Obituaries

Barbara M. Wilhelm, 93 of Palmer Twp., PA died Friday, October 17, 2025 at home. Born April 23, 1932 in Easton, PA she was the daughter of the late John and Laura (Saylor) Wilhelm. She was a 1950 graduate of Easton High School and a graduate of the Easton Hospital School of Nursing. Barbara received her bachelor’s degree from Cedar Crest College and her master’s in education from Temple University.  She was a Registered Nurse and instructor in the Lehigh Valley for 50 years. Barbara was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Easton; served on the Board of the SPCA; and was an avid animal lover.

Graveside services will be held 10 AM Friday, October 24 at the Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3051 Green Pond Road, Easton, PA.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 11165 Island Park Rd., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Don S. Follett, 96, a loving man, passed away peacefully in his home at Kirkland Village in Bethlehem on October 13, 2025. He was surrounded by his three children and their spouses. He lived his life as a person grounded in his faith with a strong family focus, community orientation and entrepreneurial spirit.

Don was born in Kansas City, Missouri on April 5, 1929, to Roy and Viola (Sparks) Follett. After moving frequently during his formative years, he finished high school in Iowa City, Iowa while his parents were in Washington DC during WWII. After graduation from high school, Don enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1946 and was stationed on the USS Iowa in Hawaii for most of his 18-month tour of duty. Don benefitted from the GI Bill to fund his college education at Cornell University where he graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1952. He also played on the varsity football team. Most importantly, Cornell is where he met his wife, Mabel “Mibs” (Martin), a Home Economics major at Cornell. They were married 69 years until Mibs passed away in October of 2021. She was his “rock”, true love, and best friend.

Don started his professional career in 1952 with Reliance Electric in Cleveland Ohio and then Rockford, IL. After the sudden passing of his father, Roy in October of 1954, Don took a leave from Reliance and went to Long Island to close his father’s business, The Roy Follett Corporation. It was then that he decided to move to Long Island and become the third employee of the company. So began his entrepreneurial career with Follett Corporation, moving it to the Lehigh Valley in 1958 to start manufacturing operations. His professional life was completely focused on growing the business into an enduring enterprise, putting his heart and soul into this venture until his retirement in early 1994. He was involved in leadership positions in numerous industry associations including president of North American Foodservice Equipment Manufacturers in 1984.

Don was involved in corporate and community boards, including Lafayette Trust Bank, Easton Hospital and ProJeCt of Easton where he served as president for a term. He also served in active leadership positions in First Presbyterian Church of Easton. Most importantly, he was a devoted father to his three children, Jim, Steve and Sue, and husband and family partner to the “CEO of the family,” his wife Mibs. Flying became his passion, and he loved flying his Piper Seminole regularly, including a trip across the country with Mibs. He volunteered as a pilot for Angel Flights, transporting sick children to medical facilities all over the East Coast! Don loved cartooning and painting and also wrote a series of “life lessons” called “Boppo Thoughts” that he sent to his 7 grandchildren as they were growing up.

Don and Mibs enjoyed an active retirement life consisting of family, friends and travel. They always placed a high value on giving back through community involvement and charitable activities. Don embraced a philosophy of “helping people to learn to help themselves” and this philosophy helped him prioritize his time, talents and treasures with many different people and organizations.

He was actively involved in Cornell Alumni activities including involvement on the University Council and on the Cornell Engineering Alumni Association board. He also served as alumni class president for one of his college reunions. Don and Mibs were most proud of their gift to endow a professorship at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island. After Mibs’ passing, and in her honor, he endowed a chair (Mibs Martin Follett Professor) in the department of Psychology in Cornell’s School of Human Ecology.

Don is survived by his three children – Jim Follett (wife Nancy), Steve Follett (wife Jeanne) and Sue Panella (husband Mark) along with seven grandchildren – Kristina Murphy (Patrick), Eric Follett (Ally), Allyson Follett (Chris Burns), Melissa Follett, Andrew Panella (Jenny Wald), Jeff Panella (Kristina) and Leslie Panella (Hayden Peirce) along with six great grandchildren-Henrik and Maia Murphy, Ivy and Gus Guglielmo, Brooke Panella and James Follett.

