Megan E. Long
Services were held in the Bean Funeral Home, Reading, for Megan E. Long, 41-day-old daughter of Shaun L. Long and Melissa J. Gernert, of Blandon, who died Feb. 18, 2003 in Hershey Medical Center, where she had been a patient one week.
Burial was private.
Born in Reading, she is also survived by a brother, Anthony S. Long, and a halfbrother, Dylan M. Gernert, both at home.
Other survivors include her maternal grandparents, David B. Gernert, Muhlenberg Township and Jane M. (DeLong) Gernert, Hamburg; and her paternal grandmother, Mary A. Long, Blandon.
There are also her maternal great-grandparents, Norman A. and Ruth DeLong, Hamburg, and Warren Gernert, Muhlenberg Township; and a paternal great-grandfather, Walter S. Fackler, Sinking Spring.
Gladys E. Eckenroth
Among the local survivors of Gladys E. (Bowers) Eckenroth, 84, of Cumru Township, who died Feb. 26, 2003 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Feb. 13, is a sister, Mamie I. (Bowers) Brownmiller, Shoemakersville.
Robert A. Shearer
Services were held in Zion (Blue Mountain) United Church of Christ, Strausstown, for Robert A. Shearer, 74, of Frystown, who died Feb. 25, 2003 in the residence of a daughter, Jolie K. (Shearer) Voulopos, Lancaster County, following a lengthy illness.
Burial was in St. John’s (Host) Church, Tulpehocken Township.
He was the husband of Kathryn M. (Hartman) Shearer.
Born in Frystown, he was a son of the late Paul and Katherine (Cooney) Shearer.
Until retiring in 1993, he was employed in the meter department of Metropolitan Edison Co., Muhlenberg Township, for 27 years.
He was a charter member and past president of the Frystown Lions Club.
Shearer was a life member, past president and treasurer of the Frystown Community Fire Company.
He was a former semi-pro baseball player and was a coach in youth baseball for many years.
Shearer was a Korean War Army veteran, receiving the Purple Heart.
He was a member of St. John’s (Host) Church, Tulpehocken Township.
In addition to his daughter, he is also survived by two granddaughters and two sisters, Betty (Shearer) Spangler and Marian (Shearer) Lengle, both of Myerstown.
The Reynolds Funeral Home, Quarryville, Lancaster County, was in charge of arrangements.
Catherine M. Reed
Graveside services were held in Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven, for Catherine M. Reed, 80, who died Feb. 25, 2003 in her Windsor Castle Road, Perry Township residence.
She was predeceased by her husband, Arthur Reed Sr., who died in 1988.
Born in South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, she was a daughter of the late Levi and Eva (Heberling) Smith.
She was last employed by Auburn Knitting Mill, Schuylkill County.
Reed was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Auburn.
Surviving are two sons, Arthur Reed Jr., Mertztown and Mark Reed, in England; and three daughters: Betty (Reed) Schaeffer, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County; Dorothy (Reed) Christman, Hamburg; and Eva Reed, Boulder, Colo.
There are also 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a sister, Mary L. (Smith) Aungst, Auburn; and two brothers, Floyd Smith, Orwigsburg, and Paul Smith, Schuylkill Haven.
The Geschwindt-Stabingas Funeral Home, Schuylkill Haven, was in charge of arrangements.
Ralph T. Sievert
Services were held in Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Ralph T. Sievert, 91, of Dreibelbis Station Road, Greenwich Township, who died Feb. 25, 2003 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient two days.
Burial was in Zion’s cemetery, Perry Township.
He was predeceased by his wife, Blanch C. (Cooley) Sievert, who died Dec. 12, 1994.
Born in Chicago, he was a son of the late Theodore and Lucinda (Rolf) Sievert.
Until retiring in 1976, he was employed as a product representative by General Motors Corp., Detroit, for 21 years.
Surviving are three sons: Theodore A. Sievert, Morton Grove, Ill.; Ralph T. Sievert, Greenwich Township; and David E. Sievert, Fleetwood.
There are also 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Esther F. Wilson
Services were held in Trinity United Church of Christ, Leesport, for Esther F. Wilson, 87, of East Noble Avenue, Shoemakersville, who died Feb. 25, 2003 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient since Feb. 17.
