Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Erskine R. Solomon Jr.
Erskine R. Solomon Jr., 77, formerly of Jim Thorpe and Weatherwood, died this morning at the Hazleton General Hospital. He was the husband of the late Marjorie (Adams) Solomon, who died in 1982. He would have been 78 on Saturday.
He was a mixologist and had worked at the former Jack Devers Bar and Restaurant, Jim Thorpe, and he retired as a custodian at the Carbon County Vocational Technical School, Jim Thorpe.
Born in Upper Mauch Chunk, he was a son of the late Erskine and Mae (Melber) Solomon.
He was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in the Heights, Jim Thorpe.
He served with the U.S. Army in Germany during World War II.
Surviving are a daughter, Marjorie Ann Solt of Jim Thorpe; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Bellhorn and Mrs. Shirley Swartz, both of Jim Thorpe; two brothers, William of Jim Thorpe, and Donald of Summit Hill; a granddaughter; and two great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Edna Mae Hrinkonich; and three brothers, Edward, Alfred and Bruce.
The Edward F. Melber Funeral Home, 524 Center St., Jim Thorpe, is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Mary E. Matika
Mrs. Mary E. Matika, 94, of 110 W. Ludlow St., Summit Hill, died Tuesday in the Miners Memorial Medical Center, Coaldale. She was the widow of Alex Matika.
Born in Beaver Brook, Luzerne County, she was a daughter of the late John and Mary (Havrilla) Fristik.
She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Summit Hill.
Surviving are a son Joseph of Summit Hill; two daughters, Helen, wife of Bruce Kercher of Allentown, and Mary, wife of Ray O'Gorman of Summit Hill; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren.
The Thomas J. Parambo Funeral Home, 54 W. Fell St., Summit Hill, is in charge of the arrangements.
Ivan Figura
Ivan Figura, 81, of 421 Main St., Jim Thorpe, died Saturday afternoon in his home. He was the husband of Mary (Moore) Figura. They would have observed their 50th wedding anniversary on Dec. 6.
He was a machinist for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 26 years before retiring in 1972.
Born in Coalport, Jim Thorpe, he was a son of the late Stephan and Anna (Sustek) Figura.
He was a member of St. John Slovak Lutheran Church, Lansford.
Figura was a sergeant in the Air Force during World War II, having served in India.
He was a member of the Dolon-Jones-Martino American Legion Post 304 and the Fairview Hose Company, both of Jim Thorpe.
Surviving in addition to his widow are a son, John P. of Jim Thorpe; a daughter Judith, wife of Robert Pope of Lehighton; a brother John of Summit Hill; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by a sister Susan.
The Edward F. Melber Funeral Home, 524 Center St., Jim Thorpe, is in charge of the arrangements.
Ralph G. Frantz
Ralph G. Frantz, 86, of Little Gap Road, Palmerton, died Saturday in the Palmerton Hospital. He was the husband of Arlene (Smith) Frantz. They observed their 59th wedding anniversary in June.
He worked for the former New Jersey Zinc Company, Palmerton, for 48 years before retiring in 1977.
Born in Kunkletown, he was a son of the late Charles and Rosa (Heffelfinger) Frantz.
He was a member of St. Matthew United Church of Christ, Kunkletown, where he taught Sunday school for 72 years, beginning as a teenager and retiring last December. He was also a former Sunday school superintendent and a member of the church choir and council for many years.
Frantz was a past member of the Lower Towamensing Township and Palmerton school boards, serving for a total of eight years, and a Lower Towamensing Township auditor for several years.
He was a former secretary of the Palmerton Men's Bowling and Junior Bowling associations; a Palmerton Little League Baseball coach; and a member of the Kunkletown Band.
In 1993, he received the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame Award and was honored by Carbon County for having voted in 50 consecutive elections.
Surviving in addition to his widow are twin sons, Donald and Douglas, both of San Antonio, Tex.; a daughter, Bonnie Fichtel of Green Lawn, N.Y.; and three grandsons.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Dorothy F. Meixsell
Mrs. Dorothy F. Meixsell, 91, of Saylorsburg R.3, formerly of Pen Argyl, died Saturday in the Pleasant Valley Manor, Snydersville. She was the widow of Elwood Meixsell.
She worked for Deckers Turkey Farm, Saylorsburg, for 18 years before retiring.
Born in Cherry Lane, Monroe County, she was a daughter of the late George and Clara (Everitt) Kindrew.
Surviving are two sons, Dalen of Saylorsburg R.3 and Carl of Pen Argyl; seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
jenMrs. Dorothy M. Lutjen
Mrs. Dorothy M. Lutjen, 79, of Saylorsburg R.4, died Saturday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. She was the widow of John H. Lutjen Jr., who died in 1987.
Born in Little Mexico, Stroudsburg R.2, she was a daughter of the late Layton and Cora (Miller) DeHaven.
Surviving are a granddaughter, Susan Keiper, and a great-grandson, Matthew Keiper, both with whom she resided; three sisters, Martha E. Siegfried of Kunkletown, Ruth Staats of Old Hickory, Tenn., and Florence Itterly of Herndon, Va.; and a brother Joe of Brodheadsville.
