Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
WILLIAM J. RUTH JR.
William J. Ruth, Jr., 79, died Oct. 23, 2001 in North Penn Hospital, Hatfield Twp.
He was the husband of Ruth M. (Christman) Ruth. The couple lived in Lansdale since 1954.
Born in Ambler, he was a son of the late William J., Sr. and Cora (Murray) Ruth. He graduated from the former Ambler High School, Class of 1941. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served during WW II.
Mr. Ruth worked as a lathe operator for the Andale Co. in Lansdale, retiring in 1984. Following retirement, he was employed part time by Clemens Markets at Ralph's Corner in Hatfield Twp.
He was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ.
He belonged to V.F.W. Post No. 32 in Lansdale.
On January, 26, 2001, he was inducted into the Wissahickon/Ambler High School Sports Hall of Fame.
In addition to his wife of 59 years, he is survived by three sons and three daughters, William John Ruth III and his wife, Barbara, of Gambrilla, MD, Linda M. Strockbine and her husband, Robert, of Philadelphia, Sandra R. Guerrera and her husband, Phil, of Sellersville, Samuel R. Ruth and his wife, Sue, Joann M. Naudasher and her husband, John, and George Ruth and his wife, Chriss, all of Lansdale; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a brother, Edward Ruth and his wife, Sue, and a sister, Mary Robinson, all of Ambler.
He was preceded in death by a young son, David, in 1967.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his service, Friday, Nov. 2 at 11 A.M. in the Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, Lansdale, where friends may call after 10 A.M. Interment , Greenlawn cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 700 Horizon Circle, Suite 201, Chalfont, PA 18914.
ALBERT J. STEFEL
Albert J. Stefel, 46, of North Wales, died Monday evening, Oct. 29, 2001, at his residence. He had been in failing health for more than two years.
He was a lifelong resident of the North Penn area.
Born in Irvington, NJ, he was the son of Shirley (Major) Stefel, with whom he lived in North Wales and the late Albert G. Stefel. He graduated from North Penn High School, Class of 1973 and earned an associate's degree in creative arts from Philadelphia Community College.
He worked in construction for Gannon Construction Co.
Mr. Stefel was a Christian.
He enjoyed photography.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service Saturday, Nov. 3 at 11 A.M. at the Simcox-McIlvaine Funeral Home, 532 E. Main St., Lansdale, where the family will receive friends from 10 to 11 A.M. Interment , Greenlawn cemetery in North Wales.
DARIO T. VENTRESCA
Dario Tulio Ventresca, 71, of Hatfield, died Tuesday evening, Oct. 30, 2001 at Abington Hospital.
DOMINIC A. ALIO
Dominic A. "Deedy" Alio, 78, of Ambler, died Saturday, Oct. 6, 2001 at his home, following an illness. He was the husband of Alberta E. (Pedigree) Alio.
Born Sept. 19, 1923 in Ambler, he was a son of the late Frank and Marian (Caterisano) Alio. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served as a sergeant from March 15, 1943 to Oct. 19, 1945, in the European campaign.
A machine operator, he was employed by the former Keasby & Mattison Co. and the former Nicolet Co. in Ambler, until its closing in 1985, at which time he retired.
Mr. Alio was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Ambler.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother, James J. Alio of Ambler; and three sisters, Elizabeth A. Rocco, Frances C. Rocco and Antonette "Dolly" Brown, all of Ambler.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Salvatore Alio in 1944, Frank J. Alio in 1987 and George N. Alio in 1994.
Relatives and friends may call Monday, Oct. 15 from 9 to 10:30 A.M. at St. Joseph's Church, Main and Poplar streets in Ambler, with the Funeral Mass at 10:30 A.M. at the church. Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre cemetery in Cheltenham. Remembrances in his name to St. Joseph's Church, 16 S. Spring Garden St., Ambler, PA 19002, would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements are by the Anton B. Urban Funeral Home, Inc. in Ambler.
ROBERT W. HEWITT
Robert W. Hewitt, 71, died October 10, 2001 at Doylestown Hospital following years of declining health. He was the husband of D. Jeanette (Hendricks) Hewitt for 42 years.
Born in Abington Twp., he was the son of the late Robert H. and Mary (Gamble) Hewitt. Formerly of Huntington Valley, he was a longtime resident of Hilltown.
His lifelong occupation was owning and operating the Robert W. Hewitt Paving Co.
