Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Myrtle Kerschner
Myrtle Kerschner, 85, of Fogelsville, died Wednesday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.
She was a farmer on the family farm in Weisenberg Township for most of her life before retiring.
Born in Weisenberg Township, she was a daughter of the late J. Albert and Laura (Moyer) Kerschner.
She was a member of Weisenberg Lutheran Church, New Tripoli, and the Fogelsville Senior Citizens.
Surviving are nephews and nieces.
Mrs. Mary Arcury
Mrs. Mary Arcury, 91, of Easton, formerly of Wind Gap, died Thursday in the Easton Hospital. She was the widow of Frank Arcury.
She was a machine operator at various blouse mills in the Easton and Wind Gap areas before retiring.
Born in West Pen Argyl, she was a daughter of the late Pasquale and Emma (Manoway) Guerro.
She was a member of St. Mary Episcopal Church, Wind Gap, and Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton.
Surviving are a son, Donald F. of Easton; three sisters, Stella Iaccio, Helen Miko and Alice Zucal, all of Wind Gap; two brothers, Vincent of Wind Gap and Joseph of Brodheadsville; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Elaine Filonge, who died in 1989.
Lester S. Fritz
Lester S. Fritz, 69, of 119-1/2 N. Penn St., Allentown, died Wednesday in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown. He was the husband of the late Betty (Hinkle) Fritz.
He was a recycling steel and metal worker for E. Snyder and Sons, Allentown, for 19 years before retiring in 1971. Previously, he was a textile waste distributor for A. Sheftel and Sons, Catasauqua, for 20 years.
Born in Kunkletown, he was a son of the late Samuel and Agnes (Conklin) Fritz.
Surviving are four sons, Lester II, Lester Jr., Douglas and Wayne, all of Allentown; four daughters, Joan, wife of Philfelphia Blanco, Rita and Sharon, all of Allentown, and Sandra, wife of Tony Monteraire of Slatington; two stepsons, Paul Fritz of Walnutport and Barry Snyder of Slatedale; a stepdaughter, Wendy Fritz of Walnutport; a brother Clifford of Allentown; two sisters, Dorothy, wife of Landis Jones of Walnutport, and Carol Ann, wife of Carl Hess of Danielsville; 22 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Christine N. Kamp
Mrs. Christine N. Kamp, 72, of Lenhartsville, died Wednesday in the Reading Hospital and Medical Center. She was the widow of Harry W. Kamp, who died last year.
She was a machine operator for the Windsor Knitting Mill Co., Hamburg, for 30 years before retiring in 1994.
Born in Albany Township, she was a daughter of the late Adam and Naomi (Long) Bailey.
She was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ, Lenhartsville, and the Hawk Mountain Civic Club, Kempton.
Surviving are four sisters, Anna, wife of Marvin Handwerk of Slatington, Janet, wife of Elwood German, and Marion, both of Germansville, and Lucille, wife of James Hamm of Kempton; two brothers, Richard of Kempton and John of New Tripoli; two grandchildren, Chilton V. Shaffer of Kempton and Lanette Christine Shaffer of Schnecksville, both whom she raised; and a great-grandson.
She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Arlene C. Shaffer.
Stephen Chismarich
Stephen Chismarich, 80, of the Mission Village Retirement Community, Riverside, Calif., formerly of Corona, Calif., died July 25 of complications from hypertensive kidney disease. He was the husband of the late Julia S. Chismarich, who died in July 1978.
He retired in 1972 from the Naval Weapons Center, Corona/China Lake, Calif., where he was a supervisor and engineering technician.
Born in Bethlehem, he was a son of the late Anton and Emelia (Bokan) Chismarich.
He moved to Corona in October, 1951, from Washington, D.C., when National Nureau of Standards transferred a portion of its operations. The facility was later named Naval Ordnance Laboratories and then Naval Weapons Center.
Chismarich was a charter member of the Bethany Lutheran Church, Norco, Calif., and an affiliate of the Corona Masonic Order. He was an avid golfer and bridge player and had been active in the Corona Twenty-Niners Bridge Club for many years.