A calling period will be held November 29, 2025 from 3 to 5 PM in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA. His Memorial Service will be held November 30, 2025 at 2 PM in Grace Church, 4301 Hecktown Road, Bethlehem. Interment will be private.  Contributions in his memory may be made to ProJeCt of Easton, 320 Ferry St., Easton, PA 18042 or at www.projecteaston.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Giuse Pham Van Dan, 62, of Philadelphia, died Saturday, October 11, 2025 in his home. Born March 28, 1963 in Vietnam, he was the son of Pham Dich and Pham T. Tuyet.

He is survived by his wife, Kim; three brothers, Pham V. Ca, Pham T. Dang, and Pham Peter; and two sisters, Pham T. Thanh Van and Pham T. Thanh Thuy.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 18, 2025 in St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 900 Washington St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, October 17, 2025 with a prayer service at 6:00 pm in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment will be in Hay’s Cemetery. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

“No Soldier Left Behind”

Richard T. Cross

A.K.A. “Tricky”

At 17:15 (5:15 pm) on October 1, 2025 while a resident of Easton Skilled Nursing Facility, in Easton, PA, Dick was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was two days shy of being 80 years old when he was called home to be with the Lord. He is finally at peace with God and reunited at Fiddler’s Green with those whom he served with and who preceded him. 

Dick was born on October 3rd, 1945, in Fort Devens, Massachusetts, to Paul and Marjory Liggett Cross. His childhood was characterized by change and turbulence. Much of his young life was guided by his mom, whose priority was to put food on the table; because of this, Dick was accepted at the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA. He remained in this boarding school through high school, and upon graduation, he attended College.  While in College, Dick showed that he had a highly developed moral compass, a very sharp mind, and excellent communication skills that were all controlled by his very disciplined work ethic and a knack for leadership. But above all, Dick could be mischievous and was most comfortable just having fun. So, before he completed College, he was drafted into the US Army and was trained as an Infantryman, and upon completion of his initial training, he was assigned to Armor Officer Candidate School and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of armor. 

From there, he immediately went to flight school and was certified as a pilot of a UH-1 Huey Helicopter. Dick found his calling! All he wanted to do for the rest of his working life was fly a Huey. Like so many others of the time, Dick ended up in Vietnam. During his first tour of duty, Dick flew medevac. He was the guy who came in, no matter how much gunfire there was, because he had to get the wounded to a hospital. During his second tour in Viet Nam, he did the second most dangerous job a pilot could have – piloting a reconnaissance helicopter in the Army’s Air Cavalry. He was a “Scout Pilot.” During this tour of duty while flying a “Little Bird”,OH-6, on an operational mission, Dick, was in the face of intense enemy fire, earning by his actions the nation’s third-highest award for valor in combat. Dick was awarded the Silver Star. Along with the Silver Star, he was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star. 

During his career in the Army, he married Ann Reddy in Fort Rucker, Alabama, on August 1st, 1970, and they had three children, Chad, Sasha, and Sean. They were assigned to numerous duty stations in the continental USA, Alaska, and a tour of duty in Europe. After Dick retired from the Army in 1991, he went back to school to finish his Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, which he earned in 1993 and his Masters degree of Science from the Central Texas College in 1996.  In 1999 Dick relocated back to Pennsylvania and worked at an art gallery to help Ann with framing her artwork. In 2002 Dick bought the art gallery, not in hopes of making a profit, but in hopes of bringing his children back together to work in the family business. He had a heart for family; the “No Soldier Left Behind” wasn’t just a mentality for Dick, it was his heart.   Dick loved photography, camping, gardening, art, going fishing, watching the Dallas Cowboys, and the Phillies, whenever they played. He also loved going to see the Iron Pigs with his oldest son and daughter at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. Dick was an inspiration to his wife Ann with her artwork and helped her frame her pictures for art shows in Texas. He had many different interests, but teaching became a passion of his. 

