Jonathan T. Messersmith
[Published May 6, 2005]
Jonathan T. Messersmith, 78, Windsor Township, died May 5 at 12:05 a.m. in ManorCare Health Services Inc., Muhlenberg Township, where he had resided since April 5.
Born in West Reading, he was a son of the late John J. and Matilda (Trout) Messersmith.
Messersmith was employed for 38 years as an electrical engineer by Carpenter Technology Corp., Reading, retiring in 1989.
He was a 1944 graduate of Fleetwood High School.
Messersmith was an Army Air Forces veteran of World War II.
He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Hamburg, and a former councilman at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Fleetwood.
Messersmith was master of Huguenot Lodge 377, F&AM, Kutztown, in 1965.
He was a life member of the Fleetwood Fire Company and the Fleetwood Historical Society.
Surviving is a son, John J. II, Windsor Township; and two daughters, Joan M. (Messersmith) Carleton, Everett, Mass., and Deborah A. Messersmith, Oakland, Calif.
Other survivors include two sisters, Margaret (Messersmith) MacLaughlin, Lancaster, Mass., and Esther (Messersmith) MacDuffie, Scarborough, Maine.
There are also seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be May 13 at 11 a.m. in St. John's Lutheran Church. Burial will be private. Leibensperger Funeral Homes Inc., Hamburg, is in charge of arrangements.
Lavern A. Miller Jr.
[Published May 6, 2005]
Lavern A. Miller Jr., 43, died of natural causes May 5 at 9:30 a.m. in his residence in Reading.
Born in Harrisburg, he was a son of Nancy L. (Wilson) Bartolette, Bethel, and the late Lavern A. Miller.
Miller was a 1980 graduate of Wilson High School, West Lawn.
He is also survived by two daughters, Michelle and Holly Miller, and a son, Christopher, all of Reading.
Other survivors include a brother, Duane Miller, Hamburg; two stepsisters, Angelia and Kimberly Miller, both of Harrisburg; and a stepbrother, Benjamin Bartolette, Bethel.
There are also three grandchildren.
Burial will be private. Sanders Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Joel A. Morgan
[Published May 6, 2005]
Joel A. Morgan, 49, Richland, Lebanon County, died of natural causes May 4 in Good Samaritan Hospital, Lebanon.
Born in Richland, he was a son of the late Ray S. and Verna M. (Douple) Morgan.
Morgan was employed for 22 years as a truck driver by Carlos R. Leffler Inc., Richland, and was last employed for the past seven years by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
He was chief of the Neptune Fire Company, Richland, for past seven years and was a former assistant chief for three years.
Morgan was a 1973 graduate of Eastern Lebanon County High School, Myerstown.
He was a Navy veteran.
Morgan was a member of the Richland Church of the Brethren.
Surviving are a daughter, Nicole Hainley, Richland; and a stepdaughter, Angela L. Hainley, Newmanstown, Lebanon County.
Other survivors include two sisters, Carol (Morgan) Sanchez, Myerstown, and Cynthia (Morgan) Ruth, Womelsdorf; and three brothers: Dennis and Brian, both of Richland; and Jeffrey, Huntingdon, Huntingdon County.
Also surviving is a stepsister, Jennifer (Morgan) Leonard, Harrisburg.
There are also four stepgrandchildren.
Services will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Richland Church of the Brethren. Burial will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Lebanon County. Clauser Funeral Home Inc., Schaefferstown, Lebanon County, is in charge of arrangements.
William L. Neely
[Published May 6, 2005]
William L. Neely, 62, Pike Township, formerly of Willow Grove, Montgomery County, died of natural causes May 4 at 11:25 a.m. in St. Joseph Medical Center, where he had been a patient two days.
His wife, Carol Ann (Reed) Neely, died Aug. 18, 2001.
Born in Hollidaysburg, Blair County, he was a son of the late Harold and Dessa (Garman) Neely.
Neely was employed for 15 years as a materials handler by William H. Rohrer Co., Fort Washington, Montgomery County.
He was a 1963 graduate of Hollidaysburg High School.
Neely was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
He is survived by two sons, Dennis W., Souderton, Montgomery County, and Shaun, Oley; and a daughter, Heather I. Neely, Oley.
Other survivors include three grandchildren.
Services will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. in the Morrell Funeral Home Inc., Boyertown. Burial will be in Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Ambler, Montgomery County.
Alvin C. Sweigart
[Published May 6, 2005]
Alvin C. Sweigart, 80, died May 5 at 6 a.m. in the Harmony Hill Retirement Home, Tulpehocken Township, where he had resided six years.
Born in Ephrata, he was a son of the late Stephen and Susan (Leid) Sweigart.
Sweigart was employed as a plasterer until his retirement.
An Army veteran of World War II, he was a prisoner of war.
Surviving are two daughters, Sue Sweigart, Denver, Lancaster County, and Christine (Sweigart) Brensinger, Lebanon.
Burial will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Lebanon County. The Hetrick Funeral Home, Womelsdorf, is in charge of arrangements.
