John R. Zellers
Ex-Leesport council president
Services were held in Trinity United Church of Christ, Leesport, for John R. “Todd” Zellers, 88, of Hafer Drive, Leesport, who died June 8, 2003 in St. Joseph Medical Center, where he had been a patient since May 29.
Burial was in Leesport cemetery.
He was predeceased by his wife, Claire E. (Hafer) Zellers, who died Oct. 9.
Born in Ontelaunee Township, he was a son of the late Edwin and Ellen N. (Burkart) Zellers.
He was Leesport Borough Council President from 1961 to 1965.
Until retiring in 1977, he was employed in the maintenance department of Carpenter Steel Co. for 36 years.
He was a World War II Coast Guard veteran.
Zellers was a member of Trinity UCC Church, Leesport, and a former deacon of St. John’s (Gernant’s) UCC, Ontelaunee Township.
He was a member of the Leesport cemetery Board.
Surviving are several nieces and nephews.
The Milkins Funeral Home, Temple, was in charge of arrangements.
Gerald F. Bleile
Former Shoey mayor
Services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Gerald F. Bleile, 79, of Fifth Street, Shoemakersville, who died June 8, 2003 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where he had resided nine days.
Burial was in St. Michael’s cemetery, Tilden Township.
He was the husband of Shirley M. (Miller) Bleile.
Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Henry A. and Bertha M. (Miller) Bleile.
He served as mayor of Shoemakersville from 1972 to 1982.
Bleile was secretary of the Perry Township School Authority from 1964 to 1984, and was a member of the Shoemakersville Sewer Authority from 1985 to 1972.
He was president of the Shoemakersville Rotary Club in 1967-68, and was treasurer of Boy Scout Troup 163, Shoemakersville, from 1954 to 1968.
Bleile was a 50-year member and past master of Vaux Lodge 406, F&AM, Hamburg.
Until retiring in 1986 as general manager, he was last employed by Wenco Industries, Hamburg, for five years.
Also surviving are two sons, Dr. Dennis M. Bleile, San Ramon, Calif., and Steven M. Bleile, Bonner Ferry, Idaho, and four grandchildren.
Other survivors include five sisters: Bertha (Bleile) Naus, Schuylkill Haven; Vivian (Bleile) Buehler, Allentown; Marjorie Bleile, Lenhartsville; Katherine (Bleile) Mauritz, Meridian, Idaho; nad Elizabeth (Bleile) Barhydts, Sparks, Nev.
There are also five brothers: Henry Bleile Jr., Pharr, Texas; Robert Bleile, Lodi, Calif.; Donald Bleile, San Mateo, Calif.; Harry Bleile, Fair Oaks, Calif.; and Alfred Bleile, Orwigsburg.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Nancy Lee Bleile, who died in 1949, and by a son, Kim M. Bleile, who died in 1975.
David H. Reist
Services were held in the Bean Funeral Home, Sinking Spring, for David H. Reist, 68, who died June 6, 2003 in his Allen Street, Perry Township residence.
Burial was in Pricetown cemetery.
According to police, Reist died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Born in Reading, he was a son of Florence L. (Bieber) Reist, Wescosville, Lehigh County, and the late Augustus S. Reist.
He was a 1953 graduate of Oley Valley High School and an Army veteran.
Until retiring in 1994, he was employed by Dana Corp., Reading, for 31 years.
He was past president of the Pricetown Rifle and Gun Club and served on the board of the United Singles Dance Club.
Surviving are Mary E. (Deboard) Gilberthorpe, with whom he resided, and a son, Vicar Michael L. Reist, Birdsboro.
There are also two grandsons, three step granddaughters and one step great-granddaughter.
Other survivors include a brother, Daniel A. Reist, Pricetown; and two sisters, Linda M. (Reist) Dutko, Allentown, and Madelyn A. (Reist) Kendall, Placentia, Calif.
John A. Fidler
Memorial services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, for John A. Fidler, 82, of Lincoln Drive, Tilden Township, who died June 10, 2003 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient one day.
Burial was in St. John’s cemetery, Hamburg.
He was the husband of Dorothy S. (Dinkel) Fidler.
Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late John A. and Anna (Machmer) Fidler.
Until retiring in 1984, he was employed as a wood pattern maker by Dinkel Pattern Works, Hamburg, for many years.
He was a 1938 graduate of Hamburg High School.
Fidler was a member and former councilman of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hamburg.
He was a World War II Navy veteran.
Also surviving are a daughter, Nancy S. (Fidler) Hoffman, Tilden Township; a son, John A. Fidler Jr., Reading; and two grandchildren.
Lillian M. Grossman
Among the local survivors of Lillian M. (Schwartz) Grossman, 95, of Deer Lake, Schuylkill County, formerly of Reading, who died June 9, 2003 in Pottsville Hospital, where she had been a patient five days, is a son, Clarence Grossman, Shartlesville.
