Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Andrew M. Knowlton
Andrew Mutch Knowlton, 68, of Lake Harmony, died Friday at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. He was the husband of Barbara J. (Hood) Knowlton. They were married 29 years.
He was an attorney who practiced in Wynnewood since 1968, and had lived there 10 years.
Born in Baltimore, he graduated from Haverford College and the University of Pennsylvania.
During World War II, he served in the Army as a sergeant with the paratroop division.
He was a member of the Right Angle Club, a Scottish social club, and the St. Andrew Society.
Surviving with his widow is a sister, Mary Crookshank, and a brother, Dr. Stephen Knowlton.
Services and burial were private.
Clara Butterworth
Mrs. Clara Butterworth, 71, formerly of Summit Hill and Lansford, died Monday in Miners Memorial Medical Center in Coaldale. She was a resident at the Hometown Nursing Home since February of 1996. She was the widow of Edward Butterworth who died in 1968.
She last worked for the former Loomtogs Manufacturing in Summit Hill.
Born in Lansford she was the daughter of the late Rudolph and Laura (Welsh) Searfoss.
She was a past member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Summit Hill.
Surviving are two daughters, Laura Piech of West Keansburg, N.J.; May Jane Sheesley of Millmont; two sons, Edward of Lansford; Rudolph of Tamaqua; one sister Violet Searfoss of New Jersey; ten grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
The Thomas J. Parambo Funeral Home, 54 W.Fell St., Summit Hill, is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Jennie M. Henry Kirchner
Mrs. Jennie M. "Jane" Henry Kirchner, 85, of 120 S. Railroad St., Walnutport, died Friday in the Palmerton Hospital. She was the widow of Stephen Kirchner Sr. and Clayton Henry.
She worked for Paris Neckwear, Walnutport, in the 1930s.
Born in Ashfield, she was a daughter of the late William and Alice (Eck) Roberts.
She was a member of the Diamond Fire Company, Walnutport.
Surviving are seven sons, Clarence, John and Paul Kirchner, all of Walnutport, Donald and Harold Henry, both of Slatington, William Kirchner of Danielsville and Allen Henry of Egypt; three daughters, Grace, wife of Stanley Knappenberger, and Doris, wife of Joseph Joler, both of Walnutport, and Mae, wife of Daniel Freed of Slatington; 24 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two sons, Stephen Jr. and Kenneth H.; and a daughter Nancy.
The Harding-Fox Funeral Home, 25-27 N. Second St., Slatington, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Lillian A.M. Smith
Mrs. Lillian A.M. Smith, 81, of Middle Smithfield Township, died Friday in the Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg. She was the widow of Frank J. Smith Sr.
Born in Bossardsville, she was a daughter of the late J. Frederick and Jessie Pearl (Starner) Martz.
She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, East Stroudsburg.
Mrs. Smith was a past royal matron of the Order of the Amaranth, Dorothy Lim Memorial Court 110, Stroudsburg, and as district deputy president and past noble grand of the Lady Hall Rebekah Lodge 202, Aluta.
She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the Jacob Stroud Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Surviving are three daughters, Kay P. King and Faye H. Jones, both of Marshalls Creek, and Linda S. Perfetti of East Stroudsburg; a son, Frank J. Jr. of Marshalls Creek; four sisters, Edith Treible and Lorraine Miller, both of East Stroudsburg, Freda Possinger of Stroudsburg and Arlene LaBar of Bangor; three brothers, Dayton and Lawrence, both of East Stroudsburg, and Marlin of Analimink; nine grandchildren, a great-grandson and nieces and nephews.
Moerder services
Funeral services for Mrs. Hilda A. Moerder, 89, of 2295 Mahoning Drive East, Lehighton, who died Friday in the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Ben Salem United Church of Christ, Lehighton, with the Rev. Jeffrey L. Kistler officiating, followed by interment in the church cemetery. Calling hours are scheduled from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday in the church.
The deceased was preceded in death by a daughter, Jean Homm, who was incorrectly identified in Saturday's obituary.
The Andrew P. Ovsak Funeral Home, Fourth and Iron streets, Lehighton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Philomena M. Dominic
Philomena M. Dominic, 73, of 721 Cherokee St., Bethlehem, died Thursday in her home.
A registered nurse, she worked at the Gettysburg Hospital; Warren Hospital, Phillipsburg, N.J.; St. Luke Hospital, Fountain Hill; Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale; Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton; Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, N.Y.; and in Philadelphia. She also did private duty nursing.
Born in Lansford, she was a daughter of the late Michael and Elizabeth (Scapanda) Dominic.
She was a 1946 graduate of the Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing and served two years in the Nursing Cadet Corps at the end of World War II.
Surviving are three sons, Mark V. Pavlick of Washington, D.C., Thomas A. Pavlick of Easton and Frank M. Pavlick Jr. of Bethlehem; two daughters, Lisa M., wife of Joseph Zelinski of Easton, and Carla E. Pavlick of Gettysburg; a brother Emanuel of Lansford; two sisters, Edith DiStefano of Rochester, N.Y., and Elizabeth, wife of Anthony Vannicola of Easton; and six grandchildren.
Victor E. Leach
Victor E. Leach, 74, of Germansville, died Friday in the LifeQuest Nursing Center, Milford Township. He was the husband of Leary K. (Hottenstein) Leach. They observed their 46th wedding anniversary in June.
He was a mechanical engineer for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 30 years before retiring in 1976.
Born in Bethlehem, he was a son of the late Lewis M. and Elsie M. (Moll) Leach.
He was a member of the United Church of Christ congregation of Heidelberg Union Church, Heidelberg Township.
Leach was an Army veteran of World War II and a 1951 graduate of the Pennsylvania Military College, Chester.
