Joseph Whitcomb
Joseph S. Whitcomb, 35, of Millerburg, died Monday, June 23, 2003, at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, from injuries received in a race car accident at Selinsgrove Speedway.
Born in Harrisburg, he was a son of Joseph and Gladys Whitcomb of Elizabethville, who survive him.
He was a graduate of Upper Dauphin High School; and was a Electronic Technician for WT Storey in Dalmatia. Joe started racing at the age of 7, traveling to seventeen states and winning three national championships in Kart racing. Joe has been racing for 23 years and has been interviewed on ESPN's RPM tonight. For the past two seasons, he has been driving the No. 71 in the 358 division at Selinsgrove, Williams Grove and Lincoln Speedways. He was also the 2001 "Sportsman of the Year" for the Selinsgrove Speedway.
Surviving in addition to his parents are his wife, Shelley Rennard Whitcomb; a daughter, Samantha Rode of Millersburg; a sister, Jackie Kline of Camp Hill; and his paternal grandmother, Margaret Vrabely of Lykens.
Services will be held on Thursday, June 26, at 1 p.m., at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 324 North Street, Millersburg. Viewing will be from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Hoover Funeral Home, 118 S. Market Street, Millersburg. There will also be a viewing from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to York County Racing Club, Injured Drivers Fund. Hoover Funeral Home, Millersburg, is handling arrangements.
Kristan Wagner
Kristan L. Wagner, 18, of 330 Bridge St., Tremont, died Sunday, June 15, 2003, as a result of an automobile accident in Tremont Township.
Born in Pottsville, August 26, 1984, she was a daughter of Paul W. and Sandra L. Bentzel Wagner, Tremont. A 2002 graduate of Pine Grove Area High School, she was a student at Lebanon Valley College.
She worked at Berger's Market, Pine Grove. She was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church, Tremont.
She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Jason.
Surviving, in addition to her parents, are a sister, Shannon L. Mickshaw of Pottsville; a stepbrother, Kevin Wagner of Mahanoy City; two stepsisters, Kathy Richmond of Pottsville, and Jill Hodge of Catasauqua; maternal grandparents, Robert and Betty Bentzel of Arlington, Texas; an uncle; two nieces; a nephew.
Services were held Friday, June 20, from Minnig-Berger Funeral Home, Tremont, with the Rev. Donald Boyd officiating. Interment will be in Foursquare Gospel cemetery, Tremont. Minnig-Berger Funeral Home, Tremont, was in charge of arrangements.
Victoria Snoke
Victoria A. Snoke, 65, of Millersburg, died Monday, June 16, 2003, at Susquehanna Lutheran Village, Millersburg.
Born in Harrisburg, she was a daughter of the late Albert and Martha Hoy Stock.
She retired from Seal Glove Factory in Millersburg. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church.
She preceded in death by her husband, Russell K. Snoke.
Surviving are two daughters, Theresa E. Whitcomb of Dalmatia and Heather A. Koppenhaver of Millersburg; a step-son, Russell G. Snoke of Millersburg; four grandchildren; a step-granddaughter; and an aunt, Erma Hoy of Harrisburg.
Services were held Friday, June 20, at 11 a.m., at Hoover Funeral Home, Millersburg. Interment was in Oak Hill cemetery, Millersburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to her church, 982 Medical Road, Millersburg, 17061 or to American Cancer Society, Capital Region Unit, 3211 N. Front Street, Suite 100, Harrisburg, 17110. Hoover Funeral Home, Millersburg, was in charge of arrangements.
Nathaniel Shoop
Nathaniel Thomas Shoop, infant son of Kori K. Miller Shoop of Williamstown, and the late Clayton Shoop, died Thursday, June 19, 2003, in a fire at his home, 236 West St.
He was born in Pottsville, November 18, 2002, and in addition to his father was preceded in death by great-grandparents, Catherine Pinkerton, Clarence and Mildred Weaver Shoop, Nicholas Leshko, and Betty Neiswender Miller.
Surviving are his mother, Kori K. Miller Shoop; a brother, Daymien Lee Shoop, and a sister, Savannah Mackenzie Shoop, both at home; paternal grandparents, Cletus and Lee Pinkerton Shoop of Tower City; maternal grandparents, Dennis and Anita Leshko Miller of Klingerstown, RD; paternal great-grandfather, Ralph Pinkerton of Lykens; and maternal great-grandparents, Shirley Leshko of Wiconisco, and John Miller, Sr., of Loyalton. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
John R. Shultz Funeral Home, Lykens, is handling arrangements.
Clayton Shoop
Clayton Cletus Shoop, 23, of Williamstown, died Thursday, June 19, 2003, in a fire at his home, 236, West St.
Born at Harrisburg, October 7, 1979, he was a son of Cletus and Lee Pinkerton of Tower City who survive him.
He was employed as a dry wall installer by Central Penn Drywall & Acoustics, Harrisburg. He was a 1998 graduate of William’s Valley High School and had attended Penn State University’s Schuylkill Campus. At Williams Valley High School he held the school record for the most pins and wins. He also excelled as a football player, having played offensive guard and defensive end. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Tower City.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Catherine Pinkerton and his paternal grandparents, Clarence and Mildred Weaver Shoop.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Kori K. Miller Shoop’ a son, Daymien Lee Shoop, and a daughter, Savannah Makenzie Shoop, both at home; and a maternal grandfather, Ralph Pinkerton of Lykens.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. John R. Shultz Funeral Home, Lykens, is handling arrangements.
Henry Romberger
Henry A. Romberger, 83, of the Susquehanna Lutheran Village, formerly of Lykens, died Monday, June 16, 2003, at the village.