Mabel E. Billman
Private services were arranged by the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Mabel E. (Gernert) Billman, 84, formerly of Wyndcliffe House Apartments, Hamburg, who died June 9, 2003 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where she had resided since Nov. 30.
Burial was in St. Michael’s cemetery.
Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Rosa J. (Danenhower) Bachman Hamm.
Until retiring in 1984, she was employed as a sewing machine operator by Dutch Knitting MIll, Burkey Underwear Co., and Windsor Knitting Mill, all of Hamburg, for many years.
Surviving are three sons: Donald L. Billman and Steven C. Billman, both of Hamburg, and Neal E. Billman, Stroudsburg.
There are also eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Other survivors include a half brother, Howard Hamm, and a half sister, Pearl Hamm, both of New Tripoli, Lehigh County.
Anna M. Englehart
Among the local survivors of Anna M. (Englehart) Englehart, 87, formerly of Reading, who died June 9, 2003 in Kutztown Manor, where she had resided since October, is a son, Russell C. Englehart, Hamburg.
Allen B. Ringler Jr.
Among the local survivors of Allen B. Ringler Jr., 73, of Reading, who died June 10, 2003 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient since May 31, is a stepdaughter, Bernda (Kemp) Heck, Bernville.
Janet L. Horner
Among the local survivors of Janet L. (Heimbach) Horner, 63, who died of natural causes June 11, 2003 in her New Hanover Township, Montgomery County residence, is a brother, Leroy I. Heimbach, Leesport.
Erma K. Herber
Services were held in the Leibensperger Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Erma K. Herber, 89, formerly of South Fourth Street, Hamburg, who died June 11, 2003 in Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where she had resided since July.
Burial was in Frieden’s cemetery, Lenhartsville.
Born in Greenwich Township, she was a daughter of the late George A. and Katie A. (George) Herber.
She was employed as a sewing machine operator by Windsor Knitting Mills, Hamburg, for many years until retiring Feb. 28, 1980. From May 1980 until April 2002, she was employed by the Leibensperger Card and Gift Shop, Hamburg.
Herber was a charter member of the Shoemakersville Fire Company auxiliary.
She was a member of Frieden’s United Church of Christ, Lenhartsville.
Surviving are a brother, Lloyd W. Herber, Hamburg, and two sisters, Mabel A. (Herber) Smith and Alma A. (Herber) Dreisbach, both of Shoemakersville.
Lillian Boddy
Among the local survivors of Lillian (Cooperstein) Boddy, 67, of Murphy, N.C. and formerly of Reading, who died of cancer June 8, 2003 in Murphy Medical Center, are three sisters: Carole (Cooperstein) Slabik, Bernville; and Linda (Cooperstein) Arndt and Lorna (Cooperstein) Auge, both of Shartlesville.
Robert Ringler Jr.
Among the local survivors of Robert Ringler Jr., 86, of Kenhorst, who died June 11, 2003 in Reading Hospital, where he had been a patient since May 27, is a son, Scott R. Ringler, Hamburg.
Stewart D. Borrell
Among the local survivors of Stewart D. Borrell, 83, Chambersburg and formerly of Fleetwood, Lyons and Kutztown, who died June 11, 2003 in Chambersburg Hospital, Franklin County, is a sister, Pauline (Borrell) Strause, Shoemakersville.
Warren G. Spotts
Among the local survivors of Warren G. Spotts, 84, of Brecknock Township, Lancaster County, who died June 12, 2003 in Ephrata Community Hospital, where he had been a patient two days, is a brother, Leon Spotts, Hamburg.
Anna H. Keller
Among the local survivors of Anna H. (Hauck) Keller, 91, of Maidencreek Township, who died June 12, 2003 in Reading Hospital, where she had been a patient two weeks, is a daughter, Dolores (Fetterolf) Becker, Mohrsville.
Annabelle E. Wolf
Among the local survivors of Annabelle E. (Murphy) Wolf, 79, of Spring Township, who died June 12, 2003 in St. Joseph Medical Center, is a sister, Patricia E. (Murphy) Ellis, Hamburg; a brother, Russell G. Murphy, Bern Township; and a foster brother, Keith Wilkes, Bern Township.
Helen K. Marcinkowski
Among the local survivors of Helen K. (Piontek) Marcinkowski, 89, formerly of Wyomissing and a resident of ManorCare Health Services, Spring Township, who died June 13, 2003 in Reading Hospital, is a daughter, Dolores A. (Marcinkowski) Waldman, Bern Township.
Kerri A. Wolfe
Among the local survivors of Kerri A. (Berger) Wolfe, 35, who died of natural causes June 12, 2003 in her Wayne Township, Schuylkill County residence, is a stepson, Jesse A. Wolfe, and a stepdaughter, Belinda F. Wolfe, both of Shoemakersville.
