Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Merritt Buskirk
November 4, 1932 - May 19, 2013
Merritt Buskirk, 80, of Nazareth, formerly of Bushkill Twp., passed away Sunday, May 19, 2013 in St. Luke's Hospital, Fountain Hill.
Born: November 4, 1932 in Bushkill Township, a son of the late Jacob and Hattie Williamson Buskirk.
Survivors: Merritt is survived by his sister, Gladys Fogel of Nazareth.
Services: Funeral services will be private under the care of the Schmidt Funeral Home, 407 Belvidere St., Nazareth.
Dorothy A. Lysek
August 26, 1936 - May 17, 2013
Dorothy A. Lysek, 76, of Wind Gap passed away Friday, May 17, 2013.
Born: August 26, 1936 on Long Island, New York, she was a daughter of the late Nemiso and Alice Krick Padua. She was the wife of Stanley Lysek with whom she celebrated 54 years of marriage.
Personal: Before retiring, Dorothy worked as a secretary for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation as well as assisting her husband in various business ventures. She was a devoted wife and mother, volunteering for numerous youth programs when her sons were young.
Memberships: She was of the Catholic faith and attended Mass regularly.
Survivors: Along with her husband Stanley, Dorothy is survived by two sons, Keith of Wind Gap and Kevin of Collegeville and one brother Pat Padua of Bethlehem.
Services: Graveside services will be held Friday at 2 pm in Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem. There are no calling hours. Arrangements are under the care of the Schmidt Funeral Home, 202 West St Wind Gap.
Aletha R. Bacon
March 20, 1924 - May 24, 2013
Aletha R. Bacon. 89, formerly of Wind Gap went home to be with the Lord on Friday, May 24, 2013.
Born March 20, 1924, in Beaver Falls, PA she was a daughter of the late James Monroe and Anna Helen (Brugler) Custer. She was the wife of Henry C. Bacon with whom she celebrated 46 years of marriage prior to his death on February 10, 1992.
Aletha was a graduate of the former Chestnut Hill High School. Later, during WWII, she and her husband worked for a short period of time in the shipyard at Puget Sound. Their commitment to aiding in the war effort remained near and dear to her throughout her life. After returning to Pennsylvania, her primary focus became raising her family. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother.
She was member of Hope United Church of Christ, Wind Gap, the Shutanka Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, where she held a Golden membership, and a former member of the Red Hat Society.
She is survived by one son, Henry J. Bacon and his wife Helen Joan of Nazareth, one daughter Aletha Cookie Fassl and her husband Dr. Joseph J. of Bethlehem with whom she resided; one sister, Beatrice Paynter of Brodheadsville; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Spearmint, Susan Toth, Nicolae Bacon, Ionela Bauer, Alicia Filling, Krista Carson, Joanna Fassl and Katrina Werkheiser; and twelve great grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, James P. Custer.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11:00 am in Hope United Church of Christ, 701 Cherry St., Wind Gap, PA 18091, with the Rev. Dr. Dean D. Frey presiding. Relatives and friends are invited to call Tuesday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in the Schmidt Funeral Home, P.C., 202 West St., Wind Gap and Wednesday from 10:00 11:00 am in the church. Burial will follow in Wind Gap Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be offered to the church.
Elwood E. Colver
December 14, 1921 - January 29, 2012
Elwood E. “Woody” Colver, Jr. age 90 of Plainfield Township, formerly of Wind Gap, passed away peacefully Sunday, January 29, 2012 in his home.
Born: December 14, 1921, in Belfast, he was a son of the late Elwood E., Sr. and Sarah Hinkle Colver.
Personal: Woody was the husband of Anna R. Krome Colver, with whom he celebrated 62 years of marriage last September. Woody honorably served in the US Army Air Corp during World War II. He worked as a truck silo loader for Lone Star Cement in Nazareth for 43 years, retiring in 1983. In his spare time Woody was an avid hunter.