Burial was in Leesport Union cemetery, Ontelaunee Township.
She was predeceased by her husband, Harold K. Wilson, who died Oct. 1.
Born in Leesport, she was a daughter of the late George O. and Ada (Sunday) Walborn.
Until retiring, she was last employed as a clerk by C.K. Whitner Co., Reading. She was previously employed by the Diener Knitting Mill, Leesport.
Wilson was a graduate of Ontelaunee High School and attended Stoner’s Business School, Reading.
She was a member of Trinity UCC Church, Leesport, where she was a Sunday school teacher for 50 years and a choir member for many years.
Surviving is a son, Dale H. Wilson, Bern Township; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a sister, Rachael E. (Walborn) Rentschler, Leesport.
The Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, was in charge of arrangements.
Paul C. Scharadin
Services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Paul C. Scharadin, 88, formerly of Hamburg and Reading, who died Feb. 27, 2003 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient two days.
He was taken to the hospital from the Phoebe Berks Health Care Center, Wernersville, where he had resided six years.
Entombment was in Gethsemane cemetery Mausoleum, Laureldale.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Thelma M. (Kauffman) Scharadin, who died Sept. 21, 1968, and by his second wife, E. Jane (Scheible) Scharadin, who died Oct. 30, 1999.
Born in Orwigsubrg, he was a son of the late Lucian H. and Sarah R. (Graeff) Scharadin.
Until retiring in a1975, he was empoloyed by Penn Electric Steel Foundry, Hamburg. He was previously employed as a road and bridge builder by Good’s Contracting.
He was a World War II Navy veteran.
Scharadin was a life member of the Liberty Fire Company Relief Association, Sinking Spring, and was a former cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 120, Hamburg.
He was a member of Calvary Reformed United Church of Christ, Reading.
Surviving are a daughter, Marcia H. Scharadin, Tilden Township; a son, Dennis P. Scharadin, Auburn; and three grandchildren.
There is also a brother, Charles Scharadin, Penney Farms., Fla.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Diane Scharadin, who died in 1945.
Francis Caruano
Among the local survivors of Francis Caruano, 80, Pottsville, who died Feb. 27, 2003 in Good Samaritan Hospital, Pottsville, where he had been a patient three weeks, is a son, Francis W. Caruano, Hamburg.
Ronald C. Rickenbach
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Ronald C. Rickenbach, 67, of North Centre Avenue, Leesport, who died of natural causes Feb. 28, 2003 in St. Joseph Medical Center, where he had been a patient since Feb. 25.
Burial was in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton.
He was predeceased by his wife, June R. (Snyder) Rickenbach, who died Sept. 14, 1996.
Born in West Leesport, he was a son of the late Carl A. and Elsie (Adams) Rickenbach.
Until retiring July 1, 1996, he was employed by Carpenter Technology for 37 years.
He was a Korean War Marine veteran.
Rickenbach was a past president of the Shoemakersville-Leesport Rotary Club from 1996-97 and was a life member of the Sinking Spring Fire Company.
He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Leesport, where he served on consistory.
Surviving are Mary A. Strunk, with whom he resided; a stepdaughter, Diane L. (Carmelo) Stubblebine, Riverview Park; and two stepsons, Angelo D. Carmelo and David L. Carmelo, both of Reading.
There are also three step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a brother, Dennis Rickenbach, Shartlesville, and two sisters, Faye (Rickenbach) Shuman and Alva (Rickenbach) Hafer, both of Blandon.
Louise L. Luckenbill
The Kirkhoff Funeral Home, Bernville, was in charge of arrangements for Louise L. Luckenbill, 72, who died March 2, 2003 in her Swissdale Road, Penn Township residence.
She was the wife of Glenn E. Luckenbill.
Born in Mount Pleasant, she was a daughter of the late Earl S. and Esther J. (Stump) Hiester.
Until retiring, she was employed as a teacher’s aide by the Berks County Intermediate Unit.
She was a 1948 graduate of Penn Township High School.
Luckenbill was a former tutor with the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks.
She was a member of St. Thomas United Church of Christ, Bernville.
Also surviving are a son, Thomas M. Luckenbill, Womelsdorf, and a daughter, Jane (Luckenbill) Scurfield, Lewisburg, Union County.
There are also three granddaughters.