Harold F. Ulrich
[Published May 6, 2005]
Harold F. Ulrich, 86, formerly of Millcreek Township, Lebanon County, died May 4 at 4:18 p.m. in St. Joseph Medical Center, where he had been a patient two days.
He was taken to the medical center from Spruce Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, West Reading, where he had resided six years.
His wife, Betty J. (Saul) Ulrich, died Aug. 25, 1988.
Born in Millcreek Township, he was a son of the late George W. and Elsie May (Frelich) Ulrich.
Ulrich was the owner-operator of a dairy and potato farm in Millcreek Township for many years, retiring in 1974.
He was a member of St. Daniel's Lutheran Church, Heidelberg Township.
Ulrich was an Army Air Forces veteran of World War II.
There are no immediate survivors.
Services will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. in the Lamm & Witman Funeral Home Inc., Wernersville. Burial will be in Millbach Community Cemetery, Lebanon County.
Richard J. Aherne
[Published October 3, 2005]
Richard J. Aherne, 91, Upper Tulpehocken Township, died Oct. 1 in Seton Manor, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County, where he had been a patient for two weeks.
His wife, Janet (Kendzierski) Aherne, died in January 2002. His first wife, Kathleen M. (Mangen) Aherne, died in June 1977.
Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Michael J. and Catherine M. (Bradley) Aherne.
Aherne had been employed for 20 years as a conservation technician by the United States Department of Agriculture in their soil conservation agency, retiring in 1978.
He was a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Tilden Township.
Aherne was a 1932 graduate of Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia.
He was an Army veteran of World War II.
Aherne was a founding member of the Catholic Worker Movement in Philadelphia.
He is survived by three sons: Michael A., Kingsley, Susquehanna County; Richard J. Jr., Ardmore, Delaware County; and Joseph W., Cary, Ill.; and four daughters: Moira K. (Aherne) Glenn, Franklin, Tenn.; Mary Eileen (Aherne) Stewart, Bucharest, Romania; Marie Gerard (Aherne) Luberger, Smyrna, N.Y.; and Anne Marie (Aherne) Scharf, Sandy Hook, Conn.
There are also 19 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a son, Sean P., in 1972.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary RC Church. Private burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Pottsville. The Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, is in charge of arrangements.
Helen E. Bertolet
[Published October 3, 2005]
Helen E. Bertolet, 82, Wernersville, died Oct. 1 at 5:34 a.m. in Phoebe Berks Village, where she had been a patient for 22 days.
Her husband, Chester K. Bertolet, died June 7, 1996.
Born in Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County, she was a daughter of the late George and Nora (Nicholeson) King.
Bertolet was manager of Turkey Hill Minit Market, Lincoln Park, for eight years, retiring in 1980.
She is survived by two daughters, Shirley J. (Ranalli) Matlack, Bernville, and Nora A. (Ranalli) Altemose, Nazareth, Northampton County.
There are also three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton. Henninger Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Eli Z. Burkholder, Mennonite bishop
[Published October 3, 2005]
Eli Z. Burkholder, 80, died Oct. 2 at 11:07 a.m. in his Maxatawny Township residence.
He was the husband of Bertha M. (Weaver) Burkholder.
Born in Earl Township, Lancaster County, he was a son of the late Esra Z. and Lydia Z. (Zimmerman) Burkholder.
Burkholder was self-employed as an area farmer most of his life, retiring in 1981. He had since operated Hill Top Sharpening and Hydraulic Jack Service from his residence, until the time of his death.
A member of the Groffdale Conference of Mennonites, Burkholder attended Center Mennonite Church, Maxatawny Township, where he served as bishop since his ordination on April 12, 1960.
Burkholder was first ordained as a minister April 1, 1958.
Also surviving are four daughters: Wilma W. (Burkholder) Zimmerman and Ellen W. (Burkholder) Newswanger, both of Kutztown; Lucy W. (Burkholder) Newswanger, Hubbardston, Mich.; and Alma W. (Burkholder) Snyder, Fleetwood; and eight sons: Walter W., Landis W., Aaron W., Edward W. and Lawrence W., all of Kutztown; Eli W., Bowers; Stephen W., Fleetwood; and Weaver W., Saegertown, Crawford County.
Other survivors include four brothers: Paul Z., Ephrata; Aaron Z., Fleetwood; Weaver Z., Kutztown; and Raymond Z., Edina, Mo.; and five sisters: Mary Z. (Burkholder) Martin and Elizabeth Z. (Burkholder) Weaver, both of Fleetwood; Lydia Z. (Burkholder) Reiff, Ephrata; and Anna Z. (Burkholder) Martin and Edna Z. (Burkholder) Weaver, both of Kutztown.
There are also 92 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a son, Elvin W., in 1969.
Services will be Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in Center Mennonite Church. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Ludwick Funeral Homes Inc., Kutztown, is in charge of arrangements.
Gene R. Confer
[Published October 3, 2005]
Gene R. Confer, 64, died Oct. 2 in his Temple residence.
He was the husband of Nancy J. (Smither) Confer.
