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Mary Lashbrook Hamilton
Former Bridgeton Resident
Mary Lashbook Hamilton, 82, of Hockessin, DE and formerly of Bridgeton died unexpectedly Sunday afternoon March 16, 2003 at Wilmington Hospital in Wilmington, DE.
Born and raised in Vincennes, Indiana, she was the daughter of the late Leo and Catherine Primus Clauss. She also graduated from high school in Indiana. She had been a longtime resident of the Bridgeton area and lived in Hopewell Township for several years. Following the death of her husband of fifty-three years, Melvin H. Lashbrook, in 1995, she relocated to Olney, Illinois and lived there until five months ago. Her second husband, Rex Hamilton, died in 2000.
She was employed for over twenty years as the cafeteria manager at Hopewell School.
A longtime member of the St. Teresa of Avila R.C. Church in Bridgeton, she was also an active member of the church’s Altar and Rosary Society. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Shoemaker Post #95 American Legion in Bridgeton.
In addition to quilting, crocheting and knitting, she enjoyed reading and traveling. She was also active with the activities, especially bingo, at Foulk Manor in Delaware where she had lived for the last five months.
Survivors include two sons, M. Douglas Lashbrook and his wife Pam of Hockessin, DE and John E. Lashbook and his wife Peggy of Elkton, MD, five grandsons, Michael Lashbrook and his wife Chris, Stephen, Ian, Jared and Gregory Lashbook and two great grandchildren, Matthew and Kaylee Ann Lashbrook. Additional survivors include two sisters, Marie Moody of St. Francisville, IL and Esther Skidmore of Robinson, IL, two brothers, Raymond Clauss of Hemet, CA and David Clauss of New Lenox, IL and several nieces and nephews including one niece, Claudia Morgan and her husband Don. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Garrard and Agnes Schnell.
The funeral will originate at the Freitag Funeral Home, 137 W. Commerce St., Bridgeton on Thursday March 20, 2003 at 11 A.M. and will be followed by an 11:30 A.M. Funeral Liturgy at the St. Teresa of Avila R.C. Church, 46 Central Avenue, Bridgeton.
The interment will be made at Overlook cemetery in Bridgeton.
Friends will be received at the funeral home Thursday morning from 9 until 11.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to HospiceCare of S.J., 2848 S. Delsea Dr., Vineland, N.J. 08360 or the charity of one’s choice.
Frances Hepner Cossaboom
Upper Deerfield Twp Resident
Frances Hepner Cossaboom, 90, of Upper Deerfield Township died Saturday morning March 15, 2003 at Millville Center – Genesis Elder Care in Millville following a short illness.
The wife of the late Leon H. Cossaboom, who died in 1986, she was born in Bridgeton and was a longtime area resident. She lived in Upper Deerfield Township in the home she and her husband built since 1964. She was the daughter of the late Frank Fitch Hepner and the late Rosena Hutchinson Hepner.
Mrs. Cossaboom graduated from the Trenton Normal School with a teaching degree and taught at the old Union School in Woodruff and later at Woodruff School and later in Cedarville.
She and her husband built the Skowhegan Motel in Skowhegan, Maine and operated the motel seasonally during the months of May thru November from 1953 until 1964. They sold the motel in 1965.
Mrs. Cossaboom was a member of the former Laurel Hill United Methodist Church in Bridgeton and was also and active member of the First United Methodist Church in Bridgeton. She was a member of the church’s Administrative Board and taught Sunday school at Laurel Hill Methodist and was a member of the Philaethia Sunday School Class at both churches. In addition, she was a member of the United Methodist Women.
A former member of the Cumberland Chapter #145 Order of the Eastern Star, she enjoyed sewing, knitting and flower gardening.
Survivors include one daughter, Marjorie C. Swift and her husband Horace of Upper Deerfield Township, one son, Jere L. Cossaboom and his wife Connie, also of Upper Deerfield Township, four grandchildren, Kathy Farmer, Timothy Swift, Betsy Cossaboom and Andrew Cossaboom, five great grandchildren, Abigail, Hannah and A.J. Farmer, Whitney Berman and Taylor Swift and one cousin, Virginia Hepner. She was predeceased by a sister, Edna Sprauer.
Funeral services will be held Monday March 24th at 11 A.M. at the Freitag Funeral Home, 137 W. Commerce St., Bridgeton with Pastor Elizabeth Mitchell, of the First United Methodist Church of the Bridgeton officiating.
