Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Donald Reichert
Funeral arrangements to be published Friday
Donald Reichert, 80, of 1041 Sunset Drive, Berwick, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. The complete obituary will be published Friday. Arrangements are under the direction of Mayo Funeral Home Inc., Berwick.
Oliver A. Keener
Saturday morning services set for Danville man
Oliver A. Keener, age 93, of 341 Elysburg Road, Danville, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, at his residence.
Born Oct. 30, 1910, in Randolph County, W.Va., he was the son of the late Henry and Betty Brunk Keener.
He was a member and minister of the Danville Mennonite Church.
In addition to his wife, the former Doris Stutzman, two grandsons and three sisters preceded him in death.
Surviving are four sons : Elwood J. Keener of Weyers Cave, Va.; Howard B. Keener of Chester Springs; J. Milford Keener of Honolulu, Hawaii; Joseph B. Keener of Danville; three daughters : Mrs. Lester (Ellen) Heatwole of Bartow, W.Va.; Mrs. Henry (Miriam) Eby of Hagerstown, Md.; Mrs. Timothy (Katherine Sue) Newswanger of Danville; 28 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the Danville Mennonite Church, Elysburg Road, Danville, with Bishop Alvin Snyder officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Danville Mennonite Church on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
Arrangements are being handled by Brady Funeral Home Inc., 320 Church St., Danville.
Dorothy R. Baran
Dorothy R. Baran, 82, of 3529 Second St., Bloomsburg, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, in the Columbia Montour Hospice Home at Maria Hall, Danville. Mrs. Baran was a resident of her Almedia home for nearly 40 years.
She was born Feb. 22, 1921, in Bloomsburg, a daughter of the late Doyle and Winifred Freeman Greenly. She was a 1938 graduate of the Millville High School.
Along with her late husband, she owned and operated the former Baran Insurance Agency. In her younger years, she had also been employed by the Bloomsburg Mills and the Bloomsburg Hospital.
Mrs. Baran was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church and formerly was a member of the Business and Professional Women and was a volunteer with the Girl Scouts.
Her husband, Peter Baran, died on June 17, 1999; also she was preceded in death by a daughter, Janice Lorene Baran on Nov. 23, 1954; a sister, C. Elizabeth Shafer on March 19, 1994; and a brother, William D. Greenly on May 27, 1987. She was the last member of her immediate family and is survived only by several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday at 10 a.m. in St. Columba Catholic Church, Third and Iron streets, with Rev. Joseph H. Fennessey as celebrant. Burial will be in the Ikeler Cemetery, Mount Pleasant Township. There will be no visitation. Memorial contributions are suggested to Columbia Montour Home Hospice at Maria Hall, 599 E. Seventh St., Bloomsburg. Arrangements are under the direction of the Allen Funeral Home, Market and Eighth streets., Bloomsburg.
Daryl F. Paige
Funeral services for Daryl F. Paige, 46, Orangeville, will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the graveside in Benton Cemetery with Rev. Vernon W. McDormand, retired pastor of Benton Christian Church, officiating. Mr. Paige died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, at Orangeville Manor, where he resided since September 2000. Arrangements are in charge of the Dean W. Kriner Inc. Funeral Home, Benton.
Frances L. Fairchild Rowell
Centenarian was symphony orchestra violinist
Frances Leona Fairchild Rowell, age 100, of 220 Oak Grove Road, Danville, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at the home of her granddaughter. She was a resident of Danville since 1994.
She was born Aug. 11, 1903, in Portville, N.Y., a daughter of the late Bruce T. and Nettie Morrow Fairchild. On June 20, 1924, she married Sayward F. Rowell of Newport, N.H. Their marriage spanned 65 years, until his death on Aug. 18, 1989.
A 1923 graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, she earned a teachers certificate in the art of music. She studied violin as well as piano and voice. She was a member of the Oberlin Girls Glee Club and was also violin soloist for the club.
