Obituaries

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., 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, 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.

David Allen Ryerson, 67 of Wilson Borough, PA died Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Fountain Hill. Born March 3, 1952 in Phillipsburg, NJ he was a son of Mary Louise (Cardwell) Ryerson of Wilson Borough and the late Donald R. Ryerson, Sr. He was a graduate of Phillipsburg High School and a Navy veteran. David was employed by Riegel Paper Mill for many years before retiring. He and his wife, the former Beverly Ann Smith were married 39 years.

He is survived by his mother; his wife; sons: David Ryerson (Kati) of New Jersey, Michael Presto (Jill) of Coopersburg, PA; siblings: Donald Ryerson and Debra Pierzga of Wilson, Cindy Hammerstone and Douglas Ryerson (Tina) of Easton; 7 grandchildren: Jessie, Autumn, Colton, Caden, Hanna, Gavin and Jacob; and step-mother: Dortha Ryerson. A brother Michael Ryerson died earlier.

Services are 10:30 AM Tuesday (June25) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with visitation 6:30 PM to 8 PM Monday. Interment is in Easton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3893 Adler Place, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Edwin E. Minnich, Jr. 92 of Easton, PA left for his heavenly home while in hospice care at Renaissance Home in Forks Twp., PA on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. Born October 5, 1926 in Chapman, PA he was a son of the late Anna (Herbst) and Edwin Minnich, Sr. He was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church in Moorestown and attended the Chapman Quarries Methodist Church in Bath prior to meeting his wife of over 50 years, the former Louise Schurz who died in 2015. Edwin worked at a tannery in Chapman before taking a position with the slate quarry where he worked before being injured in an industrial accident. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Forks Twp.

He is survived by brothers: David, Francis and Raymond Minnich; sister: Emma Mann; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Louise and 7 siblings.

Services are 5 PM Saturday (June 15) in Faith Lutheran Church, 2012 Sullivan Trail, Easton, PA with visitation 4:30 to 5 PM Saturday and burial 10 AM Monday at Northampton Memorial Shrine. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to www.fightingblindness.org (rpinternational, P.O. Box 900, Woodland Hills, CA 91365). Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com