Obituaries

James A. Laros, 93, of the Hearth at Castle Gardens, Vestal, formerly of Easton, Penn., N. Wales, Penn., and Mountain Springs Lake, Penn., passed away Monday morning, July 13, 2015 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law.

He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia (Culpepper) Laros.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Robert & Martha Laros, Pittsford, NY; his daughter and son-in-law, Judith & Thomas Marsh, Endicott; his grandchildren, Debra (John) Loehnert, Steven (Christine) Laros, David (Denise) Hull, Daniel (Claudia) Hull, Hadrian (Karin) Marsh, Aaron (Nidaa) Marsh, Sydney (Nelson) Wade, Whitney (Michael) Williams, Severyn (Jill) Marsh, and Mary Marsh; and seven great-grandchildren.

James graduated from the School of Engineering at Duke University, and was an avid Duke Blue Devils sports fan. He was a retired Bell Telephone and Western Electric employee. He was also a veteran of the US Navy serving during WWII.

The family wishes to thank the hospice program of Lourdes, Lourdes radiology, Heatherwood private home care, and Dr. Jennifer Malossi and the entire staff of Broome urology for all their care and compassion.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 12:00 PM at the Ashton Funeral Home, Inc. 1337 Northampton St. Easton, PA 18042. Burial will follow in Easton Cemetery, Easton PA. The family will receive friends at the Ashton Funeral Home Saturday from 11:00 AM until time of service at 12:00 PM.

The family will receive friends Thursday, July 16, 2015 from 5 to 7 PM at the Leon Pucedo Funeral Home, Inc., 1905 Watson Blvd., Endicott, NY 13760.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the hospice program, 4102 Old Vestal Rd. Vestal, NY 13850 or to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. box 5028, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028.

Carl Allen Rodenbach, 80, of Palmer Twp., PA died Friday, July 3, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus. Born September 3, 1934 in Durham, PA he was a son of the late Florence (Raub) and Ernest Rodenbach.

He was employed by Penn Engineering for 17 years before retiring in 1997. Prior to that he was employed by Whippney Paper Mill for 23 years and served in the US Army. He was an avid NASCAR fan who loved bowling, boating, fishing, camping, hunting and traveling. He was also an excellent  wood crafter. Carl was a member of St. Paul’s III Lutheran Church, Palmer Twp. and a Paul Newman Boggy Creek Gang volunteer.

He is survived by his wife: Ann Marie (Grainda) Wismer Rodenbach; a son: Charles Rodenbach and his wife Katherine of Quakertown, PA; 3 daughters: Lisa Roberson and her husband Jay of Lincoln, MT, Phyllis Coronado and her husband Jose of Lower Saucon Twp., PA, Mary Trees and her husband Michael of Hesston, PA; 4 stepsons: Ronald Wismer and his wife Barbara  of Tatamy, PA, Barry Wismer of Bethlehem, Jeffrey Wismer and his wife Maggie of Leesburg, FL, Thomas Wismer and his wife Brenda of Palmer Twp., PA; 14 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. His first wife: Margaret (McNichol) Rodenbach died earlier.

A Memorial Service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday (July 10) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton Street, Easton with a calling period from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in Riegelsville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com

John Barber, 88, of Easton, died Tuesday, June 30, 2015 in his home.

Born March 25, 1927 in Bainbridge, GA, he was a son of the late John and Mary Lizzie (Leech) Elijah.  He worked at Victaulic, Easton and later at Hunterdon Developmental Center until retiring in 2005.

He was a member of Greater Shiloh Church and Free and Accepted Masons.

Surviving are his children with his 1st wife (the late Daisy Barber):  Blanchard Barber of Scranton, John Barber of Easton, and Joanne Barber Keifer of Orlando, FL;  his 2nd wife, Elizabeth Freeman and their children:  John Freeman and his wife, Veronica of Easton, Kim Walls and her husband, Terry of Easton, and Lenora Thom of Easton; 6 grandchildren:  Keenan, Nakeya, Corey, Michelle, Michael and Lenay; and 9 great grandchildren.  His son, Michael Freeman died earlier.

Services will be held at 1:30 pm on Monday, July 6, 2015 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.  A visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 pm on Sunday in the funeral home.  Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Phyllis M. Nolf, 83 of Palmer Twp., PA died Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at home.  Born January 27, 1932 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late Helen G. (Rustine) and Charles B. Overbeck.

A 1950 graduate of Wilson High School, she had been employed by the former Dixie Cup Co. for 10 years. She was a member of St. John’s Church on Morgan Hill in Williams Twp. and the PA Jazz Society. She was also a former Rainbow Girl and Girl Scout leader.

She is survived by 4 nieces: Diane O’Rorke of Palmer Twp., Patty Griffin of Stonewall, OK, Kathy Prough, of Easton, and Susan Reilly of Wilson Borough; and a nephew Keith Krout of Pen Argyl, PA. She was predeceased by her husband Harold R. Nolf in 2013 and her sister: Joyce Krout and her brother: Charles G. Overbeck.

Services are 11 AM Friday, July 3 in St. John’s Church on Morgan Hill, 2720 Morgan Hill Road, Easton, PA with visitation from 10 to 11 AM in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Interment will be private in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Church on Morgan Hill, 2720 Morgan Hill Rd., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Margaret Marie Dilts, 87, of Easton, PA died Saturday, June 27, 2015 at Easton Hospital.

Born February 27, 1928 in Pittston, PA she was a daughter of the late Catherine (Pavlicia) and John Hornick. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother, whose door was always open.

She is survived by 5 sons: Robert, David, William and Edward Joseph Dilts all of Easton, Richard Dilts and his wife Teresa of Walnutport, PA; 5 grandchildren: Sara, Adam, Brienne, Brennan, Brett and 2 great-grandchildren: Isabella and Little Woody. Her husband Luther Dilts, Sr. and 3 children: Joan, John and Luther Dilts, Jr. all died earlier.

Services are 10 AM Thursday, July 2 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with visitation from 7 to 8:30 PM Wednesday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Easton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o the funeral home. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Karl Frederick Dutt, 83, of Easton, passed peacefully into his eternal home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, surrounded by his loving family, on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 in St. Luke’s Hospice House.

A son of the late Russell and Ethel Dutt, he was born and raised in Wilson Borough, PA.  He graduated from Lafayette College, earned a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in Education from Lehigh University and has lived in Easton his entire adult life.

While at Lafayette College, Karl pitched for the Leopards baseball team and played in the College World Series in 1953 and 1954.  He also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers’ minor league team in Hornell, NY.  After serving in the U.S. Army, Karl returned to Easton and began a career in education with the Easton Area School District, later taking positions at the Eastern Northampton and Lehigh County Vocational Technical Schools.  His love of baseball extended to many seasons serving in a variety of coaching positions with high school and American Legion teams.  He was also an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem for 58 years.

Karl was a loving and devoted husband, father and friend, and will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his daughters, Janna and Lisa; son, Andrew and four grandsons, Karl, Joey, Theo and Ian.  He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Shirley, and sister, Ethel Mae Reeves.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10 AM Thursday, August 6 in the First Presbyterian Church Chapel, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA. He was laid to rest earlier in a private family service at Easton Cemetery.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton, handled the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St, Bethlehem, PA 18017.  Please note “in memory of Karl Dutt” so contribution will be directed to the church’s Children’s Safety Project.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.