Obituaries

Douglas P. Riddagh went to be with the Lord on November 11, 2014.  He was born on September 30, 1930 to Donald and Isabel Osmun Riddagh in Easton, Pennsylvania.

In 1953, after graduating from Rider University in New Jersey, he married the love of his life, Marilyn Opitz.  For 37 years, he was employed by the original Dixie Cup Company, which is now owned by the Georgia Pacific Corporation.  Most of his career was spent in National Production Planning and Human Resources.  Mr. Riddagh was active in many community organizations such as the Board of Directors of the Easton Children’s Home, Easton Home for Aged Women, Easton Area YMCA, and the Easton Area Industrial Redevelopment Program.  He was actively involved in his children’s extracurricular activities and was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Easton.  Following his retirement in 1989, he and his wife moved to Satellite Beach, Florida.  He became an active member in the Eastminster Presbyterian Church, where he was an Elder and a Stephens Minister.  He also was a charter member of the South Brevard Beaches Kiwanis Club.  He loved to spend time with his family, travel, and work in his yard.   He was blessed to have been married for 61 years and enjoyed his family life to the fullest.  He will always be remembered as a kind and gentle man of integrity and honor.

He is survived by Marilyn, daughter Donna Rowe and her husband David of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, son Gary and his wife Harriet of Dade City, Florida, and brother David of Bushkill, Pennsylvania.  He was a devoted grandfather to his five grandchildren: Amy (Kevin) Weil, Julie (Sean) Kagi, Stephen (Jenn) Rowe, Andrew Riddaugh, and Austin Riddaugh and two great-grandchildren:  Kodie and Paige Weil.  He is pre-deceased by his father Donald, his mother Isabel, his step-mother Anne Riddagh, and brother Donald Riddagh.

Memorials may be sent to the Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Indialantic where a celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, November 15 at 11:00am with Rev. Dr. Tim Rogers-Martin officiating.

William E.  “Bill” Raub, 75, of Hanover Twp., PA died Friday, November 7, 2014 in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. Born March 26, 1939 in Easton, PA he was a son of the late Howard F. and Anita M. (Haase) Raub.

A 1957 graduate of Wilson High School, he had served in the Army Reserves and was employed by Pfizer Inc. for 23 years before retiring from the ISK Magnetics Co. An avid bowler, he bowled in leagues at BarDon Lanes and Mountainview Lanes.  He also loved music and photography.

He was a very active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Easton, where he served as financial secretary, on the executive committee and as head of the property committee. He was also a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

He is survived by his daughter: Diane L. Raub, with whom he resided; nieces and nephew: Bonnie, Howard and Sarrah Raub. He was predeceased by his wife Carol (Werkheiser) Raub who died Nov. 7, 2011 and a brother Terry Raub.

Services will be held 7 PM Wednesday (Nov. 12) in St. John’s Lutheran Church,  330 Ferry St., Easton, PA with a viewing from 6 to 7 p.m.  in the church. The burial will be 10 AM Thursday (Nov. 13) in St. John’s Union Cemetery, Morgan Hill Road, Williams Twp., PA. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

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

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Bradley S. Kohler, 80, of Hanover Twp., PA died Monday, November 3, 2014 in Gracedale.

Born August 26, 1934 in Easton he was a son of the late Melvin J. and Bessie “Betty” (Odenwelder) Kohler.

He had been a Major League Baseball Scout for 41 years before retiring. He scouted for the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Pilots and Milwaukee Brewers before going to the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau in 1974. Prior to that he had been employed by the City of Easton in the Public Works Department and was a youth baseball coach in Easton for many years.  He was a former director of the VFW Baseball Program in Easton for which he chaired the PA State Championship held in 1962. He was a member of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and was inducted into numerous Halls of Fame including the Middle Atlantic Baseball Scouts Association Hall of Fame where his name is on a plaque in the Baltimore Orioles Stadium and the PA American Legion Sports Hall of Fame. In 1991 he was honored as the Mid-Atlantic Major League Scout of the Year. He also served in the US Army.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years: Patricia (Williamson) Kohler; sons: Mark S. Kohler of Newberry, FL; Gerald L. Bowyer and his wife Susan of McKeesport, PA; and 7 grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother Thomas M. Kohler.

Services will be held Graveside, Noon on Thursday (Nov. 6) at Northampton Memorial Shrine, 3051 Green Pond Rd., Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton, PA is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Resident’s Activities Fund, c/o Gracedale, 2 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth, PA  18064.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Dr. Sherman “Doc” Ames, II, V.M.D., of Stewartsville, NJ, left us on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Lopatcong Care Center, just five days shy of his 91st birthday.

Born in Easton, PA, he was the son of the late Dr. Sherman and Nora Ames.

He was a 1941 graduate of Easton High School, where he was class president and valedictorian of his class.  He then attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the swim team and Theta Xi Fraternity.
His education was interrupted when he enlisted in the Navy Air Corps to become a pilot in World War II, following which he attended the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1950 with the degree of V.M.D.
After a year of internship in Bedford, PA, he returned to join his father in the practice of veterinary medicine in Easton, treating both large and small animals, including such diverse sizes as an ermine and an elephant.  Notable in his career was the publication in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association of his article describing a novel surgical procedure he originated for the correction of a twisted stomach in cows.  He retired in 1998.  During all this time, he maintained his flight status in the United States Navy Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant commander.
He was a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Easton, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and an Easton Rotary Service Foundation Fellow, as well as a Life Member of the New Jersey, Pennsylvania and American Veterinary Medical Associations.  He was also a Life Member of the American Legion and a member of the Military Officers of America Association.

Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth “Betsy”; children, Eleta Kline and husband, Roger; Sherman, III; Dr. Abbe; Warren and wife, Jodi; Sheridan and wife, Lori; 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren as well as a sister, Betty Evans.  His sister, Nora Ricci predeceased him.

Celebrate the life of Dr. Sherman Ames, II by sharing memories with family and friends from 2 to 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at Flynn’s on the Hill, 341 Pursel St., Phillipsburg, NJ.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials may be sent to The Easton Rotary Foundation, c/o Michael Dowd, 25 Chestnut Ridge Circle, Easton, PA 18042 or The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, c/o Jean Suta, 427 Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, directed to the Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.