Survivors: In addition to his wife Anna, Woody is survived by one son, Gerald L. Roberts of Wind Gap; daughter-in-law Lorena L. Roberts of Belfast; two sisters, Geraldine Slavish of East Lawn, Nazareth, and Lela Meckler and her husband John of Belfast; two grandchildren, David Roberts and his wife Michele, and Thomas Roberts and his fiancé Belinda, and her children, Mason and Carson; and four great-grandchildren, Luke, Tabitha, Hannah, and Lydia. Woody was predeceased by his son, Sherwood Roberts in 1995, and sisters, Fern Rutt and Hilda Hoch.
Memberships: He was a member of St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Belfast, and a former member of the Belfast Rod and Gun Club, as well as the American Legion and VFW, both in Nazareth.
Services: Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. in the Schmidt Funeral Home P.C., 202 West St., Wind Gap. Relatives and friends are invited to call Thursday from 1:00 p.m. till time of service in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Wind Gap Cemetery, Plainfield Township.
Memorials: Memorials in Woody’s name may be made to St. Luke’s UCC, 471 Belfast Rd., Nazareth, Pa. 18064.
Marian D. Kressly
June 14, 1934 - January 25, 2012
Marian D. Kressly 77, of Whitehall, formerly of Bethlehem, passed away January 25, 2012 in her home. She was the wife of the late Lee Kressly .
PERSONAL: Marian was a retired Registered Nurse who last worked at the office of Drs. Edward and Arnold Cook in Bethlehem. She was active on church choirs and sang in a quartet with her children. She was an accomplished seamstress who also loved to do needlework and flower arranging.
MEMBERSHIPS: She was a member of Ziegels Union Church of Breinigsville, PA.
SURVIVORS: Her survivors include her two sons, Douglas Kressly and his wife Ann of Bethlehem and their son Eric, Paul Kressly and his partner Rickey Cochran of Tampa, FL; one daughter Katherine wife of Rev. Jeffrey Butz of Whitehall and their children Rachel and David; brother, Donald Crooks and his wife Lois of Laurel Springs, NJ; sister-inlaw, Nevagay Abel and her husband Donald of IL.
SERVICES: A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5907 Sullivan Trail, Belfast, PA. Relatives and friends are invited to call 10 a.m. till time of service in the church. Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Schmidt Funeral Home, P.C., 407 Belvidere St., Nazareth.
MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mrs. Nothstein’s Helping Hands Fund in care of the funeral home.
Earl E. Gower
October 20, 1925 - January 31, 2012
Earl E. Gower, age 86 of Wind Gap passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2012 in St. Luke’s Hospital-Anderson Campus, Bethlehem Township.
Born: October 20, 1925, in Kunkletown, he was a son of the late John and Ella Mills Gower.
Personal: He was employed as a steel worker for Bethlehem Steel Corporation, retiring after 30 years.
Survivors: Earl is survived by his wife of 62 years, the former Laura Luzinski; one daughter, Mary Johnson and her husband Rodney of Wind Gap; two sisters, Gladys Frable of Wind Gap and Shirley Gorrell of FL; one grandson, Richard Gower and his companion Brenda Flyte of Roseto; one great-grandson Dylan Gower; several nieces and nephews; and family, friends and neighbors. He was predeceased by five brothers and five sisters.
Memberships: He was a member of Hope United Church of Christ in Wind Gap.
Services: Arrangements are private under the care and direction of the Schmidt Funeral Home P.C., 202 West St., Wind Gap. Burial will be in Plainfield Cemetery.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Earl’s name may be made to Hope United Church of Christ, PO Box 425, 701 Cherry St., Wind Gap, Pa. 18091.