He was born in Mifflin Township September 24, 1919.
He was the co-owner and milkman for the former Romberger's Dairy, Lykens and a retired milkman from the Harrisburg Dairy, Harrisburg. He was a member of Immanuel United Methodist Church, Loyalton and also served as a trustee, usher and board member. He was a World War II Army Veteran.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene A. Snyder Romberger; three brothers, Floyd, Paul and Elvin; and two sisters, Lena Wiest and Cora Romig.
Surviving are three daughters, Carol A. Harner of Berrysburg, Barbara A. Barnhart of Reston, VA, and Linda A. Walker, of Mesa, AZ; two sisters, Jennie Witmer of Lykens, and Emma Harris of Palm Desert, CA; 6 grandsons; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Friday, June 20, at Hoover Funeral Home, Inc., Elizabethville. Interment was in Maple Grove cemetery, Elizabethville. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday, from 10 to 11 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to his church at Route 209, Lykens, 17048.
Beverly Ramberger
Beverly A. Ramberger, 47, of Killinger, died Tuesday, June 17, 2003, at home.
Born in Harrisburg October 19, 1955, she was a daughter of Marlin D. Troutman of Berrysburg, and the late Arlene A. Klouser.
She worked in the past as an insurance analyst for Health America, Harrisburg. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Millersburg, and served on the Missions Committee.
In addition to her father, she is survived by her husband, John D. Ramberger of Killinger; a sister, Dianna M. Weida of Sun Lakes, AZ; a niece and four nephews.
Services were held Sunday, June 22, at her church. Interment was private in Sweitzer's Memorial cemetery, Berrysburg.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Capital Region Unit, 3211 N. Front Street, Suite 100, Harrisburg, 17110, or to her church at 982 Medical Road, Millersburg, 17061.
Hoover Funeral Home, Inc., Elizabethville, was in charge of arrangements.
Charles Miller
Charles S. Miller, 65, of Marysville, formerly of Williamstown, died Sunday, June 22, 2003, at his home.
He retired in 1993 as a school teacher from the East Pennsboro School District.
Surviving are his wife, Beverly A. Cutshall Miller; a daughter, Melinda J. Miller of Indianapolis, IN; two brothers, Richard L. Miller of Shermans Dale, and Terry B. Miller of Elizabethtown.
Services and interment was at the convenience of the family. Viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, in the Shalonis Funeral Home, Marysville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Preferred Choice, 4813 Jonestown Road, Suite 211, Harrisburg, 17109.
Mildred Messner
Mildred E. Kiehl Messner, 99, formerly of Urban, died Monday, June 16, 2003, at the Kepler Home, Elizabethville.
Born in Urban, November 3, 1903, she was a daughter of the late Albert and Emma M. Geise Phillips. She was educated in Urban area schools. She was a member of Augusta Baptist Church, RR Sunbury.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles E. Kiehl, who died in 1970; her second husband, James Messner, who died in 1995; two sons, Bruce A. Kiehl and an infant son; an infant daughter, and two brothers, Raymond and Harry Phillips.
Surviving are three daughters, Shirley Rebuck of Hughesville, Jean Seiler Oxenrider of RR 1, Herndon, and Ruby Barbour of Elizabethtown; a son, Arlow Kiehl of Watertown, NY; 16 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Thursday, June 19, at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Urban, with the Rev. Paul Beech officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery.
Robert G. Foust Jr. Funeral Home, Trevorton, was in charge of arrangements.
Elmo Maurer
Elmo Albert Maurer, 90, of Mannford, Oklahoma, formerly of Pitman, died Tuesday, June 10, 2003.
Born October 31, 1912, in Pitman, he was a son of the late Albert and Pollie Masser Maurer.
He became co-owner of his first bi-plane, Travel Air, in 1932.
In 1938, the year following his graduation from Roosevelt Aviation School at Roosevelt Air Field, Mineola, Long Island, NY, he worked as an assembly foreman at Piper Aircraft, Lock Haven PA.
During the early 1940’s, he delivered airplanes to various sites across the nation, and eventually took up residency in Oklahoma.
In 1943, he began training Army pilots through the Wartime Training Service Program at the Harvey Young Airport, Tulsa, OK.
He worked as a chief pilot for Texas Natural Gas Corp. and Sky Taxi at Tulsa International Airport in the early 1950’s.
In 1957, while flying a modified Great Lakes biplane, Maurer won the Antique Airplane Association’s National Aerobatics Association’s Championship.
He won the sixth annual Antique Aircraft Association race from Okaloosa, IA, to Portland, OR., in 1959.
In the mid-60’s, he became the Spartan School of Aeronautics’ flight operations director in Jenks, OK.
With more than 50 years of flight experience, he logged more than 25, 000 hours of flight time.
In addition to owning 12 airplanes, many of which were featured in national magazines, Maurer was an expert in rebuilding and repairing airplanes. He collected many items related to aviation.
He was a member of the Antique Airplane Association; the Experimental Aircraft Association; and the National Biplane Association.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Chloe Miller Maurer; a son, Delmo; two brothers, Harold and Nevin Maurer; and two sisters, Katherine Keim and Emma Schmolze.
Surviving are a son, Mitchell C. Maurer of Tulsa, OK; two daughters, Allison E. Price of Noble, OK, and Lisa E. Haase of Mannford, OK; three sisters, Orpha Shultz of Ashland, PA, Jane Heisler of Tamaqua, PA, and Ruth Hummel of Reading, PA; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Friday, June 13, at Floral Haven Funeral Home, Broken Arrow, OK.
