Morgan J. Koch Sr.
Among the local survivors of Morgan J. Koch Sr., 83, Colony Park, who died Dec. 27, 2002 in Lehigh Valley Hospital, is a daughter, Linda K. (Koch) Fulton, Greenfields.
L. Benjamin Bucks
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for L. Benjamin Bucks, 85, Indian Manor Drive, Leesport, who died Dec. 28, 2002 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient since Dec. 18.
He was taken to the hospital from Phoebe Berks Health Care Center, Wernersville, where he had been a patient since Dec. 9.
Burial was in Fairview (Belleman’s) cemetery, Centre Township.
He was predeceased by his wife, Mildred L. (Spatz) Bucks, who died Oct. 24, 1990.
Born in Centre Township, he was a son of the late William B. K. and Mabel M. (Dresh) Bucks.
Until retiring in 1983, he was employed as a tool setter by Western Electric Company, Muhlenberg Township, for many years. He was previously employed by Berkshire Knitting Mills, Wyomissing.
Bucks was a 1935 graduate of Ontelaunee High School.
He was a World War II Army veteran, receiving the Purple Heart.
Bucks was a 50-year member of American Legion Post 732, Bernville.
He was a member of Salem (Belleman’s) Church, Centre Township, where he served as Sunday school teacher for 40 years. He was also the financial secretary of the Lutheran congregation for 36 years.
Surviving are a son, Benjamin A. Bucks, Bern Township, and two grandchildren.
Lillie H. Eiceman
Services were held in the Kirkhoff Funeral Home, Bernville, for Lillie H. Eiceman, 78, Harmony Hill Retirement Home, Tulpehocken Township, who died Dec. 27, 2002 in St. Joseph Medical Center, where she had been a patient since Dec. 24.
Burial was in St. John’s (Hain’s) cemetery, Lower Heidelberg Township.
Born in Wernersville, she was a daughter of the late David and Emma (Haldeman) Koch.
Until retiring in 1985, she had been employed as a sewing machine operator by Gloray Knitting Mill, Robesonia.
Surviving are a daughter, Judy E. (Eiceman) Miller, Bernville; a son, Richard Klinikowski, Reading; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Helen M. Koch
Private services were arranged by the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Helen M. Koch, 89, formerly of North Third Street, Hamburg, who died Dec. 27, 2002 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where she had been a resident since April 1997.
Burial was in St. Michael’s cemetery, Tilden Township.
She was predeceased by her husband, John W. Koch, who died April 14, 1995.
Born in Tilden Township, she was a daughter of the late John K. and Florence S. (Savage) Meck.
She was a member of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Tilden Township.
Surviving are several neices and nephews.
Eleanor A. Kramer
Among the local survivors of Eleanor A. (Kniss) Kramer, 82, Fleetwood, who died Dec. 28, 2002 shortly after admission to Reading Hospital, is a son, Gary M. Kramer, Hamburg.
Ronald L. Wert
Among the local survivors of Ronald L. Wert, 69, Exeter Township, who died of natural causes Dec. 27, 2002 in St. Joseph Medical Center, where he had been a patient for over a week, is a daughter, Kathleen P. (Wert) McCarthy, Bernville.
Pearl M.H. Hetrick
Among the local survivors of Pearl M. (Remp) Hornberger Hetrick, 77, Ephrata, who died Dec. 25, 2002 in Ephrata Community Hospital, is a brother, Lester Remp, and a halfbrother, Richard Miller, both of Shoemakersville.
Lorraine B. Bare
Ex-Penn Twp. tax collector
Services were held in the Kirkhoff Funeral Home, Bernville, for Lorraine B. Bare, 90, formerly of Mount Pleasant, who died Dec. 29, 2002 in Stone Ridge Village Health Center, Myerstown, where she had resided for more than four years.
Burial was in Epler’s Church cemetery, Bern Township.
She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph L. Bare, who died Jan. 31, 1975.
Born in Elizabeth, N.J., she was a daughter of the late James and Nellie (Bunnell) Schoonover.
Until retiring in 1985, she had been employed as a tax collector in Penn Township for 17 years.
She was a former Democratic chairlady in Berks County and a former officer of the Travelor’s Protective Association Auxiliary.
