Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
John Luther Erb
John Luther Erb, 70, of 46 Reber Road, Mifflinburg, died at 11:40 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, 2008, in Kramm Nursing Home, Milton.
Born Aug. 18, 1937, in Lewisburg, he was the son of the late Clark “Robert” and Martha Olive (Walter) Erb.
He and his wife of 47 years, the former Nancy V. Aikey, were married June 25, 1960, in Millmont.
Mr. Erb joined the National Guard in 1955, serving until his honorable discharge in 1967.
He retired in 1999 from Pennsylvania House Furniture, Lewisburg, with 42 years in shipping department.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing, watching softball and bowling, and meeting with the “Old Timers Club” for coffee each day.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four daughters and three sons-in-law, Linda and Glenn Troup of Lewisburg, Julia and Scott Geiswite of Mifflinburg, Cindy and Chad Steese of Mifflinburg and Susan Reigel of Lewisburg; a brother and sister-in-law, Harold E. Sr. and Lucy Erb of Montoursville; a sister and brother-in-law, Janet L. and Adam Fegley of Mifflinburg; nine grandchildren, Sarah Schutt, Eric Troup, Justina Geiswite, Stacey Geiswite, Brittany Steese, Ben Steese, Jordon Reigel, Abbey Reigel, Autumn Reigel; and two great-grandchildren.
Family and friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Schwartz-Adamo Funeral and Cremation Services, 247 Chestnut St., Mifflinburg.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home with Pastor Ned L. Knisely and the Rev. John F. Saultz officiating. Interment with military honors will be in Forest Hill cemetery, Mifflinburg.
Memorial donations may be made to National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson St., Baltimore, Md. 21230.
Charles R. Wendig
Charles R. Wendig, 64 of Hillside Road, Danville, and Collbran, Colo., died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007, at his home near Washingtonville.
Born Nov. 7, 1943, in Doylestown, he was the son of the late Alfred and Florence (Fortmann) Wendig.
He and his wife, the former Barbara E. (Bray) Belledin, were married Sept. 29, 2004.
A native of Bucks County, Mr. Wendig graduated from Central Bucks High School in Doylestown.
He retired in 2002 as plant manager of Penn Color, Hatfield, where he was a mechanical engineer.
Mr. Wendig was an avid hunter, and especially enjoyed his hunting trips out west. Those trips led him to his second home in Colorado, where he and Barbara enjoyed times together.
He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge in Doylestown.
Known to his relatives as “uncle Chick,” he will be remembered as a great mentor to the children in his family.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Wendig is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Charles D. and Michelle Wendig of Richlandtown; two daughters and a son-in-law, Tracy L. and Robert Collie of Buckingham and Kimberley Beaton of Easton, Maine; two stepsons and a stepdaughter-in-law, Kris and Jamie Pankotai of Washingtonville and Kenneth Pankotai of Danville; two stepdaughters and two stepsons-in-law, Catherine and John Martz of Washingtonville and Constance and Scott Raborn of Pittsburgh, Calif.; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers and two sisters-in-law, A. Daniel and Marilyn Wendig and J. Stephen and Christine Wendig, all of Buckingham; a sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy Wendig McNamara and Terence Skelton of Doylestown; and his former wife, Christine (Shustack) Wendig of Buckingham.
A funeral service and celebration of his life is being planned and will be held in Bucks County at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1948 E. Third St., Williamsport, Pa. 17701.
The family is being assisted with arrangements by Brooks Funeral Home, 207 Broadway St., Turbotville.
Helen W. Herbst
MILTON — Helen W. Herbst, 78, of 20 Sycamore Lane, Milton, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, in Kramm Health Care Center, Milton.
Born July 23, 1929, in Lewisburg, she was the daughter of the late Max and Mary (Bumgardner) Wagner.
Her husband, Robert G. Herbst, died Sept. 2, 1996.
