Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
LEWIS M. ZETTLEMOYER
Lewis M. Zettlemoyer, 82, of Hershey, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 28, 2004, at the M.S. Hershey Medical Center.
Born in White Deer, Union County, he was the son of the late Harvey and Mary Catherine Bitler Zettlemoyer.
He retired as a painter for the Hershey Foods Corporation. Lewis was a 1940 graduate of Milton Hershey School. He was an Army veteran having served in World War II. The loves of his life were his family, the Hershey Bears, his garden, his race horses, the Milton Hershey School, his many friends and his country. Lewis was preceded in death by his companion, Mary E. Hair Vogler, on August 25, 1991.
He is survived by one daughter, Susan A. McNulty and her companion Ed Kramer of Philadelphia; one son, Wayne M. Zettlemoyer and his wife Debbie Zettlemoyer of Oklahoma City, OK; one sister, Betty Snyder of Highspire; two brothers , Theodore Zettlemoyer of New Jersey, and Robert Zettlemoyer of New Mexico; and five grandchildren, Eddie McNulty and his wife Guin McNulty, Louie McNulty, and Duke McNulty and his girlfriend Kristin Nobel all of Philadelphia, and Heather Zettlemoyer of Oklahoma City, OK, and Trinity Biladoe and her husband Christopher Biladoe of Piedmont, OK.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 2, 2004, at 12:30 PM in the Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, with The Rev. Dr. Emlyn H. Jones officiating. Interment with military honors will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, East Hanover Township. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home Tuesday from 11:30 AM until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given in memory of Lewis Zettlemoyer to the Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036.
DOROTHY M. SHEARER
Dorothy M. Moses Shearer, 74, of Hershey, passed away Sunday, October 24, 2004, at the M.S. Hershey Medical Center.
Born in Dauphin, she is the daughter of the late Charles F. and Carrie L. Eslinger Moses.
She retired as a secretary for the Hershey Foods Corporation.
Dot was a 1949 graduate of Hummelstown High School. She was a member of the First Evangelical Congregational Church of Palmyra, and enjoyed camping.
Dot is survived by her husband of 53 years, Gerald P. Shearer, whom she married on November 4, 1950; a son, Douglas P. Shearer husband of Debra A. Starnowsky Shearer of Hummelstown; two grandchildren, Tasha L. Burkett wife of Robert W. Burkett, Jr. of Woodbridge, VA and Christopher A. Shearer of Hummelstown; two great grandchildren, Zacharyj W. P. Burkett and Xena E. N. A. Burkett, both of Woodbridge, VA; and a sister, Mildred Robinson wife of Dwight D. Robinson of Harrisburg.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 28, 2004, at 11 AM in the Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, with Pastor Jan Richard Fryer officiating. Interment will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Lower Paxton Township. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home Wednesday, October 27, from 7 to 9 PM and Thursday from 10 AM until the time of service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Institute c/o Warren Gittlen, 4311 Hillsdale Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112.
RICHARD L. SHIREMAN, JR.
Richard L. Shireman, Jr., 56, of Lower Swatara Township, passed away Tuesday, October 12, 2004, in the Harrisburg Hospital.
Born in Hershey on June 5, 1948, he was the son of the late Richard L. Shireman, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Alleman Shireman.
He was a self-employed Civil Engineer who worked out of the F.P.E. Engineers office in Dillsburg. He was a 1966 graduate of Middletown High School, and received his Bachelor’s degree from Penn State University. He was a U. S. Navy veteran. He was the current Lower Swatara Township Engineer; and was a former Township Commissioner.
Rick was a very active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Middletown. He was currently serving as the President of the church’s Congregation Council. He had been a member of the Congregation Council for 22 years serving 9 years as President and 6 years as Vice President. He was a member of the New Building Committee donating his services as the Civil Engineer on the project. He organized the church’s apple butter making project, and at one time had been active with the church’s youth group. He was a member of the Arthur King Sunday School Class. On Sundays, he served as an usher and communion usher, and prepared hot chocolate, coffee and other beverages and treats for the fellowship time between church services. During the summer, he served as a presenter for Sunday School.
