Obituaries

Fred W. Hoffert, Jr., 88, of Bethlehem, died Saturday, June 3, 2017 in St. Luke’s Hospice House.

Born September 18, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, he was a son of the late Fred W. and Edna Mae (Cooksey) Hoffert.

He and his wife, Jeanelle (Rye) Hoffert, formerly of Little Rock, Arkansas, were married 69 years.

Fred was a manager for Manufacturers Railway, St. Louis for 26 years and for American Steel, Granite City, Illinois for 19 years.

He was a graduate of Southern Illinois University and a member of Epworth United Methodist Church, Bethlehem where he served as a trustee. He was a Boy Scout leader and traveled on church missions to Russia, Kenya and Mexico.

Surviving with his wife, Jeanelle are two sons, Fred W. Hoffert, III and his wife, Liz, of Phoenix, Arizona and Dennis K. Hoffert of London, England; a daughter, Cindy Mahaney and her husband, Ray of Mountain Top; four sisters, Ella Mae Henson, Lillian Faye Maxey and her husband, Eugene, Thelma Cummins and her husband, David and Leona Gottchlich; three grandsons, Keith, Aaron and Andrew and two great granddaughters, Kai and Lily.  A sister, Marie Wood died earlier.

A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 am, Friday, June 23, 2017 at Epworth United Methodist Church, 3245 Oakland Rd., Bethlehem.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Boy Scouts of America, Minsi Trails Council, P.O. Box 20624, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Verna J. Wagner, 89 of Nazareth, PA died Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Gracedale. Born January 3, 1928 in E. Stroudsburg, PA she was the daughter of the late Bertha (Lehman) and Henry Ace.  Her husband Richard A. Wagner died in 2002. She was a 1946 graduate of E. Stroudsburg High School and worked in sewing mills in the area but felt her most important job was as a homemaker. She attended Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, Palmer Twp. and Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church, Bethlehem. Verna loved her family, she loved to bake, she loved to crochet and she loved her sweets.

She is survived by two daughters: Beth A. Over and her husband Robert with whom she resided, Patricia W. Dean and her husband Richard of Zionsville, PA; 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Services are 10:30 AM Wednesday, June 7 in Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church, 580 Bridle Path Rd., Bethlehem, PA with visitation 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, 715 Chestnut Ln., Easton, PA 18045 or Lehigh Valley Grace Brethren Church, 580 Bridle Path Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Marian F. Golden, 101 formerly of Wilson Borough, PA died Friday, June 2, 2017 at Abington Manor. Born March 25, 1916 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late Carl Stoneback and Jane (Jones) Stoneback Kohler. Her husband Clair J. Golden, Sr. died in 2010. A 1932 graduate of Easton High School, she had been employed by Weller Electric for 24 years. Marian was a member of New Creation United Church of Christ, Palmer Twp. and had volunteered at Easton Hospital.

She is survived by sons: George Golden of Glenmoor, PA, Carl Golden and his wife Linda of Burlington, NJ, Paul Golden and his wife Loraine of Palmer Twp., PA; brothers: Bob Kohler of Currituck, NC, Charles “Joe” Kohler of Easton; sister: Joan Shafer of Phillipsburg, NJ; daughters-in-law: Deborah Golden and Patricia Golden; 14 grandchildren and several great and great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, sons: David Golden and Clair Golden, Jr., brothers: James Kohler, Harold, Richard, Daniel and William Stoneback and sister: Doris Walter.

Services are 10:30 AM Tuesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with visitation 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to New Creation UCC, 3730 Nicholas Street, Easton, PA 18045.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Evelyn Elsie Seibel, 87 of Easton died Monday, May 29, 2017 at ManorCare, Old Orchard. Born December 9, 1929 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late Andrew Jackson Brown and Evelyn (Troxell) Brown Densler. Her husband Charles Richard “Dick” Seibel died in 1993. She was a 1947 graduate of Easton High School and received her Associates Degree in Early Child Care Education and a Degree in Applied Sciences from Northampton Community College. Evelyn was employed by the Lehigh Valley Child Care for more than 20 years before retiring. She had also been employed by the Palmer Moravian Church School in Palmer Twp. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Easton where she was a Sunday School Teacher. A very active church and community volunteer, she was also a member of the Am Vets and the Southside knitting and crocheting group.

She is survived by a son: Richard D. and his wife Debbie of Lincolnville, ME; two daughters: Susan E. Sipley of Palmer Twp., PA, Sally A. Italiani and her husband Anthony of Bethlehem Twp., PA; brother: Andrew Brown, Jr. of Easton; sister: Pamela Miller of Nazareth, PA; 5 grandchildren: Tonya Liotti, Heather Hoagland, Anthony Italiani, Jr., Nico Italiani, Olivia Seibel; and 3 great-grandchildren: Roberto, Jr., Kody and Rachel. She was predeceased by siblings: Georgia King, Paul and Daisy Brown. The family wishes to express their appreciation to St. Luke’s Hospice for their care.

Services will be held at Noon, Saturday, June 3 in St. John’s Lutheran Church, 330 Ferry St., Easton, PA with a calling period 11 AM to 12 PM in the church. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church or the American Cancer Society.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Barbara Beck Hnat, 86, of Lehigh Parkway, died Sunday, May 28, 2017 in Devon House, Allentown.

Born September 22, 1930 in Philadelphia, she was a daughter of the late Albert R. and Dorothy (Quick) Beck.  Her husband, Michael Hnat died in 2010.

Barbara owned and operated Rose Tree Interiors, Bethlehem.  She was also a fine art painter and a member of the Palette Club where she participated in art workshops and gallery shows.  She was a graduate of Haverford High School and Philadelphia College of Art.

Barbara had a great appreciation of art, design, vocabulary, flowers, gardens, antiques, Spanish culture, dancing, NY theater and art galleries and expensive restaurants, big Christmas trees and early morning presents with the grandchildren.  She was cultured, fair, had great taste and was a true visual person who saw the world through art, color and symmetry.  Barbara loved her friends, pets, Acapulco, Mexico and her beautiful Lehigh Parkway property.

Surviving are her sons, Ric Kidney and Roy Kidney and two grandchildren.

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

Memorial contributions may be made to Animals in Distress, P.O. Box 609, 5075 Limeport Pike, Coopersburg, PA 18036.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

David Bruce Turner, 51 of Palmer Twp., PA died Sunday, May 21, 2017 at Easton Hospital. Born December 22, 1965 in Franklin, PA he was a son of Marian (Uher) Turner of Palmer Twp. and the late Bruce E. Turner.  A graduate of Easton High School, he was employed by the Custom Alloy Company of High Bridge NJ.  David was a member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church in Easton and the American Legion, Brown & Lynch Post 9. He was an avid sports fan, who loved the Flyers, the Steelers, the Phantoms and the Iron Pigs.

He is survived by: his mother, Marian; 3 brothers: Larry E. and his wife Cathy, Michael G. and his wife Linda all of Franklin, PA, Robert W. of Bethlehem, PA; 2 sisters: Sandra J. Carroll of Bethlehem, Debra K. Ritchey and her husband Edward of Palmer Twp.; and his adored 10 nieces and nephews, 3 great-nieces and a great-nephew.

A Memorial Celebration of his Life will be held 4 PM, Saturday, June 24th at the Riverside Barr and Grill, 5819 S. Delaware Dr., Easton, PA. Interment will be private in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Franklin, PA.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.