Obituaries

Joyce A. Powell, 91, of Wilson Borough, died Monday, November 11, 2019 in St. Luke’s Hospice House.

Born October 11, 1928 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Albert J. Rymond, Sr. and Hilda (Werkheiser) Rymond. She and her husband, Douglas W. Powell, Jr. were married 60 years.

Joyce graduated from Easton High School in 1946 and worked at the Easton Public Library and the Southside Library. She loved playing Scrabble, doing jigsaw puzzles and playing cards. Her passion was being an artist. She was self-taught and enjoyed painting in oils, including landscapes, still lifes and florals. She enjoyed teaching oil painting classes and was a member of various art groups in the Lehigh Valley and Poconos. She won numerous awards and exhibited and sold her artwork at local art shows.

In addition to her husband, Douglas, she is survived by her daughter, Janice Wolfinger and her husband, Dale; her son, Brian Powell and his wife, Susan; and her grandchildren, Cassandra Powell and Jake Yarnall. Her brother, Albert J. Rymond, Jr. died earlier.

Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, November 15, 2019 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from noon until service time on Friday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 330 Ferry St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Charlotte S. Loccarini, 87 of Palmer Twp., PA died Friday, November 8, 2019 at Easton Hospital. Born November 15, 1931 in Bangor, PA she was a daughter of the late Florence (Gruber) and Clayton Mack. A graduate of Bangor High School she had worked for the former Laubach and Kresge Stores and was a member of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, Palmer.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years: Livio “Lee” Loccarini; 3 children: Terry Loccarini (wife Lori) of Alburtis, PA, Darin Loccarini in CO, Janel Gadomski of Palmer; a sister: Sharon Musler in FL; 2 grandchildren: Dylan and Marisa Loccarini; and a great granddaughter: Dani.

Graveside services will be held 1:30 PM Thursday (Nov. 14) in Greenwood Cemetery, 22 Atlas Road, Northampton, PA. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

David F. Drinkhouse, 90, of Easton, PA died Tuesday, October 29, 2019. Born August 20, 1929 in Easton, he was a son of the late W. Bruce and Etta (Lerch) Drinkhouse. After attending March School, he graduated from Easton High School in 1948 and from Lafayette College in 1952 with a degree in mining engineering. He was a proud member of Chi Phi Fraternity and a Lieutenant in the US Army during the Korean War. For 32 years he lived in Webster Groves, MO, where he was an elder in the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church, before returning to the Lehigh Valley in 1986. A registered professional engineer in 13 states, David was employed by Alpha Portland Cement working in Easton, Catskill, NY, Frederick, MD, and St. Louis, MO. He then worked for W.R. Bendy Cement Engineers. He was a co-founder of Metzler & Drinkhouse Consulting Engineers and then president of Drinkhouse Engineering Group. In retirement, he researched local mining, industrial and transportation history sharing his knowledge with local historians and organizations. He also published three books about Easton area trolley lines.

David is survived by his daughter: Anne Drinkhouse Dailey of Falls Church, VA; his son: Frank Drinkhouse (wife Rowena) of Belleville, IL; his long-time partner: Barbara Bailey Bauer; and his grandchildren: Matthew Dailey (fiancée Courtney), Rosanna Drinkhouse and Joshua David Drinkhouse. He was predeceased by his former wife: Dorothy Anne Carroll Drinkhouse and his brother: W. Bruce Drinkhouse, Jr. The family expresses their deep appreciation and gratitude to Tracy and the other angels on earth at St. Luke’s Hospice and to his kind neighbor, Louis, for excellent care and support.

Services are private with interment in Easton Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Easton Area Public Library or St. Luke’s Hospice. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Wendy A. Porter, 68, of Center Valley, died Sunday, October 27, 2019 in her home. Born May 26, 1951 in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Richard A. and Marie A. (Hecht) Chattin. She and her husband, J. Craig Porter were married 30 years.
Wendy worked for PPL for almost 40 years and retired in 2012. She attended Bangor Area High School, graduated from Northwestern Lehigh High School in 1969 and received her bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College. She was a member of the Ptarmigan Ski Club and the Blue Ridge Ski Club. She was also a member of the Teton Club, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and was a boarder at Horseman’s Hollow Equestrian Center. She enjoyed traveling, skiing, wind surfing, motorcycling, birdwatching, gardening and shooting sports.

Surviving with her husband, Craig, are her stepdaughter, Jessica Weaver; her siblings, Michael Chattin, Holly Bisbee, Daniel Chattin, Sheree Stuart and Scott Chattin; and her beloved horse, Baltic.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from 6 to 9:00 pm on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 and from 9 to 10:00 am on Wednesday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org.
Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Diane L. Smestad, (nee Mount), 58, of Forks Township, died at home on Friday, October 25, 2019. Born June 25, 1961 in Neptune, NJ, she was a daughter of Robert W. and Gloria (Bille) Mount of Monroe Township, NJ. Her husband, Erik Smestad died in 2017.

Diane was a teacher for The Cuddle Zone Learning Center, Allentown. Prior to that she worked at ShopRite in Freehold, NJ and Bethlehem. Diane graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from ESU. She earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Education during her battle with cancer in 2017. She was a member of Arndt’s Lutheran Church.

Surviving with her parents, Robert and Gloria, are her children, Kristian E. Smestad and his wife, Hannah of North Carolina, and John E. Smestad of Forks Township; her siblings, Rosanne Mount; Linda Corby and her husband, Don; Laura Mount; her twin brother, Robert Mount, Jr. and his wife, Rose; Kenneth Mount and his wife, Lori; and Donald Mount; her mother and father-in-law, Anna and Hans Smestad; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2019 with a Celebration of Life to follow at 3:00 pm at Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, ww5.komen.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.