Pearl V. Parsons, 85
Services were held in the Mae A. Stump Funeral Home Inc., Fleetwood, for Pearl V. Parsons of East Arch Street, Fleetwood, who died March 15, 2004 in the Laurel Center Genesis Elder Care, Tilden Township, where she had resided since Feb. 5. Burial was in St. John’s (Gernant’s) cemetery, Ontelaunee Township.
She was the wife of Luther D. Parsons.
Born in Leesport, she was a daughter of the late Galen and Helen (Berg) Snyder.
Until her retirement in 1976, Parsons was a self-employed hairdresser on Pine Street, Fleetwood, for 16 years.
She was a member of St. John’s (Gernant’s) Church.
Surviving are a son, Ronald Rhoads, Topton, and a daughter, Joyclyn Dickenson, Laconia, N.H.
There are four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are four sisters: Thelma Braddock, Hamburg; Anna Potteiger, Fleetwood; and Bette Steves and Kathryn Graeff, both of Kutztown.
Loraine R. Maulick, 90
Private services were held for Loraine R. Maulick, formerly of Fairview Street and Cross Keys Road, Bern Township, who died March 20, 2004 in Mifflin Center, Cumru Township, where she had been a patient for two months. Burial was also private.
She was predeceased by her husband, Robert C. Maulick, who died May 21, 1995.
Born in Reading, Maulick was a daughter of the late John S. and Rosa (Thomas) Watts.
Until her retirement in 1979, she had been employed as a sewing machine operator by Arkay Knitting Mills Inc., Reading, for 40 years.
Surviving is a son, Robert W., Wyomissing.
There are four grandchildren, two step grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and four step great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are a brother, Nelson A.M. Watts, Shartlesville; and two sisters, June (Watts) Shirk, Mohnton, and Nancy (Watts) Artz, Albuquerque, N.M.
Lutz Funeral Home Inc., Mount Penn, was in charge of arrangements.
Louis T. Uslin, 69
Services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home Inc., Hamburg, for Louis T. Uslin of Grandview Road, Perry Township, who died of natural causes March 20, 2004 in his residence. Burial was in Zion cemetery, Perry Township.
Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Louis A. and Elizabeth W. (Tyson) Uslin.
Uslin was a 1952 graduate of Bensalem High School, Bucks County, a 1956 graduate of Lehigh University, and he received a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1960.
Until his retirement in 1994, he was employed as an electrical engineer by Johnsville Naval Air Development Center, Bucks County.
Surviving is a son, Louis J., Clarks Summit, Lackawanna County; and two daughters, Brenda (Uslin) Fijalkowski, Millersville, Lancaster County, and Suzanne (Uslin) O’Brien, Harrisburg.
There are five grandchildren.
Also surviving is a sister, Elizabeth (Uslin) Anderson, Levittown, Bucks County.
He was predeceased by a son, William B., on July 30, 1999.
Gary L. Berk, 49
Services were held in Leibensperger Funeral Homes Inc., Hamburg, for Gary L. Berk of Ruth Street, Tilden Township, who died of natural causes March 24, 2004 in Reading Hospital, shortly after arrival. Burial was in Berks County Memorial Gardens, Maidencreek Township.
He was the husband of Darlene M. (Kocher) Berk.
Born in West Reading, he was a son of Homer H. and Elizabeth A. (Bausher) Berk, Tilden Township.
Berk graduated in 1972 from Hamburg High School.
He was a self-employed auto mechanic and body man for three years in his residence.
He also painted and sponsored late model cars, modified race cars and sprint cars for many drivers in Berks County.
Surviving are three daughters: Beverly A. (Berk) Ruppert, Perry Township; Melanie A. (Berk) Ervin, Reading; and Army Spc. Heather S. Berk, at home.
There are three grandchildren.
Also surviving are two brothers, Michael R., Tilden Township, and Bryan K., Richmond Township; and a sister, Cynthia A. (Berk) Dissinger, Greenwich Township.
Sandra J. Moatz, 65
Services were held in Leibensperger Funeral Homes Inc., Hamburg, for Sandra J. Moatz of South Fourth Street, Hamburg, who died of natural causes March 18, 2004 in her residence. Burial was in St. John’s cemetery, Hamburg.
Born in Pottsville, she was a daughter of the late Ray B. and Dorothy E. (Gehrig) Ebling.
She graduated from Hamburg High School in 1957.
For 19 years, Moatz was employed as a manager of the social quarters of Behler-Hein Post 637, American Legion, Hamburg, where she served as treasurer and past president of the ladies auxiliary.
Surviving are two sons: Eric L., Macon, Ga.; and Jeffrey L., Hanover, York County.