Bare was a member of Bern United Church of Christ, Bern Township.
Surviving are a son, Eugene R. Bare, Cincinnati, Ohio; three step grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.
There is also a sister, Eleanor (Schoonover) Gardner, Temple.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Linda Bare, who died in 1954.
Ruth N. Naugle
Among the local survivors of Ruth N. (Haas) Naugle, 78, Laureldale, who died Dec. 28, 2002 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Dec. 21, is a son, Randall R. Naugle, Centre Township.
Gladys E. Smith
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Gladys E. Smith, 81, formerly of North Third Street, Hamburg, who died Dec. 29, 2002 in Schuylkill Center, Pottsville, where she had resided three years.
Burial was in Zion’s cemetery, Perry Township.
She was the wife of Roland B. Smith Sr., Reading.
Born in Alexandria, Va., she was a daughter of the late Milton E. and Eunice (Johnson) Lovelace.
She was a member of Hamburg Seventh-day Adventist Church, Tilden Township.
Surviving are two sons, Roland B. Smith Jr., Reading, and Kenneth W. Smith, Bern Township; and two daughters, Susan K. Smith, Hamburg, and Polly A. (Smith) Schneider, Pottsville.
There are also 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a brother, William E. Lovelace, LaMarida, Calif.
Mary L. Dailey
Among the local survivors of Mary L. Dailey, 77, Hawthorne Home and formerly of Reading, who died Dec. 29, 2002 in the emergency room of St. Joseph Medical Center, is a son, James H. Daily Jr., Leesport.
Catherine J. Smith
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Catherine J. Smith, 57, First Street Extension, Tilden Township, who died of natural causes Dec. 28, 2002 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Dec. 12.
Burial was in Fairview (Belleman’s) cemetery, Centre Township.
She was the wife of Donald L. Smith.
Born in Shenandoah Heights, Schuylkill County, she was a daughter of the late Charles E. and Dorothy M. (Shistel) Moyer.
Until retiring Dec. 23, 1994, she was employed as a nurse’s aide at the Hamburg Center for 28 years.
She was a member of Salem (Belleman’s) Church, Centre Township.
Also surviving are two daughters, Kaylynn Smith, Hamburg, and Donelle L. Smith, Tilden Township, and one granddaughter.
Other survivors include two sisters, Earlene C. (Moyer) Kieffer, Fleetwood, and Sharon L. (Moyer) King, Shoemakersville; and three brothers, Ronald C. Moyer and Eugene M. Moyer, both of Reading, and Donald Moyer, Newport News, Va.
Robert C. Heck
Services were held in the Kirkhoff Funeral Home, Bernville, for Robert C. Heck, 72, who died of cancer Dec. 29, 2002 in his Main Street, Leesport, residence.
Burial was in Bern cemetery, Bern Township.
He was the husband of Linda J. (Keller) Heck. His first wife, Irene G. (Hettinger) Heck, died July 27, 1992.
Born in Mount Pleasant, he was a son of the late Isaac and Dorothy (Stump) Heck.
He had been employed as a distributor by Good’s Potato Chips and Heck’s Snacks for 35 years. In addition, he operated stands at the Leesport Farmer’s Market for 20 years and markets in Exeter Township and West Lawn for two years.
Prior employment included owner/operator of Heck’s Feed Mill, Leesport, and as a private coal hauler and egg delivery man for local farms.
Heck was also a bartender for the Leesport Fire Company and St. Marco Society, Temple, for 15 years, last working in 2000.
He was a newspaper carrier for the Reading Times and also distributed the Reading and Northern Berks Merchandiser in Leesport and Bern Township for 10 years.
Heck was a trustee and life member of the Leesport Fire Company and was a former captain of the fire police for five years.
He was also a life member of the Strausstown Rod and Gun Club and the Rehrersburg Fire Company.
Heck was a member of Bern Lutheran Church, Bern Township.
Also surviving are a son, Dennis L. Heck, Hamburg; and three stepdaughters: Debra (Rollman) Deisher, Mohrsville; Tina (Brown) Graeff, Bernville; and Tanya (Brown) Belinda, Fleetwood.
There are also two grandchildren, 10 step grandchildren and five step great-grandchildren.