Mrs. Herbst was a 1947 graduate of Lewisburg High School.
She is survived by a son, Timothy Herbst of Milton; a daughter, Pamela Huff of Milton; and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held privately at the convenience of the family with the Rev. John E. Lee officiating. Interment will be in Lewisburg cemetery.
The family is being assisted by the Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, South Second and St. Louis streets, Lewisburg.
Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze
LEWISBURG — Bucknell University professor Emmanuel Chukwudi Eze, 44, of Lewisburg, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007, in Lewisburg after a short illness.
Born in 1963 in Agbokete, formerly Nigeria, he was the son of Daniel and Rebecca.
Mr. Eze was educated by Jesuits in colleges in Benin City, Nigeria and Kimwenza, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). He attended St. Patrick’s Elementary School in Iheakpu-Awka from 1970 to 1976. In 1982, he graduated from Igbo-Eze Secondary School. From September of the same year, he worked as a clerk at the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture in Funtua.
In 1983, Mr. Eze resigned the job and enrolled at St. Ignatius Jesuit Novitiate in Benin City. From 1985 to 1987, he studied at S. Pierre Canisius College in Kimwenza, Democratic Republic of Congo. He then taught French at Bishop Kelly College in Benin City for an academic year before moving to New York. He received his master’s (1989) and doctorate (1993) from Fordham University.
In 1993, Emmanuel joined the philosophy faculty at Bucknell University and in 1995 married the former Katherine Fuall.
In 2000, Mr. Eze moved to Chicago, Illinois to take up a position as associate professor of philosophy at DePaul University, where he was a well-known specialist in postcolonial philosophy. He was the founding editor of Philosophia Africana, and also published influential postcolonial histories of philosophy in Africa, Europe, and the Americas. From 1996-1997, he was a post-doctoral visiting scholar at Cambridge University. He also held visiting appointments at Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts, the New School for Social Research, New York (1997) and at the University of Cape Town, Republic of South Africa (2003).
His latest book, “On Reason: Rationality in a World of Cultural Conflict and Racism” will appear posthumously.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Eze is survived by three children, Udoka, Amaka and Nnamdi; and extensive family in Nigeria.
A private graveside service will be held at the Lewisburg cemetery.
The family is being assisted by the Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, South Second and St. Louis streets, Lewisburg.
Ruth A. Rea
Ruth A. Rea, 83, of Baylor Road, Watsontown, died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007, at Kramm Health and Rehabilitation Center, Watsontown.
Born Aug. 11, 1924, in Montgomery, she was the daughter of the late Arthur C. and Anna M. (Kitchen) Stugart. On Aug. 10, 1954, she married Paul F. Rea, with whom she celebrated 53 years of marriage.
Mrs. Rea was a 1942 graduate of Montgomery High School. She worked at Montgomery Mills for 11 years and was a homemaker all of her married life.
She was a member of the Senior Action Center, Dewart, and a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Watsontown.
Surviving, in addition to her husband, are two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas F. and Sharon Rea of Turbotville and Joseph B. and Barbara Rea of Watsontown; a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia A. and Perry Webb of Turbotville; 4 grandchildren, Jamie Sperl, Amy Cromley, Casey Derrick and David Dieffenbach; four great-grandchildren, Brandon and Ryan Sperl, Talara Cromley and Ryleigh Derrick; and a brother and sister-in-law, Franklin and Pat Stugart of Delmont.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Brooks Funeral Home, 124 Main St., Watsontown, with the Rev. Ed Henry, her pastor, officiating. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday.
A graveside committal service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Twin Hills Memorial Park, Muncy.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Church of Christ, 602 Main St., Watsontown, Pa. 17777.
Robert C. Hoffman
MILTON — Robert C. Hoffman, 63, of Mexico Road, Milton, died Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007, in his brother’s Washingtonville home.
Born April 18, 1944, in Limestone Township, he was the son of the late Charles V. and Grace E. (Vandine) Hoffman.