The interment will be made at Woodruff Methodist cemetery in Upper Deerfield Township.
Friends will be received at the funeral home Monday morning one hour prior to the services.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 268 E. Commerce St., Bridgeton, N.J. 08302 or to HospiceCare of S.J., 2848 S. Delsea Drive, Vineland, N.J. 08360.
Franklin T. Atkinson Sr.
Former Hopewell Twp Mayor
Franklin T. Atkinson Sr., former tax assessor for Hopewell Township and former Hopewell Township mayor died Wednesday morning March 19, 2003 at his home where he had been under the short term care of hospice. Mr. Atkinson was 74.
He had been a member of the Township Committee in Hopewell Township for one term from 1969 until 1971 and served as township mayor in 1971. In 1972 he was appointed tax assessor and received tenure in 1977. Mr. Atkinson served as tax assessor until retiring in 1993.
Born on his family’s farm in Hopewell Township, he was the son of the late Thomas and Constance Buck Atkinson. The farm was established in 1901 and was the area’s “first all electric farm.” As a third generation farmer he was a grain, vegetable and dairy farmer. He worked as a full time owner operator of “Grandview Farms” until becoming tax assessor. At one time Mr. Atkinson also served as the tax assessor in Greenwich and Fairfield Townships.
He and his late wife, Charlotte Ewing Atkinson, who died in 1997, were the founding leaders of the 4-H group the “Saddle Squeaks.”
Mr. Atkinson was a 1946 graduate of Bridgeton High School and was a longtime member of the Cohansey Baptist Church. For seventeen years he served as a church trustee.
He is survived by one daughter, Jennifer A. Gandy and her husband Irving III of Hopewell Township, one son, Franklin T. Atkinson Jr. and his wife Debby of Hopewell Township, four grandchildren, April Guy, Julie Fleetwood, Irving Gandy IV and Richard Atkinson and five great grandchildren, Jordan, Clayton, Derek and Weston Guy and Edward Fleetwood IV. He was predeceased by a sister, Ethel Miller and a brother, Joseph Atkinson.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend graveside funeral services on Saturday March 22nd at 10 A.M. at Fernwood Memorial Park, Rt. 49, Shiloh Pike, Hopewell Township.
Pastor Peter Ely, interim pastor of the Cohansey Baptist Church will officiate.
The interment will follow the services.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Atkinson’s memory to the Cohansey Baptist Church, 714 Roadstown Road, Bridgeton, N.J. 08302.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Freitag Funeral Home, 137 W. Commerce St., Bridgeton.
Harry L. Morley
Decorated War Veteran
Harry L. Morley, 84, of Bridgeton died Wednesday afternoon March 19, 2003 at S.J. Hospital – Bridgeton. He had been in declining health for the last three years.
Mr. Morley was the husband of the late Ruby M. (nee Jaggers) Morley, who died in 1989. He was born in Pleasantville and was the son of the late Josephine Morley Somers and the step son of the late Charles Somers. Raised by his grandmother, Gertrude Morley, he lived in the Pleasantville area and moved to Bridgeton following World War II. He had lived at his current address since 1969 and prior to that resided on Bank Street in Bridgeton for eighteen years.
As a teenager, Mr. Morley worked for the Civil Conservation Corps and later served in the US Army during World War II. He saw active duty in Northern Africa and was wounded and subsequently received a Purple Heart.
He was employed by the State of New Jersey and was the Armorer for the New Jersey National Guard. He first worked at the former Armory on Washington Street in Bridgeton (now the Marino Center) and later at the Armory on Route 77 in Upper Deerfield Township. He retired following thirty-eight years of service. Mr. Morley also worked at one time at the former Feracutte Machine Company of Bridgeton.
He was a charter member of the Bridgeton Military Order of the Purple Heart and marched in a number of Bridgeton Memorial Day Parades. In addition, he was a former member of the Loyal Order of Moose #322 in Bridgeton.
Survivors include three daughters, Shirley Calareso of Vineland, Jean Morley at home and Linda DuBois and her husband Scott of Stow Creek Township, seven grandchildren, Shelly Rice, Keith Rice and his wife Vanessa, William Calareso, Deborah DeShields and Maryann Regalbuto, eleven great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, William F. Carlo.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon March 25th at 2 o’clock at the Freitag Funeral Home, 137 W. Commerce St., Bridgeton.
