Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Dorothy E. Hughes
LEWISTOWN — Dorothy E. Hughes, 85, of 2 Goss Terrace, Lewistown, died at 3:10 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, 2004 at HCR Manor Care, Williamsport.
Born Oct. 19, 1918 in Huntingdon County, she was a dauther of the late Raymond and Florence (Stuck) Yetter. Her husband, John E. Hughes, preceded her in death on Nov. 25, 1959.
Surviving are: a daughter, Sandra J. Dobson, Montoursville; a son, John E. Hughes, Boiling Springs; a sister, Helen Trump, Myrtle Beach, SC; four grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by brothers , Millard, Jay and Earl Yetter; sisters Phyllis Morgan, Mary Stringer Fultz, Betty Henry, Gladys Deiss and Hazel Yetter; a half-brother Henry Stewart; and a grandson Michael Dobson.
She was employed at Arrow Shirt Factory Division of Cluett-Peabody for 22 years, retiring in 1977.
She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hoenstine Funeral Home Inc., 75 Logan St., Lewistown with Rev. Charles Sprenkle officiating. Interment will be in St. Mark’s Cemetery.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. Saturday until the time of service at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to: American Heart Association, 501 Howard Ave., Bldg. D, Altoona, PA 16001.
Richard L. Hench
NEW BLOOMFIELD — Richard L. Hench, 66, of New Bloomfield, died Saturday, June 5, 2004, in the Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill.
Born Nov. 19, 1937, in Harrisburg, he was a son of the late R. Merrill Hench and Martha Rice Roof. His wife, Carrol Wertz Hench, survives.
Also surviving are: a son, Richard L. Hench, Newport; two daughters , Laurie L. Weikert, Orrtanna, and Christine F. Hench, Newport; a brother, Robert Hench, New Bloomfield; a sister, JoAnn Shatto, Shermans Dale; and five grandchildren, Amanda C. Todd D. Weikert, Lauren E. and Taylor C. Hench and Jonas C. Weidenhammer.
He was a 1956 graduate of Perry Joint High School, where he played football and basketball.
He served in the Army National Guard from 1959 to 1962.
He worked for and retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
He began an illustrious racing career in the late 1950s with his brother, Bob. With success from the streets of Perry County to the strip in York, Dick was soon to make his mark around the local Central Pennsylvania dirt tracks.
He prepared cars and, most notably, built engines for some of the best in the business. His involvement and dedication to the sport he loved has been instrumental in the development of sprint car racing, as one knows it today.
He enjoyed a career spanning over 40 years with hundreds of victories. In 1995, he was inducted into the York County Racing Club Hall of Fame.
His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday from the Highland Presbyterian Church, Newport, with the Rev. Edward Baugh officiating. Interment will be in Bloomfield Cemetery, New Bloomfield.
Friends and family may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and 10-11 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gift of Life Donor Program, in memory of Richard Hench, 2000 Hamilton St., Suite 201, Philadelphia, PA 19130.
Arrangements are being handled by Myers Funeral Home, Newport.
Clifford Donelson
LEWISTOWN — Clifford Donelson, 48, of 595 Hawstone Rd., Lewistown, died at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, June 6, 2004, at his residence.
Born Oct. 16, 1955, in Roaring Springs, he was a son of the late Kenneth and Jenny (Pressler) Donelson. His wife, Jeannette (Pennebaker) Donelson, whom he married on Oct. 20, 1973, survives.
Also surviving are: two children, Kenneth Donelson, Burnsville, MN, and Stephanie Wolfgang, Lewistown; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother.
He was employed as a forklift operator at Empire Kosher for 23 years and was a Methodist by faith.
He was a member of Brooklyn and Rebersburg fire companies.
His funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hoenstine Funeral Home Inc., 75 Logan St., Lewistown, with the Rev. Richard Bender officiating. Interment will be in St. Mark’s Cemetery.
Friends and family may call 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to: Hospice: The Bridge, c/o 400 Highland Ave., Second Floor, Lewistown, PA 17044.
Robert ‘Bob’ E. Gearhart
HOUSTON, TX — Robert “Bob” E. Gearhart, 50, of Houston, TX, died May 28, 2004, after a sudden illness.
Born Feb. 13, 1954, in Lewistown, he was a son of the late Donald E. and Geraldine U. Gearhart.
He is survived by his sister, Donna L. Goss, and a nephew, Michael A. Goss, both of Harrisburg.
He grew up in Reedsville and was a 1972 graduate of Kishacoquillas High School.