Harvey T. Acker
September 13, 1921 - June 25, 2009
Harvey T. Acker, age 87, of Nazareth passed away Thursday, June 25, 2009 in VNA Hospice of St. Luke’s, Lower Saucon Township. Born September 13, 1921, he was a son of the late Milton D. and Maude Frey Acker. Harvey and his first wife, the former Mae A. Ginther, were married for 30 years when Mae died in 1973. He and his second wife, the former Alverna Trach Palny would have celebrated 34 years of marriage on July 26. Harvey served in the United States Navy on the U.S.S. Tennessee, in the Pacific Theatre, during WWII. He worked in the Central Tool Dept. at Bethlehem Steel for over 40 years. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Nazareth where he played trombone in the Brass Choir, was in charge of the usher schedule and played in the dart league. He also served as church council President under the Rev. Harvey C. Snyder. He served as President of the Lutheran Brotherhood, Easton Branch #8630 for many years. Harvey was civic minded and very active within his community. He served as President of the Nazareth MORA Club. He played trombone in the Bath Community Band, Bethlehem Municipal Band and the Bethlehem American Legion Band for 20 years. He served one term on the Nazareth Area School Board and one term on the board of the Nazareth YMCA. He also served on committees for the 1990 Nazareth Bi-centennial Celebration. In addition to his wife, he is survived by 1 daughter, Beverly Schlegel of Missouri; 2 sons, Thomas and his wife Cynthia of Allentown and James and his wife Jane of Lawrenceville, NJ; 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by sister Lillian Borger and brothers Earl and Daniel. A funeral service will be held 10:00am Monday, June 29 in St, John’s Lutheran Church, 200 S. Broad St., Nazareth, PA 18064 with the Rev. David B. Schaeffer presiding. Relatives and friends may call Sunday evening 7:00-8:30pm in the Schmidt Funeral Home, PC, 407 Belvidere St., Nazareth and Monday, 9:00am till time of service in the church. Interment will be in Greenmount Cemetery, Bath. Donations in memory of Harvey may be made to the church or to VNA Hospice of St. Luke’s, 1510 Center Valley Parkway, Suite 200, Bethlehem, PA 18017.
Bruce Ruch
March 23, 1958 - May 11, 2007
Bruce A. Ruch, age 49, of Bushkill Township, died Friday, May 11, 2007 in St. Luke's Hospital, Fountain Hill. Born in Palmerton on March 23, 1958, he was the son of Kathleen Snyder Ruch of Lehighton and the late Glenn Ruch. He and his wife, the former Faye Rehrig, were married for 27 years.
He graduated from Lehighton Area High School and Lehigh County Community College. He joined the Nazareth Police Department in 1979 as a patrolman. He assumed the position of criminal investigator in 1988 and was appointed Chief of Police in 1995. He was active in the Northampton County Drug Task Force and served on the PA State Attorney General's Drug Task Force Advisory Board.
He was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Moorestown. He was also a member of the Police Chief's Association and the Nazareth Vigilance Fire Company.
He was active in Nazareth Track and Cross Country Booster Club. He coached Bushkill Township baseball and Nazareth soccer, and taught First Aid and CPR for the Red Cross.
He was an avid hunter and loved camping.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Geoffrey and Steven, both at home; a sister, Vickie Kromer and husband Elwood of Lehighton; and a niece, Deanna DeLong of Kempton.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. in Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 696 Johnson Road, Moorestown. Call Tuesday evening from 6 - 9 p.m. in the Schmidt Funeral Home, 407 Belvidere St., Nazareth and Wednesday morning from 9:30 a.m. till time of the service in the church. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Nazareth.
Memorials in Bruce's name will be used to establish a scholarship fund for Nazareth Area High School Track and Cross Country. Contributions to the Nazareth Track and Cross Country Booster Club may be mailed to the funeral home.
Marie A. Connell
November 25, 1924 - June 2, 2013
Marie A. Connell, 88, formerly of Maryland, passed away Sunday, June 2, 2013 in Moravian Hall Square, Nazareth, surrounded by her loving family.
Born: She was born November 25, 1924 in Washington D.C., a daughter of the late Harry J. and Anne R. Zwiesler Connell.
Personal: Marie was employed as a secretary for the US Treasury Department for 38 years, retiring in 1981.
Survivors: She is survived by one sister, Margaret Connell Pope; and nephews, nieces and their families.
Services: Funeral services will be private under the care of the Schmidt Funeral Home, 407 Belvidere St., Nazareth.
Dorothy Monet Sours
Dorothy Monet Sours, 95, of Mansfield, died Thursday, April 4, 2002, at home.
Survivors include a daughter, Shirley Beagle of Mansfield and many nieces and nephews and special nieces and nephews David and Gerry Lapp of Horseheads, NY, Dennis and Nancy Johnson of Watkins Glenn, NY and Danny and Sherry Grafius of Elmira, NY.
The funeral will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Jacquelyn A. Buckheit Funeral Chapel, Crematory & Monuments, P.C., 637 S. Main St., Mansfield.