He was a 1962 graduate of Warrior Run High School and enjoyed watching sports.
He was a member of the Washingtonville Fire Company and Washingtonville Lutheran Church.
Surviving are three brothers and two sisters-in-law, James H. and Karen Hoffman of Texas, Richard A. and Priscilla Hoffman of Lewisburg and William W. Hoffman of Washingtonville; three sisters and three brothers-in-law, Betty J. and Jerry Gresh, Nancy A. and Rob Heddens and Dorothy M. and Robert Hendrickson, all of Danville; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Douglas Charles Hoffman, who died in early childhood.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in Brooks Funeral Home, 207 Broadway St., Turbotville, with the Rev. Melody Sell, his pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Washingtonville Lutheran cemetery.
Friends are invited to call from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either Washingtonville Fire Company or Washingtonville Lutheran Church.
Randy A. Guisewite
MIFFLINBURG — Randy A. Guisewite (formerly Randy A. Sampsell Jr.), 22, of 2093 Buffalo Creek Road, Mifflinburg, died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008, in his home.
Born June 15, 1985, in Lewisburg, he was the son of Jean Ann Guisewite of New Columbia and Randy A. Sampsell and companion Joy Von Neida of Mifflinburg.
Mr. Guisewite attended the Milton schools and was employed at Integrity Building Systems in Milton.
He was a football fan, enjoyed video games and Ford Mustangs.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by maternal grandparents, Herman and Sandy Guisewite Sr. of Milton and Leona and Ray Poust of West Milton; paternal grandmother, Mary Sampsell of Lewisburg; six aunts, four uncles; and several cousins.
A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Shaw Funeral Home, 400 N. Front St., Milton, with the Rev. Roger W. Betterley officiating.
Friends and relatives will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to any charity of choice.
Robert D. “Bob” Woolsey
Robert D. “Bob” Woolsey, 60, of Winfield, died Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, in his home.
Born Oct. 26, 1947, he was the son of the late Francis “Fritz” and Mabel (Nesbit) Woolsey.
He and his wife of 39 years, Sharon L. (Reichley) Woolsey, were married June 1, 1968.
Mr. Woolsey grew up in Milton and attended Milton schools.
He was a meatcutter at the former N.S. Troutman and sons, Freeburg, for more than 30 years.
Mr. Woolsey attended the Light House Worship Center.
He was a social member of the Hummels Wharf and Kratzerville fire departments.
He enjoyed football, especially the Washington Redskins, as well as building things and collecting coins.
He and his wife were foster parents to numerous children.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Timothy R. Woolsey of Winfield; a daughter, Traci L. Woolsey of Potts Grove; three grandchildren, Kayla Woolsey of Sunbury and Shane and Colby Woolsey, both of Winfield; a brother, Ronald T. Woolsey of Pensacola, Fla.; and two nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Dale E. Ranck Funeral Service, 125 N. Front St., Milton, with Pastor Harley Yoder officiating. Burial will be at a later date.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Association for Health Freedom, 4260 Lee Highway, Suite 210, Arlington, Va., 22207.
Walter James “Budd” Fisher
LEWISBURG — Walter James “Budd” Fisher, 81, of 702 Lakeside Drive, Lewisburg, died early Sunday morning, Jan. 13, 2008, in Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg.
Born Sept. 8, 1926, in Lewistown, he was the son of the late Walter F. and LaRue (Swan) Fisher.
He and his wife, the former Patricia Tinney, were married Dec. 26, 1955.
Mr. Fisher attended Bound Brook public schools in New Jersey and attended Rider College in New Jersey for one year.
He served as a cook in the U.S. Army for two years.
Mr. Fisher worked for his Father at WF Fisher and Son feed business in Bound Brook. He retired in 1981 and in 1988 moved his family to the Lewisburg area.
