Frances C. B. Grim, 95
Memorial services were held in Henninger Funeral Home Inc., Reading, for Frances C. B. Grim, formerly of Woodward Drive, Bern Township, who died May 30, 2004 in the Highlands at Wyomissing, where she resided since December 2002. Burial was in Laureldale cemetery.
Her first husband, George L. Buck Sr., died in 1962, and her second husband, Dr. Charles A. Grim, died on April 14, 2003.
Born in Reading, she was a daughter of the late Samuel M. and Katie E. (Adam) Sherman.
In 1926, she received a master’s degree from the former Schuylkill Seminary, now Albright College.
From 1927 to 1928, Grim was employed as a teacher in the Oberlin School District in Ohio and was a kindergarten teacher for the Reading School District for 10 years. She was also the co-owner and secretary of Buck Electric, Reading, from 1946 to 1996.
She was a former board member of the American Heart Association.
Grim was a member of St. Thomas United Church of Christ.
She is survived by a stepson, Judge Arthur E. Grim, St. Lawrence.
There are six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her son, George L. Buck Jr., in 1993.
Samuel A. Follweiler, 95
Services were held in the Robert S. Nester Funeral Home, New Tripoli, Lehigh County, for Samuel A. Follweiler of Dresher Road, Lynn Township, Lehigh County, who died May 27, 2004 in the Lutheran Home at Topton. Burial was in Jacob’s Union cemetery, Jacksonville, Lehigh County.
He was predeceased by his wife, Florence M. (Koch) Follweiler, in 1993.
Born in Lynn Township, he was a son of the late Samuel M. and Annie (Roberts) Follweiler.
Until his retirement in 1974, he was employed as a carpenter by Quaker Maid Kitchens, Ontelaunee Township. Prior to that, he worked for the Lee A. Woerner Construction Co., Kempton. For most of his life, he was a farmer in Lynn Township.
Follweiler was a life member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 523, Hamburg.
He was a member of Jacob’s United Church of Christ, Jacksonville, where he also served as deacon.
Surviving are a daughter, Doris L. (Follweiler) Woerner, Kempton; a stepson, George D. Fister Jr., Lehighton, Carbon County; and a stepdaughter, Janet L. (Fister) Radke, Naugatuck, Conn.
There is one granddaughter and five step grandchildren.
Floyd S. Fretz, 95
Services were held in Bean Funeral Homes Inc., Sinking Spring, for Floyd S. Fretz of Suburban Road, Bern Township, who died June 1, 2004 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where he was a resident since April 2003. Burial was in Hope cemetery, Dryville.
He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Ellen (Rader) Fretz, on Feb. 2, 2003.
Born in Yellow House, he was a son of the late Paul K. and Edith L. (Saelor) Fretz.
He was a 1927 graduate of Oley High School.
Until his retirement in 1974, he was employed in maintenance by Sunshine Brewing Co., Reading, for over 23 years.
Fretz was a life member of the Gabelsville Athletic Association.
He was a member of Salem United Church of Christ, Oley.
Surviving are two daughters, Madeline N. (Fretz) Bender, Bern Township, and Gloria P. (Fretz) Moatz, Exeter Township.
There are six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are a brother, Richard, Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, and a sister, Helen A. (Fretz) Yoder, Womelsdorf.
Charles L. Loose, 88
Private services were held for Charles L. Loose of Bon View Drive, Denver, Lancaster County, formerly of Main Street, Leesport, who died May 28, 2004 in Ephrata Community Hospital, where he was a patient one day. Burial was in Leesport cemetery.
He was the husband of Beatrice (Brune) Loose. He was predeceased by his first wife, Dorothy L. (Lenhart) Loose, on Feb. 21, 1984.
Born in Dauberville, he was a son of the late Harold and Bertha Loose.
Until his retirement in 1983, he was employed as a salesman by Exxon Corp., Reading, for 46 years.
Loose was past commander of American Legion Post 906, Leesport.
He was a former Leesport Borough treasurer for 25 years. He also served on the West Leesport School Board.
Loose was a life member of Vaux Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Hamburg, and Friendship Fire Company, Sunbury, Northumberland County.
Loose was an Army veteran of World War II.
Surviving is a son, Timothy L., Westtown, Chester County.
Milkins Funeral Home, Temple, was in charge of arrangements.
Ernest L. Sowers Sr., 81
Private services were held for Ernest L. Sowers Sr. of Schuylkill Street, Schuylkill Haven, who died June 1, 2004 in Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Dauphin County, where he was a patient since May 26. Burial was also private.