Mr. Hewitt was a longtime member of Hilltown Baptist Church, where he was a former trustee, leader in the Boys Brigade Club and a member of the church's bowling team. He was a current committee member of the Bucks County branch of Child Evangelism Fellowship.
His special interests included hunting and fishing.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Laurie Darrow and her husband, Joseph, of Philadelphia; two sons, Brent R. Hewitt and his wife, Wendy, of Leck Kill and Barry P. Hewitt and his wife, Michele, of Hilltown; 11 grandchildren; and one sister, Elizabeth H. Hewitt of Huntington Valley.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, David Hewitt.
The funeral service will be Monday, Oct. 15, at 11 AM at Hilltown Baptist Church, Upper Church and Stump roads, Hilltown. A viewing hour will precede the service from 10 to 11 AM. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to either Hilltown Baptist Church, PO Box 1, Hilltown, PA 18927 or Child Evangelism Fellowship, PO Box 489, Dublin, PA 18917. Arrangements are by the Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home in Souderton.
FRANK S. McCORMICK
Frank S. McCormick, 79, of Penllyn, formerly of Fort Washington, died Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2001 at ManorCare Health Services in Montgomeryville, after a one day stay. He was the husband of Marie S. (Mendenhall) McCormick. The couple had been married for 55 years
Born June 1, 1922, in Dresher, he was the son of the late William and Jennie (Jackson) McCormick. He served from Oct. 5, 1942 to Dec. 25, 1945, aboard an aircraft carrier during WW II and from Sept. 28, 1951 to Oct. 8, 1952, aboard a tanker during the Korean War.
Mr. McCormick was a kind, quiet gentleman who loved the outdoors, especially hunting with his dogs.
A plumbing contractor, he was the owner of Frank S. McCormick Plumbing in Penllyn for 40 years. He also served as the Lower Gwynedd Twp. Plumbing Inspector for eight years, retiring in 1991.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Todd McCormick and his wife, Coleen, of North Wales; and two grandchildren, Shawn McCormick and Shannon McCormick, both of North Wales.
Services and interment will be at the convenience of the family. Remembrances in his name to the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Philadelphia, 325 Chestnut St., Suite 1120, Philadelphia, PA 19103 or Montgomery County SPCA, P.O. Box 222, Conshohocken, PA 19428, would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements are by the Anton B. Urban Funeral Home in Ambler.
CATHARINE H. BERTHOLD
Catharine H. Berthold, 93, of Souderton, formerly of Telford, died late Wednesday, October 10, 2001, in LifeQuest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Quakertown, where she had been a patient for several days. She had been in failing health for several years. She was the wife of 34 years of the late Lester M. Berthold, who died in March of 1962.
Born in Perkasie, she was a daughter of the late Frederick and Juliann (Benner) Hollenbach. A resident of Bethlehem Pike in Telford for many years, she moved to reside with her daughter in Souderton in 1996.
She was employed as a seamstress for many years in the garment industry at several companies, including the former Crouthamel's Pants Factory in Perkasie and the former Godshall and Detweiler Shirt Factory of Telford. She retired in 1982. She was a member of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, Local No. 119, in Allentown.
Mrs. Berthold was a longtime, active member of Pennridge Full Gospel Tabernacle, Blooming Glen.
She is survived by a daughter, Jean T. O'Donnell with whom she resided in Souderton; one granddaughter, Colleen H. Warden and her husband, Daniel L., of Telford; two great-grandchildren; David D. and Nicole Y. Wilfong of Telford; two sisters, Edith H. Kinsey and her husband, Arden, of Sellersville and Lorraine Keller and her husband, the Rev. Frank Keller, of Newton, KS; and three brothers, Russell Hollenbach and his wife, Andrey, of Perkasie, Willis Hollenbach and his wife, Evelyn, of Telford and George Hollenbach of Sellersville.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Nelson, Franklin and Edwin Hollenbach; three sisters, Elizabeth H. Wolf, Dorothy H. Detweiler and E. Lovera Opdyke; and a great-grandson, Matthew D. Wilfong.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Oct. 15, at 11 AM in Pennridge Full Gospel Tabernacle, 720 Blooming Glen Road, Blooming Glen, PA 18969. Interment , Hatfield cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 to 11 AM prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her memory to the Mission Fund of the above named church, Arrangements are by the David R. Sadler Funeral Home in Telford.
VERA ADELAIDE DULANY
Vera Adelaide Dulany, 88, of Montgomeryville, formerly of Mobile, AL and Schenectady, NY, died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001 at ManorCare Health Services in Montgomeryville.