He attended Chaffee College evening school.
The deceased spent his latter years residing at Mission Village Retirement Community, where he was active in clubhouse activities.
Surviving are a son, Stephen R., D.D.S., of Bowling Green, Mo.; a sister, Elsie Vargo of Bethlehem; and two grandsons.
He will be buried next to his widow in the Lower Towamensing Cemetery, Palmerton.
George A. Sipple
George A. Sipple of 738 Coal St., Lehighton, died Thursday in his home. He was the husband of the late Anna Sipple, who died in 1994.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron streets, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
John Soltis
Of Lansford, former state AMVETS commander dies at 64
John J. Soltis, 64, a former state AMVETS commander and a leader in veterans activities in Lansford, died Friday afternoon in Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale, after being stricken while working in the basement of his 217 W. Abbott St., home. He was the husband of Margaret (Sniscak) Soltis. The couple would have celebrated its 37th wedding anniversary on Oct. 22.
Deputy Coroner Edward Smith of Tamaqua attributed death to cardiac arrest.
Born in Touarne, Czechoslovakia, he came to the United States when he was 13. He attended St. Michael's Parochial School and also the former Lansford High School.
He retired 10 years ago from the Dana-Parish Steel Co. in Reading, working there 34 years as a crane operator.
He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, and the Slovak Catholick Sokol Society of that parish.
He was a Navy veteran of the Korean conflict, was past commander of Lansford AMVETS Post 83, and past state commander of the AMVETS.
He pioneered in having a Veterans Memorial Monument erected in Lansford's Kennedy Park. The monument was a dream of his many years. He was also active in all AMVETS activities.
He was also a past councilman in Lansford, and a current member of the Lansford Zoning Authority.
Surviving with his widow are two sons, Robert J. and John M., and a daughter, Mary Jean Soltis, all at home. Also one granddaughter.
The Al M. Sverchak Funeral Home, 340 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of arrangements.
Ida A. Bannan
Mrs. Ida A. Bannan, 95, of Philadelphia, died Thursday in Philadelphia. She was the wife of the late Loewlyn Bannan.
Born in Tamaqua, she was a daughter of the late Aaron and Martha Lane.
She is survived by a daughter, June L. Kachelries; 4 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and 5 great great grandchildren.
She was also preceeded in death by a daughter, Eleanor E. Moyer.
The Burns Funeral Home, 9708 Franfurt Ave., Philadelphia, is in charge oa arrangements.
Mrs. Erma N. Collins
Mrs. Erma N. Collins, 78, of 526 Arlington St., Tamaqua, formerly of Mount Wolf, York County, died Sunday in her home. She was the widow of Robert H. Collins.
Born in Tamaqua, she was a daughter of the late William and Della (Staeb) Kistler.
She was a member of Zion Evangelical LUtheran Church, Tamaqua, and the Mount Wolf Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
Surviving are a great-niece, Renae Ziegler, with whom she resided; and nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by 10 sisters, Edna Fritz, Olive Kistler, Leia Flowers, Emma Folweiler, Kathryn Herring, Irene Thomas, Mildred Nelson, Florence Evans, Evelyn Fields and Dorothy Bannan; and five brothers, Bert, William, Chester and Lewis Kistler and Floyd Eveland.
The Jon M. Zizelmann Funeral Home, 500 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
Martin F. Wolfe
Martin F. Wolfe, 82, of 708 Church St., Palmerton, died Saturday in the Palmerton Hospital. He was the husband of Mary (Kvachala) Wolfe. They observed their 60th wedding anniversary in June.
He was a supervisor in the sample department of the former New Jersey Zinc Company, Palmerton, before retiring in 1977 after 43 years of service.
Born in Northampton, he was a son of the late Martin F. Sr. and Rosa (Stelzman) Wolfe.
He was a past president of the Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol, Inc., and a member of the Palmerton Hungarian Club and the Bowmanstown Rod and Gun Club.