Rick is survived by his wife of 27 years, Ruth A. Wilt Shireman whom he married on November 6, 1976; two sons , Matthew O. Shireman of Harrisburg, and David A. Shireman of Middletown; one brother, Stephen D. Shireman, Sr. and his wife, Marian T. Shireman of Middletown; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2004, at 10 AM in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Spring and Union Streets, Middletown, with The Rev. Dr. J. Richard Eckert, his pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, Lower Paxton Township. Friends are invited to call Friday, October 15, 2004, in the Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, from 7 to 9 PM and Saturday in the church from 9:30 AM until time of the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Spring and Union Streets, Middletown, PA 17057.
ROBERT D. ATKINSON
Robert D. Atkinson, 57, of Hummelstown, passed away Saturday, October 9, 2004, at his home.
Born in Carbondale on May 23, 1947, he was the son of the late Robert D. and Miriam Swindlehurst Atkinson. He has been employed by Tyco Inc. since 1982 where he has worked in the Global Marketing & Development Department. He was a Reading teacher for Lower Dauphin School District from 1969 to 1971; and was a Biology Teacher and the Assistant Boys Basketball Coach for the Middletown School District from 1971 to 1982. He was a 1965 graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School, Carbondale, where he was a star basketball player; a 1969 graduate of Lebanon Valley College; and received his master’s degree in Business Administration from Penn State University.
Bob was a PIAA Basketball Official for 25 years. He was a member of Derry Presbyterian Church, Hershey. He was a private pilot and member of the Airplane Owner’s Pilots Association. He was also a member of the Penn State Alumni Association. He was a former building contractor who enjoyed building houses, flower gardening and landscaping. Bob was best described as a “Renaissance Man”.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Barbara J. Macaw Atkinson whom he married on June 7, 1969; two sons , Chad R. Atkinson and his wife Tania Nolden Atkinson of Mountville, and Brian D. Atkinson and his wife Jamie Eifert Atkinson of Hummelstown; two brothers , Kenneth L. Atkinson and his wife Barbara Grella Atkinson of Olyphant, and David E. Atkinson and his wife Cheryl Rahlfs Atkinson of Pallo Alto, CA; one sister, Susan A. Lewis wife of Clifford L. Lewis of Hummelstown; and several nieces and nephews. Bob was looking forward to be a grandfather to a baby boy in December.
Celebration of Life services will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2004, at 7:30 PM in the Derry Presbyterian Church, 248 East Derry Road, Hershey, with The Rev. Dr. Richard L. Houtz and The Rev. Dr. Marie L. Buffaloe, his pastors, officiating. Friends are invited to call at the church Wednesday from 4:30 PM until time of the services.
Interment will be on Thursday, October 14, 2004, at 11 AM in the Hershey Cemetery.
Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, is handling the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lebanon Valley College, 101 College Avenue, Annville, PA 17003; or to the Derry Presbyterian Church, 248 East Derry Road, Hershey, PA 17033.
CATHERINE A. HUGHES
Catherine A. Hughes, 77, of Chambers Hill, passed away Thursday, October 8, 2004, in the Community General Osteopathic Hospital, Lower Paxton Township. Born in Wilkes Barre on August 13, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Chauncey and Henrietta Thomas Wolfe.
She retired from the K-Mart Corporation where she had been the office manager for the Hummelstown and Harrisburg stores. She was an avid bowler and enjoyed painting.
Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Hughes, on October 27, 1999.
She was survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 11, 2004, at 11 AM in the Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, with The Rev. Alan C. Wenrich officiating. Interment will be in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Lower Paxton Township. Friends are invited to call Monday at the funeral home from 10 AM until time of the services.
Those desiring may send memorial contributions to the Pinnacle Health Foundation, P O Box 8700, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8700.
DOROTHY A. DOVE
Dorothy A. Stone Dove, 69, of Hershey, and formerly of Hummelstown, passed away Wednesday, September 29, at her residence.
Born in Edgewood, MD, on April 22, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Charles W. and Hazel G. Ruppert Stone.