She was also preceded in death by a son James.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Herta G. Ackerman
Mrs. Herta G. Ackerman, 88, of Scotrun, died Sunday in her home. She was the widow of Fritz Ackerman.
She and her husband owned and operated a delicatessen in the Bronx, N.Y., for 10 years. They also owned and operated farms in Verbank, N.Y., and Effort for 25 years.
Born in Germany, she was a daughter of the late Otto and Johanna (Roettger) Eckhoff.
She was a member of the German American Society and the Garden Club of Tannersville.
Surviving are a friend, Hanna Ramke, with whom she resided; and nephews.
The Kresge Funeral Home, Rt. 209, Brodheadsville, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Marvin E. Anthony
Mrs. Hermie L. Anthony, 75, of 60 Anthony Lane, Palmerton, died Saturday in the Palmerton Hospital. She was the wife of Marvin E. Anthony.
She and her husband owned Marvin E. Anthony Swimming Pools, Inc., Palmerton, for the past several years.
Born in Berks County, she was a daughter of the late Claude and Anna (Wagner) Heintzelman.
She was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Lehighton.
Surviving in addition to her husband are a son Robert of Palmerton; three daughters, Pauline in California, Marlene, wife of Richard Bowman of Lehighton, and Rose, wife of Jeffrey Nenscel of Palmerton; a brother Kermit of New Tripoli; a sister, Mrs. Perma Christman in New York State; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The Thomas K. Thomas Funeral Home, 145 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, is in charge of the arrangements.
William F. Fredericks Sr.
William F. Fredericks Sr., 75, of 34 N. Nescopec St., Tamaqua, died Sunday in the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Jacqueline and Jack Kamant of Tamaqua.
The deceased was the husband of the late Eleanor (Kline) Sherry Fredericks and the late Dorothy (Reigel) Fredericks.
He was a welder for the Reading Railroad before retiring in 1987.
Born in Tamaqua, he was a son of the late George Washington and Erma May (Geisinger) Fredericks.
He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Tamaqua.
Fredericks was an Army Air Corps veteran and a member of the American Legion Post and Citizens Fire Company, both of Tamaqua, and the Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club, Lehighton.
Surviving in addition to his daughter are four sons, Patrick D. of Barnesville and William F. Jr., Dale B. and Roy A., all of Tamaqua; two other daughters, Sandy, wife of Edward Paulis of Orlando, Fla., and Brenda, wife of Gaylord Coston of Elizabethville, Lancaster County; two stepsons, Francis Sherry Jr. and Gary Sherry, three stepdaughters, Mrs. Patricia DeLay, Mrs. Katherine Nunemacher and Mrs. Anna Houseman, a brother George and a sister, Mrs. Betty Blihart, all of Tamaqua; 26 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Charles and Elmer.
The E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home, 655 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, is in charge of the arrangements.
Melvin H. Becker
Melvin H. Becker, formerly of North Whitehall Township, died Friday in the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.
He was a truck driver for the former Martin Marietta Cement Company, Northampton, for 40 years before retiring in 1983.
Born in Northampton, he was a son of the late Edward and Gertrude (Irvin) Becker.
He was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, Northampton.
Becker was a Coast Guard veteran of World War II and a member of American Legion Post 426, Coplay, and a life member of the Northampton Fire Company.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two daughters, Darlene B. of Walnutport and Melanie J., wife of Michael Gillespie of Coplay; a brother Willard of North Whitehall Township; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Edwin R. Bowman
Edwin R. Bowman, 61, of 6222 Route 873, Slatington, died Saturday in the hospice unit of the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown. He was the husband of Alice C. (Shea) Bowman. They observed their 19th wedding anniversary in May.
He and his wife owned the former Aadler's Restaurant, Slatington, 1995-96. Previously, he was a pump house engineer for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 31 years before retiring in 1986.
Born in Washington Township, he was a son of the late Aaron F. and Beatrice J. (Williams) Bowman.
He was a member of F. and A.M. Lodge No. 440, Slatington, and the Friedens Fire Company, Washington Township.
Surviving in addition to his widow are two sons, Richard E. and Terry L., both of Slatington; two daughters, Janice F. and Debra A., both of Allentown; a brother, Robert F. of Lehighton; three grandchildren and a step-granddaughter.
Michael K. Mesaros
Michael K. Mesaros, 78, of Whitehall Township, died Sunday in ManorCare Health Services, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of the late Hermina S. (Bogary) Mesaros.
He worked in the accounts receivable department of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation for 42 years before retiring in 1980.
Born in Whitehall, he was a son of Mrs. Anna (Harakal) Mesaros of Northampton and the late George Mesaros.
He was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church, Coplay, where he belonged to the Holy Name Society and was director of the church's annual picnic for 25 years.
An Army veteran, he was a member of the former Knights of St. George and a past member of the American Club, both of Coplay.
Surviving in addition to his mother are three daughters, Veronica M., wife of Raymond C. Reimer Sr. of Lehigh Township, Felicia E., wife of John S. Ellis of Warwick, N.Y., and Charmaine T., wife of John J. Koch of Coplay; a brother George of Clarence, N.Y.; a sister, Elizabeth Kush of Northampton; eight grandchildren and a great-grandson.