Pastor John S. DuBois will officiate.
The interment will be made at Overlook cemetery in Bridgeton.
Friends will be received at the funeral home Monday evening from 7 until 9.
Dr. David F. Shapiro
Football Hall of Famer
Dr. David F. Shapiro, the only football coach in Bridgeton history to win a state football championship, died Monday afternoon following an illness where he had been under the care of hospice. Dr. Shapiro was 90 and died at his Port Richmond, California home.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Morris and Cecelia Feldstein Shapiro. He graduated from Overbook High School in Philadelphia in 1930 with scholastic and athletic honors. As center on the school’s football team, he was a candidate for All American. After entertaining several offers, he matriculated at Temple University in Philadelphia and trained under legendary football coach Pop Warner. At Temple he was Phi Beta Kappa and president of his fraternity. With the help of then Temple Athletic Director Bert Bell, he began a journey in football that would take him from a semi-pro football player to the “new “ National Football League and the Philadelphia Eagles where he played under Bert Bell.
Mr. Shapiro received an accounting degree from Temple in 1934, but football continued to be his passion. After serving as an Assistant Coach at Temple to Pop Warner and his professional football career which coincided with work at the Internal Revenue Service, he was recruited as the football coach at Middletown High School (NJ). At the same time he pursued a Masters Degree in Education at Temple where he achieved straight “A’s.”
In 1945 “Coach” Shapiro was recruited as an assistant football coach at Bridgeton High School. He taught business classes at Bridgeton High School and would eventually become an assistant principal and head football coach. By this time his father’s family had moved their business interests to Bridgeton and he was moonlighting as the bookkeeper for his brother Max’s business, Cumberland Sales. It was in 1947 he coached Bridgeton High School to its only undefeated and untied season. That first state championship would be followed by other titles but to this day remains one of the Bridgeton community’s greatest achievements in sports. Although Mr. Shapiro moved from Bridgeton in the 1950s and received his Doctorate Degree in Education (EdD) he always remembered his Bridgeton roots and the players he coached and students whose lives he affected.
He was honored in 1990 with an induction to the South Jersey Sports Hall of Fame. His remarks at the induction ceremony were as usual direct and eloquent.
Dr. Shapiro received his EdD from Stanford University in California with a Kellogg Foundation Fellowship. His dissertation included translating the State of California, Grants in Aid for Education law from complex legal language to understandable practical use. He later in his career earned the moniker “The Godfather of California Education.” He worked for several school districts in California and continued to serve as a consultant until two years ago.
He served as an associate professor at Stanford, San Francisco State University and California State University at Hayward. During his tenure in education, he worked for the Alameda (CA) School District, the Danville Unified School District and the San Mateo School District. His area of expertise was always as a financial consultant for school planning.
He is survived by one son, Stephen G. Shapiro of Carmel, CA, two daughters, Barbara Ann Mutsaers of Rome, Italy and Karen Rossman McClellan of Berkeley, CA, three grandchildren, Sinne Mutsaers-Bonini of Rome, Italy, Dr. Lorca Rossman, MD, of Oakland, CA and Jiame Rossman of Berkeley, CA, one brother, Dr. William Shapiro, DDS of Florida, three sisters in law, Ruth Shapiro of Florida, Charlotte Shapiro of Princeton, N.J. and Martha Shapiro of Pennsylvania, his former wife, Betty Rees of Pebble Beach, CA and his best friend and significant other, Carolyn Carpenter of Port Richmond, CA and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brothers, Max W. Shapiro, Dr. Frank Shapiro, DDS, Bernard “Bookie” Shapiro, Charles Shapiro and Benjamin Shapiro and a sister, Ann Rosen.
Graveside funeral services will be held Tuesday morning March 25th at 11 o’clock at Beth Abraham Memorial Park, Vineland Avenue, Deerfield Township, N.J.
Rabbi Steven Kirschner will officiate.
The interment will follow the services.
Memorial contributions in Dr. Shapiro’s memory may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Anyone who wishes to remember him may send a card or letter to his last address: The family of Dr. David F. Shapiro, 1201 Brickyard Way, Villa 104, Point Richmond, CA 94801.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Freitag Funeral Home, 137 W. Commerce St., Bridgeton, N.J.