He was the husband of Evelyn (Deibert) Sowers.
Born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, he was a son of the late Fred and Stella (Kramer) Sowers.
He was employed as a bartender in Schuylkill County for many years.
Sowers was an Army veteran of World War II and received two Purple Heart medals.
He was a member of Christ Evangelical Free Church, Strausstown.
Surviving are a daughter, Gayle (Sowers) Bowen, Cave Creek, Ariz.; and two sons, Ernest Jr., Wernersville, and Jeffry, Las Vegas.
There is one granddaughter and one great-grandson.
Also surviving are a sister, Marion (Sowers) Baver, Molino, Schuylkill County; and three brothers: Robert, Deer Lake, Schuylkill County; Willard, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County; and Ira, Reading.
Geschwindt-Stabingas Funeral Home Inc., Schuylkill Haven, was in charge of arrangements.
Patricia B. Estermyer, 67
Memorial services will be held for Patricia B. Estermyer of Hillside Court, Hamburg, who died of natural causes May 29, 2004 in Reading Hospital, where she was a patient since May 7.
Born in Beaver Falls, Beaver County, she was a daughter of the late William and Frances (Blount) Bash.
Estermyer was a 1956 graduate of Beaver Falls High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Geneva College, Beaver Falls. She earned a master’s degree in education from Westminster College, New Wilmington, Lawrence County.
She was employed as a speech therapist by the Hamburg Center for 31 years, retiring in 1996, and later by Easter Seals, last working in March.
Surviving are a daughter, Kristin Estermyer, and a son, Matthew, both of Hamburg.
There is one granddaughter.
The Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, was in charge of arrangements.
Bernard H. Salen, 83
Services were held in the Chapel of Resurrection at Gethsemane cemetery, Laureldale, for Bernard H. Salen of West Leesport Road, Bern Township, who died June 2, 2004 in St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was a patient two days. Entombment was in the cemetery mausoleum.
He was the husband of Mary Jane (Hrisko) Salen.
Born in Toms River, N.J., he was a son of the late Bernard Hitchcock and Pearl Salen.
Until his retirement in 1984, he was vice president of Wertz Engineering, Reading. Previously, he was employed as manager of the Reading branch of Keystone Engineering.
Salen was a former board member for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union 743, Reading.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
Surviving are a daughter, Robin S. (Salen) Richardson, Danville, Montour County; and two sons, Troy A., Leesport, and Mark H., Bernville.
Also surviving are five grandchildren and a half sister, Eulalie DePetti, Wernersville.
Milkins Funeral Home Inc., Temple, was in charge of arrangements.
Geraldine R. McCabe, 58
Memorial services were held in Casey Halwig and Hartle Funeral Home, Olean, N.Y. for Geraldine R. McCabe, formerly of Reading, who died of natural causes May 29, 2004 in her residence at Pumpkin Hollow Road, Allegany, N.Y.
She was the wife of Phil McCabe.
Born in Centerport, she was a daughter of Theodora E. (Shappell) Miller, Berks Heim, Bern Township, and the late Lester D. Miller.
She received a master’s degree in human services from Villanova University.
Surviving is a daughter, Shelley (McCabe) Crouthamel, Telford, Montgomery County.
Also surviving are two sisters, Darlene (Miller) Dondore, Leesport, and Doris (Miller) Kelly, Sinking Spring.
Lester L. Unger Jr., 78
Memorial services will be held June 9 at 7 p.m. in Salem (Belleman’s) Church, Centre Township, for Lester L. Unger Jr. of Chestnut Street, Centerport, who died June 2, 2004 in Reading Hospital, where he was a patient since May 28.
He was the husband of Gloria M. (Rentschler) Unger.
Born in Leesport, he was a son of the late Lester L. Sr., and Margaret (Smith) Unger.
He was a 1944 graduate of Ontelaunee Vocational School, Leesport.
Until his retirement Jan. 31, 1984, Unger was employed as a machinist by Carpenter Technology Corp., Reading, for 27 years.
He served as mayor of Centerport in the 1960s.
Unger was a charter member of the Central Berks Fire Company, Centerport.
He was a 32nd degree Mason with Vaux Lodge 406, Free and Accepted Masons, Hamburg.
Unger was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and received the Purple Heart.
Surviving are a son, Larry L., St. Lawrence, and two daughters, Susan L. (Unger) Kline, Leesport and Doreen K. (Unger) Ottaviani, Bern Township.
There are five grandchildren.
Leibensperger Funeral Homes Inc., Centerport, was in charge of arrangements.
