Ashton Funeral Home

Obituaries

Nancy L. Burwell

July 8, 2019

Nancy L. Burwell, 83, of Wilson Borough, died Monday, July 8, 2019 in ManorCare, Easton.

Born March 10, 1936 in Nazareth, she was a daughter of the late Morris and Ada (Eisenhard) Stimmel. Her husband, Donald R. Burwell, Sr., died in 2016.

Nancy and Don owned Burwell’s ESSO/Exxon at 15th and Northampton Sts., Wilson Borough for over 40 years. She later worked at Top Star Express, Forks Township.

Surviving are her daughters, Lori Hoag Dalrymple and Ann Connolly; her sister, Shirley Stimmel Molenda of Tacoma, Washington; 5 grandchildren, Rusty Dalrymple, Casey Dalrymple, Lauren Case, Daniel Warner, and Alexis Connolly; and 4 great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Nancy’s Life will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, July 18, 2019 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 10 – 10:30 am on Thursday in the funeral home. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Kenneth F. Mann

July 7, 2019

Kenneth F. Mann, 88 of Palmer Twp., PA died Sunday, July 7, 2019 at home. Born January 3, 1931 in Traverse City, Michigan he was a son of the late John and Mildred (Vandevender) Mann. He served in the Navy during the Korean War and was a graduate of Michigan Technological University. Ken was a Civil Engineer with Ingersoll-Rand for 10 years before retiring from his own business, IBS Construction, after more than 25 years.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, the former Patricia (Fisher) Mann; 2 children: Robert Mann and his wife Cheryl of Katy, TX, Ruth Ann Vogt of Easton, PA; a brother: Ronald in Michigan; sister: Diane in Tennessee; 3 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Elizabeth M. Stokes

July 5, 2019

Elizabeth M. Stokes

Elizabeth M. Stokes, 87 of Palmer Twp., PA died Friday, July 5, 2019 at home. Born April 23, 1932 in South Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late Edward and Elizabeth (Graver) Lesher. A 1950 graduate of Wilson High School, she had been employed by the Dixie Cup Co. and Koh-I-Noor Co., Bloomsburg, NJ before retiring. She was a member of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, Palmer, the Lehigh Valley Variety Band and the Southside Senior Center where she sang with the “Zingers”.

She is survived by her children: Marie Varney (husband Ray) and Betsy Lantzer of Salem, VA, William Stokes of Palmer Twp., Lisa Stokes (husband Eric Cohen) of NYC, NY; daughter-in-law: Karen Stokes of Houston, TX; brothers: Robert Lesher of Plainfield Twp., PA, John Lesher of Wilson Borough, PA, Dolores Wilson of Shickshinny, PA; 7 grandchildren: Elizabeth, Leah, Morgan, Sarah, Andrew, Daniel, Sierra; 7 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter. Her husband: Clarence Stokes, son: Robert Stokes, siblings: Raymond, Edwin and Fred Lesher, Margaret Kelly and Marion Rider all died earlier.

Services are 1:30 PM Tuesday (July 9) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice, 881 Marcon Blvd., Allentown, PA 18109 or Caring Connections, 3550 Freemansburg Ave., Bethlehem PA 18020. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Robert F. Hoffman, Jr.

June 29, 2019

Robert F. Hoffman, Jr.

Robert F. Hoffman, Jr., 70 of Forks Twp., PA died Saturday, June 29, 2019 at home. Born March 3, 1949 in Millburn, NJ he was a son of the late Beatrice (Pacio) and Robert Hoffman, Sr. He was a graduate of Millburn High School and Montclair State College. He was a Sergeant in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and had been employed by NEMF in Elizabeth, NJ as an information technology manager.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Patricia (Gerhold) Hoffman; 8 stepchildren, including: Heidi, Charles, Jamie and Jennifer; a brother: William Hoffman (wife Kathy); a sister: Laura Bournique (husband Danny); 6 grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Dr. Michael P. Gosnell, DVM

June 28, 2019

Dr. Michael P. Gosnell, DVM, 88, of Gaines, PA, formerly of Palmer Township, died Friday, June 28, 2019 in St. Luke’s Hospital. Born in Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Clyde A. and Ann M. Gosnell. His wife, Nannette G. Gosnell died in 1984.

He served in the Korean War in the Coast Guard and was a member of the VFW in Gaines. He was an equine veterinarian in Wind Gap for 15 years. Prior to that he was vice president of research and development at Follett for 28 years. He was also a co-owner of Bit-By-Bit Equestrian Center.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Drexel University, his master’s degree from Lehigh University and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ross University.

Surviving are his children, Paul Gosnell, Nannette Gosnell, Susan Hunt, and Angelo Joseph Gosnell; his siblings, Clare Byrnes, Ann Thomson, Clyde “Bud” Gosnell, Peter Gosnell, and James Gosnell; 2 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. His sons, Michael Gosnell and David Gosnell died earlier.

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

Memorial contributions may be made to Annie’s Angels Texas Rescue, www.anniesangelsrescue.org or Rescue Road Trips, www.rescueroadtrips.org.
Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

George E. Hill

June 27, 2019

George E. Hill, 94 of Easton, PA died Thursday, June 27, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospice House. Born March 28, 1925 in Englewood, NJ he was a son of the late Frank R. and Blanche (Peters) Hill. He was a graduate of Closter High School and the Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point. His professional career spanned 34 years. During his maritime service, he served in the South Pacific and Europe during WWII, retiring as chief engineer. Following his maritime career, he was employed by Ingersoll-Rand, Cameron Division from 1958 until 1970. He and his wife of 62 years, Hilda (Rojas) Hill, traveled extensively throughout the world and had been active members of First Presbyterian Church, Easton. George had many interests, including nature, working on the land and building or repairing almost anything.

He is survived by his wife, Hilda; daughters: Sandra Peare, Audrey Hill; and sister: Virginia Scrivani.

Services and burial will be held at the family plot in Virginia. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Hospice, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA 18015. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

William James Abel, Sr.

June 25, 2019

William James Abel, Sr., 59, of Easton, died June 25, 2019. He was the son of Lester Worman and the late Jennie Schlegel.

He was a member of Concordia Maennerchor, American Legion Post 611 and AmVets Post 17.

Surviving are his wife, June; father, Lester; children, William, Jr., Archie and Jason Abel, Laura and Elizabeth Scudder, Destiny Hineline, Sarah Miller, Ashley Abel and Jennifer Conover; siblings, George and Joseph Schlegel, Ruth Heffintrayer and Georgianna Snell; 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. His son, Lester and his brother, Edward died earlier.

Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

George R. Johnson

June 22, 2019

George R. Johnson, 77, of Bethlehem Township, died Saturday, June 22, 2019 in St. Luke’s Hospital.

Born October 10, 1941 in Chicago, IL, he was a son of the late Eddy V. and Catherine (Mauer) Johnson. He and his wife, Jeanne (Mundy) Johnson, were married 54 years.

George served in the Navy and retired from Ingersoll-Rand, Phillipsburg in 2002. Prior to that he worked at Mack Trucks, Macungie. He was a member of Safety First Fire Co., Liberty Hose, American Legion Lester Pfeffer Post, Wilson Boro Republican Club, Young Democratic Club, and Palmer Fire Company.

Surviving with his wife, Jeanne, are his children, George R. Johnson, Jr; Kristen M. Johnson and her companion, Stephen Witbro; and Lisa A. Johnson, all of Bethlehem Township; 3 siblings; 3 grandchildren, Brittaney, Katie and Andrew Davis; and a great grandson, Vincent John Davis.

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

Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.