He was a member and organist for the First Baptist Church in Lewistown.
He was a resident of Houston for 25 years. He was an artist and co-owner of Greystone Artisans, a custom decorative painting company.
A celebration of Bob’s life and accomplishments was held June 3 at the home he shared with his life partner, Jay Dorman, in Houston, TX.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bob’s name can be made to: Houston Humane Society, P.O. Box 450528, Houston, TX 77245-0528.
Hazel E. Pry
THOMPSONTOWN — Hazel E. Pry, 90, of R.R. #2 Thompsontown, died at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, June 5, 2004, at Brookline Manor, R.R. #1, Mifflintown.
Born March 23, 1914, in Centre, Juniata County, she was the daughter of the late Charles L. and Ella Mae (Sheerer) Wirt. Her husband, Lester L. Pry, preceded her in death on March 12, 1971.
Surviving are: two daughters and a son, Mrs. Donald (Lorraine) Valentine, Allons, TN, Mrs. Roland (Caroline) Makibbin, Carlisle, and Rodney L. Pry and wife, Sally, HC 63 Box 87, Mifflintown; two brothers , L. Cline Wirt, R.R. #2 Thompsontown, and J. Howard “Tex” Wirt, Thompsontown; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and three step-great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Ira L. Wirt.
She retired in 1978 as a seamstress from the New Bloomfield Dress Factory, Newport.
She was a member of the Locust Run United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was also a member of the I.L.G.W.U. Local No. 108 and was a member of the Pennsylvania Voters Hall of Fame.
Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Locust Run United Methodist Church, Locust Run, with the Rev. Maureen A. Wagner officiating. Interment will be in Locust Run Cemetery, Walker Township, Juniata County.
Friends and family may call 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Rex Funeral Home, Port Royal.
Memorial contributions can be made to: Locust Run United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 157, Thompsontown, PA 17094.
Gladys M. Karschner
LEWISTOWN — Gladys M. Karschner, 82, of 29 Feeder Ave., Lewistown, died at 10 p.m. Saturday, June 5, 2004, at her residence.
Born July 12, 1921, in Lewistown, she was a daughter of the late Jesse Banks and Violet (Bollinger) Weaver. Her husband, Russell R. Karschner Sr., preceded her in death on June 5, 2003.
Surviving are: four children, Catherine Ponish, Huntingdon, Freida Mathias, Lewistown, Mrs. William (Shirley) Page, Burnham, and Rebecca Hostetler, Lewistown; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was the last of her immediate family, having been preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters and a son, Russell R. Karschner Jr., in 1969.
She was a homemaker, and, earlier in life, she worked at the American Viscose Corp. and Philip Rothanberg Shirt Factory, McAlisterville.
She was also a member of the Paintersville Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.
Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Paintersville Christian and Missionary Alliance Church with the Rev. George Mark officiating. Interment will be in Lind Memorial Cemetery.
Friends and family may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Heller-Hoenstine Woodlawn Funeral Home, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown.
Memorials may be made to: Paintersville Christian and Missionary Alliance, 3195 Back Maitland Rd., Lewistown, PA 17044.
Charles W. ‘Mike’ Erb
LEWISTOWN — Charles W. “Mike” Erb, 82, of 1159 Dormantown Road, McClure, died at 1:12 p.m., Monday, June 7, 2004 at Lewistown Hospital.
Born December 4, 1921 in Decatur Township, he was a son of the late Jacob H. and Agnes (Wager) Erb.
On October 26, 1943, he married Mary (Krick) Erb, who survives.
Also surviving are one son, Kenneth W. Erb of RD McClure; brothers Gerald Erb of McClure, Archie Erb of Belleville and Phillip Erb of Lewistown, and a sister, Mrs. Jay (Hazel) Shawver of Lewistown; five grandchildren, James Wolfley, David Wolfley, Douglas Erb, Michael Erb and Kelly Erb Hostetler; and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother and a daughter, Ellen Wolfley in 1972.
Mr. Erb was an inspector for Machine Shop I, at Standard Steel, Burnham, for 42 years, retiring in 1982.
A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served in the European Theatre with the 63rd Infantry Division.
He was Methodist by faith and a member of the McClure American Legion Post 942.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Hoenstine Funeral Home, Inc., 75 Logan Street, Lewistown with Pastor D. Gregory Lake officiating. Interment will be private at Lawvers Cemetery, McClure.
Friends may call from 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening until the time of service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to American Cancer Society, 26 North Brown Street, Lewistown, PA 17044.