Surviving in addition to his widow are three daughters, Jackie A., wife of Stephen F. Laudenslager of Orefield, Ceilie A. Lasater of Oswego, N.Y., and Stephanie J., wife of William Wagaman of Wescosville; three brothers, Warren of Allentown, Robert of Mansfield, Ark., and Gilbert of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; a sister Eleanor, wife of James Hartle of Raleigh, N.C.; and four grandchildren.
Mrs. Ruth B. Hunara
Mrs. Ruth B. Hunara, 71, of 718 Hickory Lane, Palmer Township, died Saturday in the Easton Hospital after being stricken at home. She was the wife of Lamar R. Hildenbrandt and the widow of George Hunara Jr.
She was a licensed practical nurse at the Eastwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Wilson; Muhlenberg Hospital Center, Bethlehem; and the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Center, Allentown, for several years before retiring in 1969.
Born in Hamburg, she was a daughter of the late Raymond B. and Ellen (Henry) Wink.
She was a member of Christ United Church of Christ, Easton.
Surviving in addition to her husband are five daughters, Ellen Owen of Enola, Cumberland County, Carole Bray and Rosalind Gambino, both of Palmer Township, Jessica Williams of Bethlehem Township and Tracie Wickkiser of Glendon; seven sons, George S. of Kutztown, Raymond R. of Bethlehem, James M. of Phillipsburg, N.J., Anthony M. of Brockton, John T. of Palmer Township, William C. of Raubsville and Danny Hildenbrandt of Easton; a sister, Caroline Brobst of Hamburg; 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Irving Saltz
Mrs. Josephine Saltz, 79, of 430 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, died Sunday in her home. She was the wife of Irving Saltz.
She was a dancer in New York City, N.Y., for about 15 years.
Born in Lansford, she was a daughter of the late Rudolph and Mary (Yourvaty) Mraz.
She was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, Lansford.
Surviving in addition to her husband are two daughters, Ina of Manhattan, N.Y., and Rhoda Hochberg of Hamden, Conn.; a sister Mary of Lansford; a brother Frank of Barnesville; and two grandsons.
She was also preceded in death by a brother John.
The Skrabak-Parambo Funeral Home, 210 E. Bertsch St., Lansford, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Cora M. Baer
Mrs. Cora M. Baer, 90, of 1079 Arbor Lane, Slatington, died Friday in the Mosser Nursing Home, Trexlertown. She was the widow of Erwin H. "Scrubbie" Baer.
Born in Weidasville, she was a daughter of the late George S. and Meda E. (Mertz) Schoch.
She was a member of St. John United Church of Christ, Slatington.
Surviving are a daughter, Shirley A., wife of David P. Scheffler, with whom she resided; a brother, Harold G. of Schnecksville; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
George R. Oswald
George Robert "Bud" Oswald, 78, of Scottish Highlands, Leesburg, Fla., died Saturday in the Florida Hospital Waterman. He was the husband of Alma (Snyder) Oswald. They were married for 47 years.
He was a mechanics helper for the Bowen Supply Company, Allentown, for 25 years.
Born in Reading, he moved to Florida in 1994 from Walnutport.
Oswald was an Army veteran of World War II and also served in 1935 with the Civilian Conservation Corps in New Mexico.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Slatington.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, David George of Leesburg; and two sisters, Ester Christman of Allentown and Dorothy Hein of Emmaus.
Mrs. Anna Ritsick
Mrs. Anna Ritsick of 27 First St., Kelayres, died Sunday morning in the Hazleton General Hospital. She was the widow of John A. Ritsick, who died in 1980.
Born in Beaver Meadows, she was a daughter of the late Andrew and Anna (Balanik) Seroka.
She was a member of St. Kunegunda Catholic Church, McAdoo, and the Altar and Rosary Society of the parish.
Surviving are three sons, John Jr. of Hometown, Tamaqua R.2, Charles T. of Allentown and Eugene A. of Silverbrook; two daughters, Eleanore, wife of George Lazar of New Coxeville, and Dolores Ann, at home; three brothers, Andrew of Reno, Nev., John of Lake Okeechobee, Fla., and Michael of West Hazleton; three sisters, Helen Gerberti of Baltimore, Md., Mrs. Vincent (Julia) Kundrik of Hazleton Heights and Mrs. Joseph (Verna) Solly of Philadelphia; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by two sons, Leon and Thomas; and two sisters, Mary Seroka and Susan Popnik.
John Kotch
John Kotch, 87, of Buck Mountain, Barnesville, died Sunday in the St. Luke Manor, Hazleton.
A retired coal miner, he last worked for Pagnotti Coal Company.
Born in Buck Mountain, he was a lifelong resident of the area and a son of the late Stephen and Elizabeth (Leshko) Kotch.
He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of the American Legion Post 74, Mahanoy City, and Disabled American Veterans, Oshinski Post 31.
Surviving are nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a brother Stephen; and three sisters, Mary Marinchock, Anna Morba and Elizabeth Guydos.
Jacob A. Fehnel
Jacob H. Fehnel, 83, of 612 E. 10th St., Northampton, died Thursday in the Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg. He was the husband of Dorothy P. (Gantz) Fehnel. They observed their 44th wedding anniversary in May.
He was a truck driver for the former Easton Express Freight, Bethlehem, for 26 years before retiring in 1980, and was also a farmer in the Moorestown area for many years.
Born in Moore Township, he was a son of the late Edgar and Eva (Schortz) Fehnel.
He was a member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Whitehall Township.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Malcolm E. of Zionsville, and Robert of Bethlehem; a daughter Caroline, wife of Willard Roth of Saylorsburg; two stepsons, Dale R. Flores of Lynnport and Richard C. Flores of Whitehall; 17 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia A.