Surviving in addition to his widow are three daughters, Patricia M., wife of William T. Shapter of LaBelle, Fla., and Carol A., wife of Sonny Heffelfinger, and Barbara J., wife of Ronald Andreas, both of Palmerton; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Reuben A.Snyder Sr.
Mrs. Hilda E. Snyder, 72, of Walnutport, died Sunday in her home. She was the wife of Reuben A. Snyder Sr. They observed their 52nd wedding anniversary in April.
Born in Armrod, she was a daughter of the late August and Stella (Hanzl) Gellis.
She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whitehall.
Mrs. Snyder was a founding member of the North Whitehall Ambulance Association.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a son, Reuben D. of Cherryville; three daughters, Linda M., wife of Larry C. Branich of Walnutport, Sandra L., wife of Robert Sensinger of Whitehall, and Judith Ann Mangino of Orefield; three sisters, Stella Perambo of Whitehall, Mary, wife of Frank Ashmore of Mantzville, and Julia Yeager of Ormrod; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Daniel O. Leadbetter
Daniel O. "Duke" Leadbetter, 42, of Allentown, died Sunday in the St. Luke Hospital, Fountain Hill, Bethlehem. He was the husband of Belinda C. (Ritter) Leadbetter. They observed their ninth wedding anniversary in January.
He was an inspector for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 24 years before retiring.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of Mrs. Mary (Jacoby) Leadbetter Young of Allentown and the late O'Dell Leadbetter.
Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are a son Joshua, at home; a brother Ronald of Whitehall Township; and two sisters, Connie, wife of Dennis Elridge of Slatington, and Tammy of Allentown.
Robert J. Longley
Robert J. Longley, 55, of 24 Longley Road, Moore Township, was found dead Saturday in Moore Township.
According to Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek, Longley died as a result of a fall. He was pronounced dead at 10:20 p.m. Saturday. Lysek ruled the death accidental and said the man fell from a tree stand while deer hunting on his property.
The deceased was the husband of Barbara S. (Killar) Longley. They were married for 16 years.
He was a heavy equipment operator for the G.C.S. Corporation, Pen Argyl, for 35 years and also worked for the NAPA Development Corporation, Wind Gap, for seven years.
Born in Upper Nazareth Township, he was a son of Mrs. Hilda M. (Schoenberger) Longley of Moore Township and the late George J. Longley.
He was a life member of the Blue Ridge Bow Men, Saylorsburg.
Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are a daughter Melissa and a son Jesse, both at home; and a sister, Elizabeth Gafford, and two brothers, William and Richard, all of Moore Township.
Mrs. Betty D. Hess
Mrs. Betty D. Hess, 71, of New Ringgold R.1, died Saturday morning in the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Pottsville, after being admitted the previous night. She was the widow of Norman W. Hess, who died Aug. 6, 1993.
She was a saleslady and trimmer for the Classtex Knitting Mills, Orwigsburg, for 40 years before retiring in April.
Born in West Penn Township, she was a daughter of the late Ralph and Emma (Brouse) Knadler.
She was a member of Christ United Church of Christ, McKeansburg, and a life member of the New Ringgold Volunteer Fire Company, New Ringgold, and its Ladies Auxiliary.
Surviving are five daughters, Ruth Ann Underwood of Pottsville, Evelyn M., wife of William Brunner of New Ringgold, Linda B., wife of Attorney Thomas L. Lisella of McKeansburg, Dianne J., wife of Friedrich Powell of Denver, Colo., and Darlene F., wife of James Wirth of Orefield.; two sons, Howard R. and Robert N., both of New Ringgold; three brothers, George of Tamaqua R.3, Franklin of Duneden, Fla., and Earl of Owl Creek; a sister Irene, wife of Bertram Koch of New Ringgold; 10 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
She was also preceded in death by a grandson, William S. Brunner, who died in 1992.
The Robert S. Nester Funeral Home, Rt. 309, Snyders, is in charge of the arrangements.