Dick is preceded in death by his father, Paul, and his mother, Marjory. He is survived by his wife, Ann, his sister Midge McClary, his brother Glenn Cross, and his three children, Chad and his wife Robin, Sasha and her fiancé Mike, and Sean Cross. Dick also has three grandchildren: Bobby White, Tristan Zawick, and Seth Cross. As well as three great grandchildren Jordyn, Jocelyn, and Justus.   A Celebration of Life Service is planned for 1 PM, Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with a calling period from 12:30 to 1 PM.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com. Thank you and God Bless.

Kenneth John Lafata 52, of Nazareth, PA died Sunday, September 28, 2025 at home. Born September 24, 1973 in Staten Island, NY he was a son of Diane (Williams) Lafata of New Port Richey, FL and the late James V. Lafata.

A true creative spirit, Ken was always tinkering — searching for his next hidden treasure and crafting it into something uniquely his. With an eye for the eccentric and a love of making things with his hands, there wasn’t much he couldn’t turn into a “Ken original” with a little shellac and imagination. He leaves behind many creations along with his two greatest achievements in life, Nicholas and Jayden.

Though his ways were often unconventional, Ken loved deeply and fiercely. His intentions were always rooted in care, and his passion for fun in life was impossible to ignore. He lived life on his own terms — unapologetically, stubbornly, and wholeheartedly.

He is survived by his mother: Diane; sons: Nicholas Lafata and his wife Lauren of Northampton, PA and Jayden Lafata; his brother: James Lafata of New Port Richey, FL; loving girlfriend: Patty Derau and her grandchildren whom he adored. Services will be held at the convenience of the family. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton, PA is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Joan Marilyn Bartish, 90 of Easton, PA died Thursday, September 25, 2025 at Abington Manor Memory Care, Williams Twp., PA. Born July 31, 1935 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Edward and Esther (Mohr) Harling. She was a graduate of Easton High School and had been employed by the ILGWU for many years, working at various locations including A & H Sportswear and Yankee Sportswear. She was a longtime member of First Moravian Church, Easton.

Joan is survived by her children: John M. Bartish (Sherri) of Easton, PA, Joan Souders (Russ) of Bethlehem Twp., PA; grandchildren: William Bartish, Derrek Whisenant (Jacquelyn), Janelle Whisenant; and great-grandson: Hakon. She was predeceased by her husband: William J. Bartish in 1989; and siblings: Robert Harling, Eleanor Koose and Dorothy Kepner.

Services are 10:30 AM Tuesday (Sept. 30, 2025) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with visitation 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Nancy Berry, 82, of Forks Township, PA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg. Born on July 8, 1943, in Jersey City, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Cecelia (Mulvoy) Berry. Nancy was a graduate of Notre Dame College, Staten Island, NY, and earned her master’s degree from Montclair University. Her career spanned more than 40 years, beginning as a learning consultant for two decades before joining Verizon Telecommunications, where she worked for 20 years until her retirement.

Nancy was a devoted member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, Palmer Township. She was active in the AAUW Easton Branch and the League of Women Voters, and in retirement, she gave generously of her time tutoring both children and adults. Above all, she cherished people—finding joy in good company, thoughtful conversation, and the simple gift of time shared with others.

She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Dennis Boyne; her daughter, Lisa Wilkes and husband James, of Maplewood, NJ; her brother, Bernard Berry and wife Marion of Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ; her sisters, Kathleen Jones and husband Jim of Oak Harbor, WA, and Marie McCarthy of Catonsville, MD; and two grandchildren, Katie and Jake. She was predeceased by her sister, Eileen Alfieri.

A calling period will be held 7 to 8:30 PM Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 at the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with a Memorial Mass at 10:30 AM Wednesday, Sept. 24 at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, 4049 Hartley Ave., Easton. Interment will be private in Easton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Catholic Charities of the Allentown Diocese at www.catholiccharitiesad.org. Online condolences may be offered at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.