She lived in Verona, N.J., from 1926 to 1961. A professional violinist, she was a member of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra from the 1930s to the 1950s. She was a member of the Glen Ridge String Orchestra, the Montclair String Quartet and the Women's Club of Glen Ridge. She studied under Samuel Antek of the NBC Symphony. She was a member of the Montclair Operetta Club Orchestra from 1926 to 1961 and served as concertmaster for many years. She gave private lessons in violin and piano to students in Montclair, Verona and Glen Ridge, N.J.
After retiring, she lived in South Yarmouth, Mass., from 1963 to 1994, spending winters in Winter Haven, Fla. She was a member of the West Dennis Community Church in West Dennis, Mass. She enjoyed golf, bowling, bridge, the Boston Red Sox, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her family.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Paul and Dorothy Federici of Danville; a son-in-law, Werner Schanzenbach of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.; eight grandchildren, those residing locally are: Donna Federici, with whom she lived, Maria Shoop of Danville, and Nancy Fahrman of Mifflinburg; one sister-in-law, Jeanne Fairchild of Davidsville; 16 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and her devoted caregiver, Jeanne Mertz of Catawissa.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Marianne R. Schanzenbach; three sisters : Helen Parish, Irene Langworthy and Mary Tapp; three brothers , Robert, James and Theodore Fairchild; one grandson, and one great-grandson. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 5, in Newport, N.H. Burial took place at Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport, N.H.
Memorial contributions may be made to the West Dennis Community Church, P.O. Box 487, 288 Main St., West Dennis, Mass. 02670, or to Columbia-Montour Hospice, 599 E. Seventh St., Bloomsburg, Pa. 17815. Local arrangements were handled by Brady Funeral Home Inc., 320 Church St., Danville.
Doris K. Hosler
Doris K. Hosler, 82, of 560 Buttonwood Farm Road, Millersville, died of natural causes on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, at Lancaster General Hospital.
She was the wife of the late Robert C. Hosler, who died in 1993. Born in Berwick, she was the daughter of the late Roy and Elma Howard Keller.
She was retired from Millersville University, where she had been employed as the library instruction coordinator at the Ganser Library. Prior to that, she had taught business education at Penn Manor High School.
She received her bachelor's degree from Bloomsburg University and a master's degree in library science from Drexel University.
She was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Millersville, a member of the Lancaster General Hospital Millersville Auxiliary, and a former member and secretary of the Millersville Boro Planning Commission.
She also had the following professional memberships PSEA, ALA, NEA, AUP, APSCURF.
She was the last of her family.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the memorial service from St. Paul Lutheran Church, 222 N. George St., Millersville, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Joseph Shanley and the Rev. Eloise Shanley officiating. Interment will be private in Millersville Mennonite Cemetery, Millersville. Please omit flowers. If desired, contributions in Doris' memory may be made to the Millersville University Foundation, Hosler Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 1002, Millersville, Pa. 17551-0302. Arrangements by the Gundel Funeral Home, Lancaster.
Judith Schechterly
Services for Berwick woman to be planned
Judith Schechterly passed away Thursday, Dec. 26, 2003, at age 57. She had been in failing health for several years, and was a resident of the Berwick nursing home. She was the daughter of Earl and Ester Nagle of Nescopeck. She is survived by three sons , Edward, David, and Duane, all of Berwick; two brothers , William of Wapwallopen and Robert of the Harrisburg area. Contributions in Judith's memory may be made to hospice of Berwick. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Luther W. Kelchner
Retired welder, competitive runner into his 70s
Luther W. Kelchner, 90, formerly of Mary Street, Berwick, and resident of Orangeville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center since October 2003, died early Thursday morning, Jan. 8, 2004. Previously, he resided at Outlook Pointe in Berwick for five years.
He was born March 15, 1913, in Mifflinville and was a son of the late Harvey A. and Mary R. Keifer Kelchner.
Luther attended school in Mifflinville and Catasaqua.
As a young man, he was employed at silk mills in the Allentown, Bloomsburg and Berwick areas. He later worked for AC&F Industries, Berwick, as a welder and assembler in the finishing shed and freight car buildings. He then went to work for Allis Chalmers in York, now Precision Components, as a nuclear welder. He worked there for ten years, retiring in 1975. He was hired back as a welding consultant for a period of time after he retired.