Born in Mauch Chunk, Carbon County, he was a son of the late Donald C. and Ruth E. (Blose) Confer.
Confer had been employed in the saw mill of Dana Corp., Reading, retiring in 1998.
He is also survived by a son, Gene R. Jr., Barnesville, Schuylkill County; two daughters, Sheryl (Confer) Gehrer, Shillington, and Laura (Confer) Martin, St. Clair, Schuylkill County; and a stepson, David R. Kapaona Jr., West Reading.
Other survivors include two sisters, April (Confer) Gearhart, Reading, and Starr (Confer) Valentine, Tamaqua, Schuylkill County; and nine brothers: Glenn and Ronald, both of Jim Thorpe, Carbon County; Donald, New Ringgold, Schuylkill County; and Brent, Dean, Dennis, Bruce, Fred and Neil, all of Tamaqua.
There are also five grandchildren.
Services will be Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Griffiths & Reeser Funeral Home Inc., Tamaqua. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Jim Thorpe.
Irma Gonzalez-Garcia
[Published October 3, 2005]
Irma Gonzalez-Garcia, 89, a resident at ManorCare Health Services Inc., West Reading, died Oct. 1 at 4:15 p.m. in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient for one month.
Her husband, Santiago Martinez, died in 1970.
Born in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, she was a daughter of the late Ramon and Francisca (Garcia) Gonzalez.
Surviving is a daughter, Ana S. Martinez-Gonzalez, Reading.
There are also two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Henninger Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Theodore W. Leibig
[Published October 3, 2005]
Theodore W. Leibig, 88, Spring Township, died Oct. 2 at 9 a.m. in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient since Sept. 10.
He was the husband of Dorothy P. (Sholedice) Leibig.
Born in Ashland, Schuylkill County, he was a son of the late Joseph E. and Minnie (Fetterolf) Leibig.
Leibig had been employed as an area bricklayer until his retirement in 1982. He later taught at Berks Career & Technology Center East Campus, Oley, for 10 years.
He was a member of West Lawn United Methodist Church.
Leibig was an Army veteran of World War II.
He was a life member of the Adamstown Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and Bricklayer's Union Local 50, Harrisburg.
Leibig is also survived by a son, Theodore W. II, Seaford, Del.; and two daughters, Dorothy P. T. (Leibig) Heck, Mifflintown, Juniata County, and Cheryl L. (Leibig) Wolfe, Robeson Township.
There are also seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be private. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton. Joseph D. Giles Funeral Home Inc. & Crematorium, Mohnton, is in charge of arrangements.
Florence J. Ostrowski
[Published October 3, 2005]
Florence J. Ostrowski, 78, died Oct. 1 in her Spring Township residence.
She was the wife of Anthony Ostrowski.
Born in Reading, she was a daughter of Anthonet (Pienta) Dymek, Bern Township, and the late Adam Dymek.
Ostrowski had been last employed as a secretary and receptionist by Aerodynamics Corp., Bern Township.
She was a graduate of Reading High School.
Ostrowski is also survived by a son, Dr. Donald G., Watertown, Mass.
There is also one granddaughter and two great-granddaughters.
Memorial services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Henninger Funeral Home Inc. Burial will be private.
Ruth E. Runyon, county educator
[Published October 3, 2005]
Ruth E. Runyon, 86, formerly of Reading and Morgantown, died Oct. 2 at 11:30 a.m. in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Sept. 25.
Her husband, James H. Runyon Sr., died March 5, 1998.
Born in Sheerlund, Cumru Township, she was a daughter of the late Charles N. Sr. and Mary (Schaeffer) Kantner.
Runyon had been first employed as a clerk at the Morgantown Post Office, then began her teaching career at the Devereux School, Devon, Chester County. She was also head teacher at Devereux's Greenway School.
She later taught learning disability classes in Berks County for several years, earning numerous awards including the Emalyn Weiss award for her work with exceptional children in 1977 and Berks County's first learning disability award in 1978.
Runyon was named in the 1975 publication Outstanding Teachers in Exceptional Education.
A 1936 graduate of Shillington High School, Runyon received degrees in elementary and special education from West Chester State Teacher's College and her master's degree from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Reading.
Runyon was a former Sunday school teacher and superintendent of the children's department at Christ (Yocom's) Lutheran Church, Grill. She also taught Bible school at St. Peter's Methodist Church, Reading.
She was past president of the Shillington Alumni Association and Gov. Mifflin Historical Society.
Runyon is survived by a daughter, Ann L. (Runyon) Beatty, Catawba, N.C.; and twin sons, James H. Jr., Sinking Spring, and John H., Adamstown.
Other survivors include a sister, Dorothy (Kantner) Hatt, Shillington; and three brothers: Charles Kantner, Wyomissing; Paul Kantner, Grill; and Dr. David Kantner, Sinking Spring.
There are also six grandchildren, one stepgrandchild, six great-grandchildren and five stepgreat-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Harriet (Runyon) Yenser.
Services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Klee Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Shillington. Burial will be in Christ (Yocom's) Lutheran Cemetery, Grill.
