Obituaries

Ruth S. Larison, 80 of Bethlehem Twp., PA died Thursday, January 25, 2018 in Keystone Hospice House, Wyndmoor, PA. Born August 24, 1937 in Jamaica, Queens, NY she was a daughter of the late Edward and Lydia (Reschke) Stielau.

Ruth graduated from Mandl School in New York City and worked as a medical doctors office assistant before becoming an executive secretary. She was employed by Ortho Clinical Diagnostics and by AT&T for many years. Following her retirement she worked for Millbrook Home Care as a companion. Ruth was a member of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Easton where she sang in the choir, was a past-president and current vice-president of SAW, and a Eucharistic Lay Minister. She also served as Judge of Elections in Northampton County for over 12 years.

Ruth’s ready smile, joyful laughter and generous nature brightened the day of all who met her. She was devoted to her God, her family, friends and causes and will be sorely missed.

She is survived by her children: Brenda Ruth Lange of Philadelphia, Michael Lange and his wife Maria of Sharon Springs, NY; sisters: Carolyn Stielau and Edna Kline; grandchildren: Jennifer Winters (and her husband John and their children: Jillian and Johnny), Vincent Franchino (and his wife Elise), Elizabeth Kinder (and her fiancé Sean Riley), Erich Lange, Emily Lange and loving nieces and nephews. Her husband Douglas Larison died in 2007.

A viewing will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 AM  Wednesday (Jan. 31) in St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 3900 Freemansburg Ave., Easton, PA, immediately followed by a service in the church. Interment will be private in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

William Alexander Wilkinson, Sr., 82, of Bath, died Thursday, January 25, 2018.

Born October 2, 1935 in Norfolk, VA, he was a son of the late William Jennings and Hazel (McCormick) Wilkinson.  He and his wife, Carol (Kesel) Wilkinson, were married 61 years.

He began his career with CK Williams, Adams, MA which was later purchased by Pfizer, Inc.  He worked as plant manager in both Easton and E. St. Louis, IL.  He was promoted to Vice President of Pigments working out of New York City.  When his division was sold to Harcross Pigments, he became President and relocated his corporate headquarters to Fairview Heights, IL.  He retired in 1994 after 33 years.  He was a member of the Lions Club in Adams, MA and a volunteer for the United Way.  He received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and served in the Army during the Korean War.

Surviving with his wife, Carol, are his children, W. A. “Lex” Wilkinson, Jr, and his wife, Patricia, of Bath; Elizabeth Miller-Tinner and her husband, Rodney, of Kansas City, MO; Andrew P. Wilkinson of Bloomfield Hills, MI; Martha Blackburn and her husband, William, of O’Fallon, IL and Ann Martin of Kansas City, MO; 18 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren who called him D’daddy; 3 nieces; 3 nephews and many fishing buddies and dear friends.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 7:00 pm on Monday, January 29, 2018 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.  A second visitation will be held from 4 to 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 1, 2018 in the Kurrus Funeral Home, 1773 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville, IL with services at 7:00 pm on Thursday in the Kurrus Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, www.heart.org or to your local animal shelter.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Florence J. Green, 91, of Palmer Township, died Wednesday, January 24, 2018 in St. Luke’s Hospice House.

Born March 21, 1926 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Earl and Anna (Raudenbush) Christman.  Florence graduated from Easton Area High School in 1944.

Surviving are 2 sons, Thomas Green and his wife, Cindy, of Lehighton and Jack Green and his wife, Teresa, of Tamaqua, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.  Her husband, Richard Green died in 2008.

Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, January 29, 2018 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.  A visitation will be held from 1:00 pm until service time on Monday.  Interment in Northampton Memorial Shrine.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Joan Barbara Warrelmann, 53 of Bethlehem Twp., PA died Saturday, January 20, 2018 at home. Born December 6, 1964 in Oakland, New Jersey.  She was a graduate of beauty school and had attended Northampton Community College.

She is survived by her husband Thomas L. Warrelmann with whom she shared 13 years; 3 children: Harry Sullivan and Hope Doran both of Bethlehem, Dylan Doran of New Hampshire; 2 step-children: Timothy and Kelly Warrelmann both of Bethlehem; 5 grandchildren: Sophie, Hannah, Layla, Jordan and Tyler; 8 step-grandchildren and 1 step-great-grandchild.

A Memorial Service will be held 2 PM Friday (Jan. 26) at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 3900 Freemansburg Ave., Easton, PA with a calling period from 1 to 2 PM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Harold L. “Hal” Mellor, Sr., 95, of Bethlehem Township, died Saturday, January 13, 2018 in New Eastwood Care Center.

Born June 10, 1922 in Vineland, NJ, he was a son of the late Harold and Elizabeth (Atkins) Mellor.  His wife, June P. (Bennett) Mellor died in 1999.

Hal served in the Navy during WWII and worked for Bell Labs, Allentown for 30 years and retired in 1980.

Surviving are his daughter, Sherri L. Mogilski and her husband, Mitchell D., Sr., of Wind Gap; his son, Stuart B. Mellor of Bethlehem Township; two grandsons, Mitchell and Justin; and his daughter-in-law, Kathy Mellor of Montrose, PA.  His son, Lee Mellor, his daughter-in-law, Rachael Mellor; his brother, Wesley Mellor; and his granddaughter, Tiffany, died earlier.

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

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Sally Jean Marks, 86, an internationally known scholar of twentieth century European history, died Saturday, January 13, 2018 in Bethlehem, PA. Born January 18, 1931 in New Haven, CT she was the daughter of the late Percy Marks, writer, and Margaret Gates Marks Barton, artist. Sally attended the Prospect Hill School for Girls before graduating from Wellesley College with honors. After working at the Defense Department in Washington, she gained her MA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a PhD in international history from the University of London (London School of Economics).

Professor Marks taught at St. Margaret’s School, Waterbury, CT, the Laycock School, Westport, CT, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Rhode Island College, and Brown University. In addition to numerous articles in journals in this country and abroad, she published four volumes of history, specializing in inter-war European international relations. Her monograph, Innocent Abroad: Belgium at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, won the George Louis Beer Prize of the American Historical Association (AHA) and the senior scholar award of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honorary society.

She  received fellowships from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the AHA. A member of numerous historical organizations, she chaired committees for the AHA, the Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations, and the Conference Group for Central European History. A member of the Tauber Institute, l’Institut royal des relations internationales in Brussels, and the Royal Anglo-Belgian Club in London, she also served on the Editorial Board of H-Diplo, the internet discussion group for diplomatic historians.

Professor Marks was a member of the RI Historical Society, the Providence Art Club, the Providence Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Providence Athenaeum and its book group. She served on the governing boards of Common Cause of RI, Project Learn, the American Association of University Professors of RI, the Providence branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Friends of the Rochambeau Library, and the Mystery Buffs of RI. She also tutored for Volunteers in Providence Schools, was a docent at the Holocaust Museum of RI, and worked on book sales for the AAUW, the Rochambeau Library and the Athenaeum.

She is survived by her stepsister, Wendy Bingert of Easton, PA; her niece, Suzanne Bingert, and her nephews, Thomas Bingert and Stephen Bingert and his wife Kiasha and their daughter Ginger.

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