Obituaries

Thomas H. Beegle, 79, of Wilson Borough, PA died Monday, January 20, 2020 at Easton Hospital. Born July 26, 1940 in Easton, he was a son of the late Harry and Ruth “Dolly” (Strauss) Beegle, and his ‘second’ mother Ada (Williams) Beegle who raised him after his mother passed in 1941. A 1959 graduate of Wilson High School, he had been employed by Bethlehem Steel for more than 30 years before retiring in 1996.

Tom served on the Board of Directors of the Liberty Hose Fire Co for many years. Tom was also a life member of the Wilson Democratic Club where he enjoyed playing shuffleboard with his friends every weekend. He was a life member of the Avona Vol. Fire Co., as well as numerous social clubs from PA to FL.

He is survived by 4 daughters: Tammy Curcio (Anthony) of Bethlehem, Traci Brunner (Anton) of Plainfield Twp., Trisha Beegle of Easton, Tanya Hannan (Thomas) of Easton; his former wife: Sharon Mannix; brothers: William and Richard Beegle (Mary); sisters: Ann Flank (the late Jerry), Linda Wettlaufer (Thomas), Mariclare Groller (George); 6 grandchildren: Dana, Nicholas, Kasilee, Shawn T.(Larissa), Anthony, Beca; and 3 great-grandchildren: Corey, Lilian, and Shawn J; and many loved nieces and nephews.

Tom was the president of the Easton Area Men’s Pool League; he loved his Yankees, watching Judge Judy and John Wayne movies. He also loved spending time with his 4T’s, his son-in-laws, and his grandkids.

A calling period will be held from 5 to 8 PM Friday (Jan. 24) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Thomas Fredric Goldsmith, 80, of Palmer Twp., PA, died Saturday, January 11, 2020 at his home. Born August 28, 1939 in Easton he was a son of the late Mary Louise (Miles) and John Francis Goldsmith. His wife, JoAnn (Doria) Goldsmith died in 2017. He graduated from Blair Academy in 1957 and Lafayette College in 1963 and served in the New Jersey National Guard. Tom was the Mayor of the City of Easton for three terms from 1992 until 2003. He then served on the PA Liquor Control Board from 2003 until 2011. Prior to that he was a banker in the Trust Dept. of First Valley Bank and a stockbroker for W.E. Hutton. The Mayor also served as a Consultant for the Easton Area Sewer Authority and for local municipalities. He served on Easton City Council from 1968 to 1988 and was a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the Pomfret Club, the Northampton Country Club and the Young Republican Club of Easton. Tom enjoyed golfing, watching the Philadelphia Eagles and college basketball.

He is survived by his son: James Timothy Goldsmith and his wife Heidi of Collegeville, PA; a brother: Timothy Stephen Goldsmith of Palmer Twp., PA; three grandchildren: Anthony, Steven and Timothy; nieces and nephews. A sister Constance Eleanor Addington predeceased him.

Services are 10:30 AM Friday (Jan. 17) at College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead Street, Easton with visitation 5 to 7:30 PM Thursday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Church or to the Children’s Home of Easton. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Anna Smestad, 89 of Forks Twp., PA died Saturday, January 11, 2020 at ManorCare Old Orchard. Born June 6, 1930 in Long Branch, NJ and raised in Norway, she was a daughter of the late Herman and Kristine Marie (Markussen) Thoresen. Anna returned to the United States after WWII and met her husband of 69 years, Hans Smestad, in Brooklyn, NY. They moved to Manalapan, NJ in 1963 where they raised their six children until moving to Forks Twp. in 1987. She was a member of Arndts Lutheran Church and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. Anna took great pride in her home and her garden and her greatest joy was caring for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Hans; her children: Linda Ann Smestad (husband Eivind) of Tovdal, Norway, John H. Smestad (wife Kim) of Kissimmee, FL, Judy Smestad-Nunn (husband Richard) of Brick, NJ and Jupiter, FL, Astri Myhre (husband Sigbjorn) of Cranford, NJ, Kristian Smestad (wife Jerelyn) of Westerly, RI; sister: Sylvia Larsen of Arendal, Norway; 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son Erik Smestad in 2017 and a sister Thelma Bjornsti.

A Memorial Celebration of her Life will be held 12:30 PM Saturday, Jan. 18 in Arndts Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Forks Twp. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Arndts Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Easton, PA 18040. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Dr. John D. Werley, 92, formerly of Palmer Township, died Friday, January 10, 2020 in Moravian Hall Square, Nazareth.

Born March 21, 1927 in Reading, he was a son of the late Dr. Walter W. Werley and Martha Washington (Hook) Werley. His wife, Annette E. (Eisenbrown) Werley died in 2010.

Dr. Werley was a radiologist at Easton Hospital from 1958 to 1987 where he was a co-founder of the x-ray technician training program and established the Nuclear Medicine Department. He was also a radiologist for Redi-Care Medical Centers from 1986 to 1998. He served in the Navy during WWII, graduated from Albright College in 1950 and Jefferson Medical College in 1954 where he was a member of Theta Kappa Psi and Kappa Beta Phi. He served his Internship at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Reading and his Residency in Radiology at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Reading and St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was Board Certified in Nuclear Medicine. He and his brother, Dr. Charles Werley, launched a fund to introduce the polio vaccine in the Lehigh Valley. He was a board member of Valley Federal and Sovereign banks, a 20+ year board member at Northampton Country Club where he was a member of the Board of Governors, the Greens Committee and was General Golf Chairman. He served on the Board of the Lehigh Valley American Cancer Society and American Lung Association and the Executive Committee of the Doctors Golf Association of Philadelphia. He was also a member of the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Northampton County Medical Society, American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, American College of Medical Imaging, Pennsylvania College of Nuclear Medicine, Pennsylvania Radiology Society, Past President of American Society of Radiologists and Pathologists and Charter Member of Society of Nuclear Medicine. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and of the Moravian Hall Square Choir.

Surviving are two daughters, Betsy Werley and her husband, Robert Plows and Wendy Barth and her husband, David; a son, Mark Werley and his wife, Pamela; four grandchildren, Michael Werley, Zachary Werley, Stephen Barth and his wife, Carmen Lujan Cano and Alex Barth and his wife, Kayleigh Galliher.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 in Moravian Hall Square, Kortz Hall, 175 W. North St., Nazareth. A visitation will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Memorial contributions may be made to Outer Banks Forever, https://obxforever.org, The Children’s Home of Easton, http://thechildrenshome.org, or Moravian Hall Square – Staff Advancement Fund, c/o Morningstar Senior Living, Inc., 175 W North St., Nazareth, PA, 18064.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Randall J. Fazekas, 52, of Easton, died Tuesday, January 7, 2020 in St. Luke’s Hospital.

Born April 21, 1967 in Easton, he was a son of Sandra (Haydu) Peters and the late Phillip J. Fazekas.

He worked for Merkin Body and Hoist, Easton and was a member of Citizen’s Hose, Avona Volunteer Fire Co. and Fleas Club.

Surviving with his mother, Sandra, are his children, Jennifer and Brandon, and his siblings, Stephanie, Stacy, Daniel and Michael.

Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Gift of Life Donor Program, www.donors1.org.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.