Luther was a collector of Indian artifacts. He was an avid runner and competed in races until he was nearly 80 years old, winning many trophies in his age category.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Wert, and by a brother, Harry Kelchner.
He is survived by a sister, Clara Mohr and her husband, Raymond, of Emmaus; a nephew, M. Ralph Kelchner, whom he was close to; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at Briar Creek Union Cemetery, Brick Church Road, Briar Creek Township, with the Rev. Daniel C. Belles, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the James L. Hinckley Jr. Funeral Home, 1024 Market St., Berwick. At the request of the deceased, there will be no viewing.
Adam M. Hampton
Adam M. Hampton, age 20, of 3 Majestic Drive, Danville, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
Born May 9, 1983, in Danville, he was the son of Brenna Cameron-Wolfe and Jim Wolfe of Danville, and Michael Hampton, also of Danville.
Adam was in his third year at Penn State University and was looking forward to pursuing a law degree. He was a young "Renaissance" man with talents ranging from art to soccer. Adam graduated from Danville High School in 2001, where he played varsity soccer for three years. He was also awarded numerous art awards. He enjoyed weight training and worked as a personal fitness trainer for Penn State. Adam was extensively involved in Greek activities through Phi Delta Theta. He enjoyed music and playing guitar. Adam earned a red belt in Tae Kwon Do.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his six-year-old sister, Abbie Wolfe, who was his pride and joy. Also surviving are his maternal grandparents, Robert and Ethel Cameron of Danville; paternal grandparents, Dave and Barb Wolfe, also of Danville; aunts and uncles: Beth and Dick Smith of Orangeville; Bob and Debra Cameron of Danville; Bill and Shirley Cameron of Georgia; and Scott Wolfe of Berwick; cousins include Brian, Madison and Baylie Cameron; Alycia and Cameron Smith; Bradley and Bill Cameron; and Kelly Spickert.
Funeral services will be held 6 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Danville, with the Rev. Dennis Beaver, pastor of First Evangelical Church in Mifflinburg, officiating. He will be assisted by the Rev. Harry Wonderland, pastor of First Baptist Church. A viewing will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday with burial at the convenience of the family on Friday. In lieu of flowers, parents are encouraged to give their children an extra hug. Contributions may be made to a scholarship memorial fund at Danville High School by forwarding donations to Danville Area Community Foundation, c/o Adam Hampton Fund, P.O. Box 12, Danville, Pa. 17821.
Arrangements are being handled by Brady Funeral Home Inc., 320 Church St., Danville. Interment will be at Columbia Hill Cemetery in Danville.
Janet E. Price
Retired teacher was last of her immediate family
Janet E. Price, age 74, of 245 W. 11th St., Bloomsburg, died early Thursday morning, Jan. 8, 2004, at her home following a brief illness.
She was born on May 31, 1929, in Reading, the only child of George W. and Elise Reichel Price. She graduated from Mount Penn High School in 1948 and from Bloomsburg State Teachers College in 1952, with a degree in business education.
Janet was employed by Orwigsburg School District from 1952 through 1954. She retired from Shikellamy School District in 1985 with 31 years of service.
Miss Price was an avid reader. She also enjoyed traveling, gardening and hand crafts.
A member of two German cultural societies, she belonged to Reading Liederkranz and Evergreen Country Club, both of the Reading area.
She was the last member of her immediate family and is survived by two cousins, Dr. Seigfried Borelli and Ingeborg Lau, who both reside in Germany.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday at the Allen Funeral Home, 745 Market at Eighth streets, Bloomsburg, with Rev. Robert D. Barner, Geisinger hospice chaplain, officiating. Burial will be in Elan Memorial Park, Lime Ridge. Friends will be received prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Bloomsburg Public Library, 225 Market St., Bloomsburg, Pa. 17815.
Doris V. Geines
Doris V. Geines, 83, of 1132 First Ave., Berwick, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at Berwick Retirement Village II, where she had been a resident since April 2003. She had been in failing health for several years.