He was involved in the Presbyterian church, first in Bound Brook where he served as an elder and deacon and recently at the First Presbyterian Church, Lewisburg.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Ardis and Carl Simonson of DeKalb, Ill., and Darinda Fisher of Lewisburg; four grandsons, Jeremy, Matthew, Timothy and Ryan Simonson; two sisters and a brother-in-law, June Wilson of Carlisle and Louise and Nelson Smith of Cornwall; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitors may call from noon to 1 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, 18 Market St., Lewisburg.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in the church with Charles W. North IV officiating.
The family will provide flowers. Memorial contributions be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are under the care of the John H. Shaw III Funeral Home, Market and Eighth streets, Lewisburg.
Donald O. Rovenolt
LEWISBURG — Donald O. Rovenolt, 64, of Koch Road, Turbotville, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, in the emergency room of Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg, as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.
Born July 19, 1943, in Lewis Township, Northumberland County, he was the son of the late E. Orlando and Willa H. (Wareham) Rovenolt.
On Aug. 11, 1960, he married the former Peggy A. Cole, with whom he celebrated 47 years of marriage.
Mr. Rovenolt owned and operated Rovendale Supply, near McEwensville, for over 30 years. Earlier in life he was a partner with Tri County Farm Equipment, Jerseytown, and had been a dairy farmer in rural Turbotville.
He was a member of the National Federation of Independent Businessmen and enjoyed attending auctions and car sales.
He was a member of East District Mennonite Church, near Turbotville.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are three sons and daughters-in-law, Donald M. and Brenda Rovenolt of Milton, Amos O. and Marlene Rovenolt of Watsontown and Edward A. and Krista Rovenolt of Milton; three daughters and sons-in-law: Tina M. and Allen Mast of Millerton, Ruth Ann and Todd Mowery of Turbotville and Margaret J. and Frank Rovenolt of Watsontown; 14 grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald D. and Carol Rovenolt of Watsontown and E. Wayne and Miriam “Sis” Rovenolt of Turbotville; and a half brother and his fiance, Maurice A. Rovenolt and Tammy Snell of Hughesville.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Betty W. Koch, in 1980, and his stepmother, Ruth E. Rovenolt, in 2004.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in East District Mennonite Church, Route 54, near Turbotville, with the Revs. Wilbur “Sam” Corderman, Tim Stoltzfus, Glen Souder and Ben Lapp officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Friends are invited to call from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday in the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Maranatha Christian School, 1485 Plotts Road, Watsontown, Pa. 17777 or to the Mission Outreach at East District Mennonite Church, 245 River Road, Watsontown, Pa. 17777.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brooks Funeral Home, 207 Broadway St., Turbotville.
Cassidy Rae Reichenbach
MILTON — Cassidy Rae Reichenbach, 12, of 421 Center St., Milton, died suddenly Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008, in Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg.
Born Dec. 8, 1995, in Lewisburg, she was the daughter of Denise (Mabus) and Douglas Reichenbach, both of Milton.
She was an honor roll student at the Milton Middle School, where she had the top percentage in her math class for two straight marking periods.
Cassidy enjoyed going to the movies, baking, roller skating, playing video games, collecting dolphins and playing on the Milton Little League All Star Softball team over the past three years.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by a brother, Colby Reichenbach of Milton; maternal grandparents, Randy and Cindy Mabus of Milton; paternal grandparents, Betty and Mark Heintzelman of New Columbia; and maternal great-grandparents, Edna Kobre and Becky Mabus, both of Milton.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Oscar Reichenbach.
Visitors may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and noon to 1 p.m. Monday in the First Baptist Church, 316 Golf Course Road, Milton.
The funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday in the church with the Rev. James R. Dries officiating.
Burial will be in the Milton cemetery.
Donations in Cassidy’s name may be made to the West Milton State Bank, 940 High St., West Milton, Pa. 17886.
Arrangements are under the care of the Shaw Funeral Home, 400 N. Front St., Milton, Pa. 17847.
