Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Samuel L. Besecker
FAYETTEVILLE, Pa. - The Rev. Samuel L. Besecker, 78, of 6322 Quail Circle, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997, at Washington County Hospital, Hagerstown.
Born Jan. 23, 1919, in Hamilton Township, Pa., he was the son of the late Horace M. and Cora Coble Besecker.
He was a 1936 graduate of Chambersburg (Pa.) High School, and a 1941 graduate of Gettysburg College. He graduated in 1944 from Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, Pa.
He was pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Franklin Park, Ill., and then at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wilmington, Del. He later pastored at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Gaithersburg, Md. His final pastoral position was at St. John's Lutheran Church, Greenvillage, Chambersburg, Pa.
He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Greenvillage, Chambersburg.
He was one of the first Lutheran pastors to receive a sabbatical, serving at Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Switzerland, in 1965 and then in 1970 with a river parish in Guyana, South America. His third sabbatical was at the India Vellore Medical College and Hospital, where he was chaplain in 1978.
He is survived by his wife, Marian M. Mull Besecker, whom he married May 23, 1942; two daughters, Judith B. Rudolf of Waldorf, Md., and Marilyn J. Kuray of North Potomac, Md.; one son, Peter D. Besecker of Wilmington; two sisters, Frances Sites and Helen Showalter, both of Chambersburg; one brother, Horace M. Besecker of Lexington, Mass.; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a son, Paul L. Besecker, in 1976.
Services will be Monday at 1 p.m. at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 44 E. Main St., Fayetteville. The Rev. Thomas Swears will officiate. Burial will be in Coble Cemetery, St. Thomas, Pa.
Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg.
The family requests the omission of flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran World Relief, 390 Park Ave. South, New York, N.Y. 10016-8803.
Fred Z. Hose
GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Fred Z. Hose, 67, of 13662 Mercersburg Road, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 1997, at Chambersburg Hospital.
Born Feb. 7, 1930, near Greencastle, in Montgomery Township, he was the son of the late Albert H. and Alda Viola Myers Hose.
He attended a one-room school in Nova, Pa.
He served in the U.S. Army.
He was employed at Fairchild Aircraft Manufacturing, Hagerstown; then was a plumber for H.G. Hoover Plumbing, Hagerstown, for 15 years. Later, he worked as a pipe fitter at Mack Trucks, Hagerstown, for 30 years, retiring in 1992.
He was a member of Open Door Church in Chambersburg, and the adult Sunday school class.
He was a member of National AARP.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy L. Myers Hose, whom he married Dec. 26, 1951; one daughter, Josephine M. "Jo" Clark of Greencastle; three sisters, Elsie M. Humelsine and Viola Bowers, both of Greencastle, and Mabel Keller of Hagerstown; three grandsons; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Anna Rowe; and two brothers, Roy Hose and Harold Myers.
Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Open Door Church, 600 Miller St., Chambersburg. The Rev. Keith Skelton will officiate. Burial will be in Broadfording Church Cemetery, near Hagerstown. Graveside military services will be conducted by Charles Nitterhouse VFW Post 1599 Honor Guard, Chambersburg.
The family will receive friends Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Miller-Grove Funeral Home, 521 S. Washington St., Greencastle, and on Monday one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Cumberland Valley Christian School, 600 Miller St., Chambersburg, Pa. 17201.
Elva M. Wade
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Elva M. Wade, 90, formerly of 783 S. Second St., died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997, at Caledonia Manor Nursing Home, Fayetteville, Pa.
Born Sept. 27, 1907, in Williamson, Pa., she was the daughter of the late John P. and Abbie J. Myers Hartman.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Wade.
She was a homemaker.
She was a member of the Open Door Church of Chambersburg.
She is survived by one daughter, Jane R. Smith of Lemasters, Pa.; one son, Donald E. Sleighter of Chambersburg; one stepdaughter, Tressie L. Seville of Chambersburg; three stepsons, Paul C. Wade of St. Thomas, Pa., and Alvin L. Wade and Ralph W. Wade, both of Chambersburg; two sisters, Elanora Statler and Alma Hill, both of Chambersburg; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a stepson, Richard E. Wade.
A private graveside service was held Thursday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Greencastle, Pa., with the Rev. Douglas N. Hodges officiating.
Arrangements were by Lininger-Fries Funeral Home, Mercersburg, Pa.
Alex R. Hazel
GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Alex Ryan Hazel, 4 days old, of 13790-20 Molly Pitcher Highway, died Monday, Dec. 15, 1997, at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore.
Born Dec. 11, 1997, at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, he was the son of Brett L. and Marlynda Eckstine Hazel.
In addition to his parents he is survived by maternal grandparents, Mark and Marlene Eckstine of State Line, Pa.; maternal great-grandparents, Ivan and Emma Martin of Waynesboro, Pa., and Leroy Eckstine of Hagerstown; paternal grandparents, Kenneth Ted Hazel of State Line and Brenda Hazel of Greencastle; and paternal great-grandparents, Russell and Kay Hazel of State Line and Hazel Shimminger of Hagerstown.