Robert E. Klippert
JOHNSTOWN — Robert E. Klippert of 1721 Washington Street, Huntingdon, Pa., died Monday, June 7, 2004, at 7:48 a.m., at Select Specialty Hospital in Johnstown, Pa., where he had been a patient for the past two and a half months.
Born March 20, 1927 at 1120 Mifflin Street, Huntingdon, he was the only child of the late Philip E. and Lettie I. Klippert. Educated in the Huntingdon schools, he was a member of the Huntingdon High School class of 1945.
A veteran of World War II, Mr. Klippert served in the U.S. Navy, enlisting in 1944 and serving until his discharge in April of 1949. On April 12, 1949, he was united in marriage to the former Miriam Summers of Petersburg, Pa., celebrating 55 years of marriage this year. Mrs. Klippert survives at their home. Mr. Klippert is also survived by his son, Philip M. Klippert, of RD1 Huntingdon. In addition to his wife and son, he is also survived by two aunts, Glenn (Louise) Varner, of Huntingdon, and Mrs. Glen (Hazel) Klippert of Mattawanna.
Mr. Klippert was employed as an officer with the Huntingdon Borough Police Department and the Department of Corrections at SCI-Rockview, Bellefonte, Pa. From 1967 until his retirement in 1989, Mr. Klippert was employed by Juniata College, Huntingdon, in the Campus Security division. Following his retirement he was employed part-time in the security field.
Mr. Klippert was a member of St. James Lutheran Church, Huntingdon.
Mr. Klippert was a member of the Standing Stone Post 1754 VFW, the Frank P. Hommon Post 24 - American Legion, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Unter Uns Society in Altoona.
A self-taught musician, Mr. Klippert enjoyed listening to a wide range of music and played a variety of instruments. He had a keen interest in the history of both the Civil War and WWII. He will always be loved and remembered for his realistic approach to life and a sense of humor that knew few boundaries.
Funeral services for Mr. Klippert will be held on Monday, June 14, 2004 at 11:30 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 212 Penn Street, Huntingdon, with the Rev. Dr. Father Tom Warne and the Rev. Leslie Reimer officiating. Interment will be made at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Petersburg.
Friends may call at the church on Monday from 10:30 a.m. until the hour of services.
In lieu of flowers, it was Mr. Klippert’s request that memorial contributions be made in his name to St. John’s Episcopal Church, Huntingond, Zion Lutheran Church, Petersburg, or St. James Lutheran Church, Huntingdon.
Charles H. Creamer
Charles H. Creamer, 76, died at home after a lengthy illness.
He was the son of the late Joseph R. and Latora (Markel) Creamer.
He was a retired Army Lt. Colonel of the Chemical Corps (Chemical, Radiological, Biological Warfare) and also a paratrooper.
Surviving is his wife of 53 years, Mrs. Margaret (Clark) Creamer; two daughters , Michelle L. Spigelmyer of Lewistown and Madonna L. Childress of Hedgesville, WV.; four grandchildren, Lindsey Garcia of Texas , Brandon Spigelmyer of Lewistown, Courtney Spigelmyer of Lewistown and Alicia Childress of Texas .
He was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Robert Creamer.
He was a 1945 Graduate of Lewistown High School and received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland, Heidelberg, Germany and a Master’s Degree from Penn State University.
He was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lewistown.
Services will be private and at the convenience of the family. There will be no public viewing. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at the family’s discretion.
The Heller-Hoenstine Woodlawn Funeral Home, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions can be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2209 Forest Hills Dr., Harrisburg, PA 17112 and the American Diabetes Association, 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 202, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Pauline W. Trego
Pauline W. Trego, 86, a resident of Beverly Healthcare—William Penn and formerly of 618 Harvard St., Lewistown, died at 10:20 p.m., Monday, July 12, 2004, at the nursing home.
Born March 25, 1918, in Paintersville, she was a daughter of the late Hurley R. and Bessie (Houser) Wagner. Her spouse, Trevor T. Trego, died April 12, 1990.
Surviving is a sister, Melda Leister of Lewistown.
She was preceded in death by six brothers and four sisters .
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Alfarata.
A member of the Decatur Fire Co. Auxiliary, she enjoyed flowers, gardening, animals and feeding the birds.
Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Home, Inc., 108 First Ave., Burnham, with the Rev. David Pennebaker officiating. Interment will follow at Juniata Memorial Park.
There will be no public viewing.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 573 Alfarata Rd., Lewistown, PA 17044.