Born Feb. 14, 1913 in Mobile, she was a daughter of the late John Thomas and Bennita (French) Dulany.
After graduating from Toronto Bible College in Canada, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL and Albany State Teachers College in Albany, NY, she served several mission terms in Kentucky and Tehran, Iran and Tanta, Egypt, before returning to Alabama. Following her retirement from teaching in public schools in Mobile, she resided in Montgomery County.
In 1949, Vera was the first of more than 200 members of First Presbyterian Church in Schenectady who left their home church to serve in full time ministry as missionaries or pastors in the United States and overseas. She was a missionary-teacher with the Presbyterian Board of Missions, first in the hills of Kentucky and later in Iran and Egypt.
She is survived by three generations of many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at the convenience of the family with interment at Pine Crest cemetery in Mobile. Memorial contributions may be made to the Missions Board of First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 6, Schenectady, NY 12301. Arrangements are by the Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home in Lansdale.
KATHLEEN GAVIN-McCOLLUM
Kathleen "Kate" Gavin-McCollum, 40, died Thursday, October 11, 2001, in North Penn Hospital, Hatfield Twp., following an illness. Formerly of Upper Darby, she moved to Lansdale in 1995.
Born in Upper Darby, she was a daughter of Kathleen (McDermott) Gavin of Upper Gwynedd and formerly of Upper Darby and the late Thomas F. Gavin Sr. She graduated from Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill, Class of 1978, and received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Villanova University in 1982. She continued her education at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, and earned her master's degree in business administration in 1986.
She was employed as director of finance for Upper Gwynedd Township.
Mrs. McCollum was a member of Corpus Christi Church in Upper Gwynedd and a former member of St. Alice Parish in Upper Darby.
Surviving, in addition to her mother, are her children, Joseph and Katie McCollum; two brothers, Thomas F. Gavin and his wife, Helen, of Springfield, Delaware County, and Patrick J. Gavin and his wife, Jean, of Upper Gwynedd; and two nieces and two nephews.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Maryanne B. Gavin, in 1962.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass Monday, Oct. 15, at 10 AM in Corpus Christi Church, 900 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale, PA 19446. Interment , Holy Cross cemetery in Yeadon. Friends may call at the Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home in Lansdale, Sunday from 7 to 9 PM and Monday after 8:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Corpus Christi School, address above.
AGNES I. FOX OTT
Agnes I. Fox Ott, age 87, of Souderton, formerly of Telford, died Wednesday, October 10, 2001, in Genesis ElderCare Quakertown Center in Quakertown, where she had been a medical patient for 14 months.
Born in Thurmont, MD, she was a daughter of the late Earl N. and Katie (May) Carty. She was a resident of Telford for most of her life.
Mrs. Ott was employed as a seamstress for the former Goldsmith's Clothing Store in Souderton for many years, until its closing in 1971. She was a member of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, Local No. 119, in Allentown.
She was a longtime active member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Telford.
Active in the Girl Scouts of America, she acted as a Girl Scout leader for many years. She was a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Telford Fire Company.
She is survived by a daughter, Rosella F. Eshelman and her husband, Henry L., Jr., of Souderton; a son, Robert J. Fox of Telford; five grandchildren, Jeffrey R. and Rebecca Ann Eshelman, Amber S. Iwanski, Robert S. Fox and Lana S. Fath; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband of 40 years, Jesse H. Fox, in 1972; two sisters, Nettie Shaffer and Blanche Carty; and two brothers, James F. and Miller Carty.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 11 AM in the Trinity United Church of Christ Church, 101 S. Main St., Telford, PA 18969. Interment , Trinity U.C.C. cemetery, Telford. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 to 11 AM prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her memory to the memorial fund of the above named church. Arrangements are by the David R. Sadler Funeral Home in Telford.
THOMAS ALBERT GIBSON
Visitation hours for the family of Thomas Albert Gibson, who died Oct. 2, 2001 in Ashland, will be Monday, Oct. 15 from 7 to 9 P.M. at the Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home, 130 E. Broad St., (Route 13) in Souderton
ROBERT H. HUGHES JR.
Robert H. Hughes Jr., 71, a resident of Silverdale for 40 years, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2001, at his residence.
RICHARD M. ZIEGLER
Richard M. Ziegler, 76, of Souderton, died Wednesday night, Oct. 10, 2001 in Grand View Hospital, West Rockhill Twp., where he had been a medical patient since Sunday.