Graveside services will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Salem Ridge Mennonite Church Cemetery, Pensinger Road, Greencastle. The Rev. Dean Gearhart will officiate.
The family requests that flowers be omitted. Memorial donations may be made to Alex Ryan Hazel Memorial Fund c/o Citizens National Bank, 35 N. Carlisle St., P.O. Box 400, Greencastle, Pa.
Arrangements are by Harold M. Zimmerman and Son Funeral Home, Greencastle.
Rieman L. Beeler
WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Rieman L. Beeler, 84, of 217 Dickinson Ave., died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997, at Waynesboro Hospital.
Born June 20, 1913, in Smithsburg, she was the daughter of the late Cyrus and Ada Barkdoll Stouffer.
Her husband, Samuel E. Beeler, died in 1956. They were married on Oct. 6, 1936.
She was a 1931 graduate of Smithsburg High School and graduated from Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia as a registered nurse. She studied music at Syracuse University.
Early in life, she was a private duty nurse in Washington, D.C. She later worked at Waynesboro Knitting Mill and then part-time in the Waynesboro Hospital Dietary Department.
She was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Waynesboro, where she played piano and organ.
She is survived by two daughters, Joyce E. Morissette of Chicopee, Mass., and Margaret B. Honodel of Waynesboro; two sons, Thomas E. Beeler of Seattle and John G. Beeler of Long Beach, Calif.; two sisters, Mary Jane Seaward of Luther Ridge in Chambersburg, and Phyllis Stouffer of Waynesboro; one brother, Samuel Stouffer of Waynesboro; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Marie Harne and Helen Kaiser Gartside; and one brother, Roger Stouffer.
Services will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Grove Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad St., Waynesboro. The Rev. Stephen D. Harris will officiate. Burial will be in Green Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home 30 minutes prior to the service on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Waynesboro Hospital Auxiliary, 501 E. Main St., Waynesboro, Pa. 17268.
Lamarr W. Verdier Sr.
FAYETTEVILLE, Pa. - Lamarr W. Verdier Sr., 56, of 224 Wilkinson Lane, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997, at ManorCare Health Services, Chambersburg, Pa.
Born Nov. 27, 1941, in South Mountain, Pa., he was the son of Marie Herring Verdier of Orrtanna, Pa. and the late Charles J. Verdier Sr.
He attended Gettysburg High School, Gettysburg, Pa.
He was owner, operator and an independent truck driver; he drove for Keen Transport, New Kingston, Pa.
He was associated with St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fayetteville.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Judy Foreman Verdier, whom he married Aug. 11, 1961; one daughter, Cindy A. Oaster of Fayetteville; one son, Lamarr W. Verdier Jr. of Gettysburg; and one brother, Linwood Verdier of Orrtanna.
In addition to his Father, he was preceded in death by a brother, Charles James Verdier Jr.
Services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg. The Rev. David L. Hefner will officiate. Burial will be in Parklawns Memorial Gardens, Chambersburg.
Visitation will be Thursday one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 44 E. Main St., Fayetteville, Pa. 17222.
Gladys L. Kaiser
MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Gladys L. Kaiser, 75, of 6801 Pine Road, died Monday, Dec. 15, 1997, at Chambersburg Hospital, Chambersburg, Pa.
Born Sept. 5, 1922, in Mercersburg, she was the daughter of the late Lewis and Ettie Thomas Starliper.
She was preceded in death by her companion of 45 years, Guy E. Helman, who died Dec. 17, 1994.
She is survived by two daughters, Dorcas C. Robinson of Mercersburg and Sandra D. Myers of Harrisonville, Pa.; three sons, Russell E. Kaiser, Donald L. Kaiser, and Ronald L. Kaiser, all of Mercersburg; two sisters, Mabel Keefer of Mercersburg and Lula C. Clark of Greencastle, Pa.; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Lininger-Fries Funeral Home, 47 N. Park Ave., Mercersburg. The Rev. Floyd E. Myers will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Mercersburg.
Viewing will be one hour prior to the services on Thursday at the funeral home.
Laura M. Mellott
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Laura M. Mellott, 94, of 6614 Sheller Road, and formerly of Mercersburg, died Monday, Dec. 15, 1997, at her home.
Born Sept. 5, 1903, in Mercersburg, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Harry D. and Minnie F. Phenicie Ensminger.
She was preceded in death by her husband, F. Lee Mellott, in 1966.
She was employed by the former Mercersburg Shoe Factory.
She is survived by one daughter, Ethel M. Mellott of Albuquerque, N.M.; one sister, Goldie Mellott of McConnellsburg; and nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by several sisters and brothers.
Graveside services will be Thursday at 10 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery, Mercersburg. The Rev. Phyllis Martin will officiate.
Arrangements are by Grove Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad St., Waynesboro, Pa.