She was born Aug. 22, 1920, in Fredericksburg, Va., a daughter of the late Clarence and Esther Dudley Porter.
For several years, Doris worked for Wise Potato Chip Co., Berwick, and the former Consolidated Cigars Co., retiring in 1985.
She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved being a homemaker.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Geines Sr., who died July 1987.
Doris is survived by three sons , John E. Geines Jr., Larry L. Geines and Michael L. Geines, all of Berwick; three granddaughters: Jackie Greene of Bloomsburg; Shannon Fenton of Mercerville, N.J.; Mica Geines of Hilton Head, S.C.; two great-grandsons: Brenden Geines of Hilton Head, S.C.; Jesse Greene of Bloomsburg; one great-granddaughter, Filica Foster of Berwick; and a sister, Mildred Weller of Union Bridge, Md.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday from the James L. Hinckley Jr. Funeral Home, 1024 Market St., Berwick, with the Rev. Daniel C. Belles officiating. Burial will be in Rose Lawn Cemetery, West Front Street, Berwick. Friends will be received on Thursday from 10 a m. until the time of the service.
Ruth H. Moore
Danville native retired from the Morning Press
Ruth H. Moore, 97, formerly of Bloomsburg, died Jan. 3, 2004, at Duke Hospital, Durham, N.C., following a stroke the previous day.
She was born Sept. 4,1906, in Danville, to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mills. After her mother died in childbirth, she was adopted by the Moore family.
She graduated from Bloomsburg High School and was one of the last surviving members of the Class of 1924. In 1926, she became employed in the subscription department of the Morning Press, retiring from there in October 1968.
She moved to Utica, N.Y. in 1975 to live with longtime friends, the Graburn family. After they passed away, she continued to reside in a retirement community in Utica. In 1992, she moved to the Durham Regent Retirement Community in Durham, N.C. to be near her extended Graburn family.
She was a very active volunteer wherever she lived, in both hospital and church work, and was instrumental in establishing a chapel service at the Durham Regent. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Utica.
She is survived by her extended family members, who were devoted to her: Jean Graburn Waterbury, Chapel Hill, N.C.; her children, Audrey and Robert Romasco, Bryn Mawr; Gail and Raymond Ferri, Cary, N.C.; Joyce Waterbury, Carrboro, N.C.; and their children.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Durham Regent with the Rev. Harold Morcombe officiating. Interment of ashes will take place at a later date in Bloomsburg.
May Ethel Brightbill
May Ethel Brightbill, 82, of Bloomsburg, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, in Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
Born Jan. 2, 1922, in Shamokin, she was a daughter of George Henry Jones and Caroline Ellen Jones.
She worked as a clerk for Big N Dept. Store. She was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, O.E.S., Rebecca's.
Surviving are a son, Robert K. Brightbill; a daughter, Mrs. Ronald (Margaret) Long; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; two sisters : Maude Koch; Mrs. Joseph (Grace) Sock; and a brother, George H. Jones II.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Jonathan Anthony Brightbill, and a son, Jonathan H. Brightbill.
Friends will be received at the Farrow Funeral Directors, Sixth and Chestnut streets, Shamokin, from 7 to 9 p.m.. on Thursday, and at the church parish house from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday.
Services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church with Father Ronald Lausch officiating. Interment will follow in Shamokin Cemetery.
Harold R. 'Skeeter' Matthews
Retired state hospital employee enjoyed sports
Harold R. "Skeeter" Matthews, age 73, 102 Mountainside Drive, Berwick, died at 3 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was admitted Tuesday. Previously, he had been a patient at Geisinger Medical Center for 10 days.
Skeeter was born Oct. 19, 1930, in Bloomsburg, a son of the late Charles L. and Annie B. (Roadarmel) Matthews. He resided in Brookside Village for the past 24 years and formerly lived in Bloomsburg.
He was employed in the housekeeping department of Danville State Hospital for 16 years, retiring in 1993. Earlier, he was employed for many years by the former Magee Carpet Co., Bloomsburg.
