. 6, 2014 after 26 years of raising their son, Myles Louis Dakan, together.
She graduated from Archbishop Wood Catholic High School in 1971 and East Stroudsburg University in 1975, and lived in the Stroudsburg area for the rest of her life.
A veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Senior Master Sergeant Mullen retired from the U.S. Air Force after 31 years. She was a reservist with the 913th Airlift Wing in Willow Grove, and as Port Mortuary superintendent during her deployment with the 514th Force Support Squadron she upheld the dignity of fallen soldiers and ensured the well-being of her fellow airmen.
Her career was dedicated to service to others, as a coach, a teacher, and as a recreational therapist and case manager for addiction and mental health at Pocono Medical Center, Greenway Health, College Hill Medical Center, and Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug & Alcohol Commission. Years of faithful commitment allowed her to lift up hundreds.
Mary loved her home and treasured her relationships with friends and family. She enjoyed her military and civilian travels, outdoor photography, and moving water. She shared her passions with others, whether bowling or hiking. Recently, she completed an organic gardening program at the Himalayan Institute and attended the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York, NY before returning to teach in local schools as a drug prevention specialist.
In addition to her wife, Kimberly, she is survived by her son, Myles; her mother, Dolores; her four sisters, Maggie (Ralph) Cirino, Renie (Joel) Sebald, Liz (Kris) Kalbfleisch, and Kathy (Paul) Pollock; her brother Paul (Janel) Mullen; and her family in-law, Michael, Lorraine, Kenneth, Karyn, and Bonnie Dakan, Cathy (Gerry) Russell, and Veronica (Scott) George. She was devoted throughout her life to her many nieces & nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her father, Walter, and her brother, Walter F. Mullen, Jr.
Donations in her memory can be made to Pocono Area Transitional Housing via pathhouse.org or checks mailed to Sharon Taylor, Executive Director at 7 North 9th St., Stroudsburg, PA.
Her family welcomes all who were touched by her life to gather at William H. Clark Funeral Home in Stroudsburg on Saturday, Jan. 9. Visitation will be at 2 p.m., with a service at 3 p.m.