Also surviving are two sisters: Judy A. (Ebling) Miller, Fleetwood, and Susan R. (Ebling) Dunkelberger, Hamburg.
Fern M. Loehrig, 79
Services were held in Walter R. Christ Funeral Home Inc., Laureldale, for Fern Mae Loehrig, of Schuylkill Hill Road, Centre Township, formerly of Snyder Road, Ontelaunee Township, who died March 24, 2004 in ManorCare Health Services Inc., Muhlenberg Township, where she had resided one day. Burial was in Laureldale cemetery, Tuckerton.
She was predeceased by her husband, John R. Loehrig, who died July 30, 1988.
Born in Laureldale, she was a daughter of the late Harry H. and Ruth Ella (Shieler) Horst.
Loehrig was a 1942 graduate of Muhlenberg High School.
Until her retirement in 1984, she was employed as a bench handler by AT&T Reading Works, Muhlenberg Township, for 22 years.
Loehrig was also a trip handler for the AT&T Pioneer Retirees for several years.
She was a member of Rosedale United Church of Christ, Laureldale.
Surviving are a nephew, Richard V. Horst, Centre Township; and two nieces, Robin (Horst) Oberholtzer, Shillington, and Linda Lee (Horst) Liptak, Virginia.
William J. Womer, Jr., 53
William J. Womer, Jr., of Sleepy Hollow Drive, Centre Township, died of natural causes March 23, 2004 in his residence.
Mabel L. Achenbach, 70
Services were held in Leibensperger Funeral Homes Inc., Hamburg, for Mabel L. Achenbach, formerly of North Fourth Street, Hamburg, who died of natural causes May 30, 2004 in her residence at Phillips Lane, Upper Bern Township. Burial was in St. Luke’s cemetery, Perry Township.
She was predeceased by her husband, George P. Achenbach, on April 7, 2000.
Born in Shoemakersville, she was a daughter of the late George M. and Florence M. (Boyer) Rubright.
She was a 1950 graduate of Perry High School.
Achenbach worked as a waitress at Rip Trexler’s Luncheonette and Bus Station, Hamburg, for 20 years. Later, she worked at Ollie’s Tavern, Shoemakersville, until the mid-1970s. She last worked as a steward at Union Fire Company No. 1, Hamburg, until 1990.
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hamburg.
Surviving are three daughters: Debra J. (Achenbach) Phillips, with whom she resided; and Dory A. Achenbach and Dyan L. (Achenbach) McVaugh, both of Hamburg.
There is one grandson and one great-grandson.
Also surviving are four sisters: Jean L. (Rubright) Seiger, Barbara L. (Rubright) Heck and Carolyn L. (Rubright) Wagner, all of Shoemakersville; and Patricia L. (Rubright) Reed, Perry Township; and a brother, George M. Rubright, Laureldale.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Deanna J. Achenbach, in 1991.
Jacqueline Sweigart, 55
Services were held in Bean Funeral Homes Inc., Reading, for Jacqueline A. Sweigart of Mill Road, Bern Township, who died June 2, 2004 of natural causes in Reading Hospital, where she was a patient since May 27.
Born in Reading, she was a daughter of Carlyle M. and Jennie L. (Neuheimer) Epler, Reading.
She was a 1966 graduate of Reading High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Kutztown State College in 1970 and a master’s degree in education in 1972.
Until her retirement June 15, 2003, Sweigart was employed as a teacher by the Reading School District for 33 years.
She was a member of Alsace Lutheran Church in Hyde Park.
Surviving is a son, Jeremy L., Rochester, N.Y.
Doris A. Knoblauch, 86
Services were held in the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home, Hamburg, for Doris A. Knoblauch, formerly of South Fourth Street, Hamburg. She died May 27, 2004 in the North Fifth Street, Hamburg, residence of her daughter, Rebecca A. (Knoblauch) Freed. Burial was in St. John’s cemetery, Hamburg.
She was predeceased by her husband, Irvin G. Knoblauch, on Feb. 26, 1997.
Born in Pottsville, she was a daughter of the late Lewis and Estella (Steely) Madenfort.
She was a graduate of Hamburg High School.
Until her retirement in 1983, Knoblauch was employed as a machine operator by Robin Hold & Co., Port Clinton, Schuylkill County.
She was a member of St. John’s Conservative Congregational Christian Church, Port Clinton.
Surviving is another daughter, Mary E. (Knoblauch) Brady, Tilden Township.
There are six grandsons and 11 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are three sisters, Lois (Madenfort) Brown and Ruth (Madenfort) Seaman, both of Hamburg, and Madelyn (Madenfort) Evans, Laureldale.
Her son, Glenn I., died in 1961.