A longtime member of Columbia Valley Moose Lodge 623, he had served the group as governor. He also belonged to the Legion of Moose and the Fellowship Degree of the Moose.
He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict in both Korea and Germany, attaining the rank of sergeant. He belonged to the Valley of Bloomsburg Post 273, American Legion, where he was a member of the Old Timers Club. He was a life member of Fort McClure Post 804, VFW, and had served on the board of directors.
He was a life member of the former Liberty Fire Co., Bloomsburg, and of the Bloomsburg Fireman's Relief Association. He also belonged to the Espy Fire Co. and its relief association.
Skeeter was an avid fan of the Philadelphia Eagles football team and of the Phillies baseball team. As a young man, he played softball for the former Moose team, and also for the fast pitch league in Bloomsburg.
Surviving are his wife, the former Elnora Louise Hartman, with whom he celebrated his 23rd wedding anniversary on Oct. 19, 2003. Also surviving are a daughter, Barbara Hendricks, Sunbury; a son, William C. Matthews, Berwick; two stepsons: Jeffrey Scott Nietz, Coaldale; and James G. Nietz, Almedia; and five grandchildren.
Also surviving are two sisters : Helen, wife of Jason Vognetz, Danville; and Shirley East, Berwick ; and two brothers : William F. Matthews, Catawissa; and Richard A. Matthews, Bloomsburg. He was preceded in death by three brothers , Charles E. "Popeye" Cromley, Robert L. Matthews and James S. Matthews; and by a sister, Dorothy Simpson.
Graveside services will be held 2 p.m. Friday in Elan Memorial Park, 5595 Old Berwick Road, Bloomsburg, with Rev. Allen F. Acor, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Strawberry Ridge, officiating. The combined VFW group will provide military honors. No calling hours. Memorials may be sent to Columbia-Montour Home Health Services Hospice Program, 599 E. Seventh St., Bloomsburg, Pa. 17815. Arrangements are in charge of the Dean W. Kriner Inc. Funeral Home, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.
Marguerite Patterson
Marguerite Patterson, 87, of 314 Lower Mulberry St., Danville, died Wednesday evening at her home. She was born March 21, 1916, in Derry Township, Montour County, the daughter of the late Harry Sr. and Mabel Morrison Hawkins.
She graduated from Danville High School in 1933. A homemaker, Mrs. Patterson also worked in several Danville stores, including The Record Room, Letterman Bakery, Scott's Floral and George's Florist. She worked in special diets at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, and also owned the Gai-Lin Record Store on Mill Street in Danville.
She enjoyed baking and cooking, winning many blue ribbons at the Montour DeLong Fair, where she was a charter member.
Mrs. Patterson was a member of the Pine Street Evangelical Lutheran Church, Danville, and Danville Chapter 186 Order of the Eastern Star. She was recording secretary for the monthly luncheons of Danville High School, Class of 1933. For many years, she was also the Democratic judge of elections for the Third Ward in Danville.
She was married Dec. 23, 1939, to the late Ralph C. Patterson, who died Feb. 28, 1981.
She is survived by two daughters : Gail I. Cole and her husband, Donald J., of Tunkhannock and Linda J. Kreischer and her husband, Dale, of Catawissa. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Donald J. Cole II, MarcieLynn Doster, Darrick Kreischer and Abigail Kreischer; two great-grandsons, Donald J. "Trae" Cole III and Cole Doster; one sister, Mary Hawkins Mertz, a resident of Kramm Nursing Home, Milton; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Harry Hawkins Jr., and by one sister, Lucille Hawkins Patterson.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday from the Miller-Visneski Funeral Home, 10 W. Mahoning St., Danville, with her pastor, the Rev. Jeffrey Bohan, officiating. Burial will follow in Straub's Lutheran Cemetery, Danville. Friends will be received from 12:30 p.m. until the time of service. Eastern Star services will be held at 12:15 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Geisinger Hospice, 100 N. Academy Ave., Danville, Pa. 17822.