She had been employed at Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers in Hummelstown for over 4 years, and had served for 17 years as the custodian for The Grace United Methodist Church, Hummelstown. She was a 1953 graduate of Hershey High School. She was a member of The Grace United Methodist Church and its Church Choir and Willing Workers Sunday School Class, and was a former 4th and 5th grade Sunday School teacher. She enjoyed gardening.
Dorothy is survived by her husband of 50 years, Bruce E. Dove, whom she married on April 4, 1954; three sons , Ronald E. Dove husband of Linda Boyer Dove of Fredericksburg, Ricky L. Dove husband of Connie Wenrich Dove of Lebanon, and Duane A. Dove of Hershey; two daughters , Joan L. wife of Scott P. Plank of Harrisburg, and Betsy A. Dove of Harrisburg; two sisters , Hazel E. wife of Kenneth R. Raynes of Ickesburg, and Mary E. Stone of Kent, WA; and 7 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 4, 2004, at 11 AM in The Grace United Methodist Church, 433 East Main Street, Hummelstown, with The Rev. John A. Schaefer, her pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, Lower Paxton Township. Friends are invited to call Monday in the church from 10 AM until time of the services.
Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, is handling the services.
Those desiring may send memorial contributions to The Grace United Methodist Church, 433 East Main Street, Hummelstown, PA 17036.
HESTER MARY MUSSER
Hester Mary Musser, 91 of the Lebanon Valley Home, Annville, formerly of 930 West Areba Avenue and 1257 East Caracus Avenue, Hershey, went home to be with the Lord, Wednesday, September 29 at the home.
She was born in Hershey on April 7, 1913, to Clayton O. and Sarah A. Boggs Gish.
She was a 1932 graduate of Hershey High School and retired in 1971 from the Hershey Chocolate Corporation.
Hester enjoyed traveling and collecting plates commemorating the places she visited. She often traveled with the Sojourners Club. She was a member of the Hershey Senior Center, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Shellsville VFW, and she has been a volunteer at the Hershey Medical Center. She was a member of the Church of the Redeemer United Church of Christ, Hershey.
Hester was preceded in death by her husband, William Elmer Musser, her daughter, Mary Ann Hess, and brothers , George, John, and Fred Gish.
She is survived by two sons , John Robert of Brownstown, husband of Nancy J. Musser, and Stanley of Hershey, husband of Susan Swartz Musser. In addition, she is survived by six grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are being handled by Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc. Hummelstown.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 2, 2004, at 11 AM in Church of the Redeemer United Church of Christ, 500 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, with The Rev. Betsy E. Bruaw, her pastor, officiating. Interment will be in the Hummelstown Cemetery. Friends are invited to call Saturday in the church from 10 AM until time of the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lebanon Valley Home, 550 East Main Street, Annville, PA 17003 or to the Church of the Redeemer UCC, 500 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033.
HETTIE R. NESTER
Hettie Root Nester, 85, of Hershey, and formerly of Union Deposit and Midwest City, OK, passed away Tuesday, September 28, in the Masonic Village, Elizabethtown.
Born in Mt. Crawford, VA, on July 4, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Charles W. and Halcie L. Showalter Root. She retired as a cafeteria worker for HERCO, and had formerly worked at the Hershey Chocolate Company. She was a member of the Union Deposit United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Union Deposit School House Reunion Committee; South Hanover Historical Society; and the Union Deposit Lunch Bunch.
Hettie was preceded in death by her husband, Charles W. Nester, Jr., on October 19, 1981.
She is survived by three daughters , Virginia A. wife of Kenneth G. Walborn of Elizabethtown, Barbara L. wife of George L. Bishop of Des Moines, IA, and Helen F. wife of Paul E. Finney of Palmyra; one son, Charles “Chuck” A. McKee of Harrisburg; one sister, Carol B. wife of Mark Henry of Palmyra; 6 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; and 3 great great grandchildren. In addition to these she had canine and feline grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Charles L. Bishop.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 1, 2004, at 11 AM in the Union Deposit United Methodist Church, 34 West Main Street, Hershey, with The Rev. Thomas R. Searfoss officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, Lower Paxton Township. Friends are invited to call in the church Friday from 10 AM until time of the services.
Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, is handling the services.
Those desiring may send memorial contributions to the Union Deposit United Methodist Church, 34 West Main Street, Hershey, PA 17033.
DELCENIA H. BROWN FARKAS
Delcenia H. Brown Farkas, 94, of Shepherd’s Choice Nursing Home of Gettysburg, and formerly of Hershey, Van Wert, OH, Dundalk, MD, and Detroit, MI, passed away Tuesday, September 21, 2004, in the home.
Born in Van Wert, OH, on June 13, 1910, she was the daughter of the late John William Brown and Princess Lena Hoghe Neel.
During World War II, Delcenia was employed in the glass factory of the Ford Motor Company, Detroit, MI. After moving to Maryland, she was an Executive Housekeeper for John Hopkins Medical Center, Baltimore, MD; and in her later years was a companion to people who were ill.
Delcenia was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hummelstown. She was a 50 year member of Order of the Eastern Star, Van Wert, OH; a member of the Women of the Moose Lodge 410, Middletown; the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 265, Hummelstown; and was a former member of the Hershey Italian Lodge.
She is survived by one daughter, Barbara B. wife of Warren O. Erhard of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; one son, G. David Thompson of Hershey. She had 8 grandchildren, 3 of which preceded her in death; and 10 great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and grandchildren, she was preceded in death by a son, Gerald William “Bill” Thompson.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Inurnment will be in the Fishburn Cemetery, Derry Township.
Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown, is handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the American Heart Association, Capital Region, 1517 Cedar Cliff Drive, Camp Hill, PA 17011-7705; or to the American Cancer Society, Capital Region Unit, 3211 North Front Street, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
MINERVA M. VRANICAR
Minerva M. “Fluffy” Kosutic Vranicar, 77, of Camp Hill, and formerly of Chambers Hill, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 17, 2004, in the Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill.
Born in Steelton on February 12, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Samuel and Catherine Salinger Kosutic.
She was a real estate developer and co-owner of the former M & V Construction Company which built numerous housing developments on the East and West shores. She was a 1945 graduate of the former Swatara Township High School. She was a former Republican Committee Woman in Swatara Township who worked very hard on fund raising efforts for the party.
Minerva was a member of Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church, Camp Hill, and a former member of St. Catherine Laboure Church, Swatara Township, and the former St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Steelton. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Builders Association, and the Greater Harrisburg Home Builders Association. She was an avid reader, enjoyed watching classic movies and gardening. Most important, she will be remembered by her family as a devoted mother and grandmother.
Minerva was preceded in death by her husband, Martin T. Vranicar, Sr., on April 5, 2000.
She is survived by two sons , Martin T. Vranicar, Jr. of West Palm Beach, FL, and Peter F. Vranicar of Swatara Township; three daughters , Kathy R. Wentzel wife of Paul Wentzel and Darlene A. Vranicar both of Camp Hill, and Lisa M. Vranicar-Patton wife of Reed Patton of Mechanicsburg; one brother Peter F. Kosutic husband of Audrey Wee Kosutic of Arlington, VA; one sister, Dorothy Krasevic wife of Frank Krasevic of Great Falls, VA; and five grandchildren, Sam Vranicar, Sally Wentzel, Zach Sturman, Lex Farkas, and Maci Vranicar.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 23, 2004, at 10 AM in Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church, 3435 Trindle Road, Camp Hill, with The Rev. Fr. Paul C. Helwig, as celebrant. Interment will be in Churchville Cemetery, Oberlin. Friends are invited to call Wednesday, September 22 from 7 to 9 PM in the Trefz & Bowser Funeral Home, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Hummelstown.
Those desiring may send memorial contributions to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN), 2221 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 131, El Segundo, CA 90245, or to the Holy Spirit Hospital, c/o Fourth Floor Oncology Wing, 503 North 21st Street, Camp Hill, PA 17011; or to the American Cancer Society, Capital Region Unit, 3211 North Front Street, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
