Obituaries

John Reynolds Austen, 98, of Easton died Friday, June 27, 2014 in Moravian Hall Square, Nazareth, PA.

Born: September 12, 1915 in Los Angeles, CA he was a son of the late Oswald and Alma (McClaren) Austen. His wife, Helen (Taylor) Austen died in 2012.

Personal: He was a graduate of California Institute of Technology (CALTECH) and employed by the Ingersoll Rand Co. While working at the Cameron Pump Division of IR in 1954 he was in charge of manufacturing the Pumps for the first Nuclear Submarine, the USS Nautilus. He also had been employed at Joy Mfg. in Buffalo, NY and Worthington Pump in Hillside, NJ before returning to IR to complete his career.

Memberships: He was a Past-President of the Easton Rotary Club; a former Boy Scout and Cub Pack Leader; member of the Easton Area Industrial Land Development board; the Pomfret Club; Northampton Country Club and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wilson. There is also an auditorium named in his honor at the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society Sigal Museum.

Survivors: 2 sons: John T. and his wife Sue of New Smyrna Beach, FL; Stephen R. and his wife Maureen of Bluffton, SC; a brother: Peter T. Austen of Port Orange, FL; 5 grandchildren: Stephanie, Drew, David, Jenny, Lindsey and 5 great-grandchildren.

Services: A Memorial Service will be held 1:30 p.m. Tuesday (July 1) in Kortz Hall, Moravian Hall Square, 174 W. North Street, Nazareth, PA; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Interment will be private.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the Easton Rotary Service Foundation, c/o Mike Dowd, 25 Chestnut Ridge Circle, Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Dr. Reuben “Bud” E.V. Miller, Jr., 85, of Easton, died at home Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

Born:  January 26, 1929 in Easton, he was a son of the late Dr. Reuben E. V. Miller, Sr. and Helen (Kauffman) Miller.

Personal:  He and his wife, Nancy “Chris” Roy Lange Miller were married 39 years.  He was a dentist in the Easton area for 56 years and retired in 2009.  After retiring from his dental practice, he continued to serve as an examiner for dental and dental hygiene licensure for the North East Regional Board which encompassed 17 states.  He was a 1946 graduate of Easton High School, attended Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, and was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry.  Bud was a dental officer in the Navy during the Korean War.  The Reuben E. V. Miller, Jr. Dental Clinic at The Children’s Home of Easton was dedicated in his honor in 2005.

Memberships:  He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Easton; past president of the Easton Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow; director of the Easton Hospital Dental Clinic; team dentist for the Easton Area High School varsity football team; member of the Varsity “E” Club; board member of the Weller Center for Health Education; member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Easton; past president of the Easton Dental Society and the Lehigh Valley Dental Society.

Survivors:  In addition to his wife, Chris, he is survived by two daughters, Kimberly Miller Lacey of Medford, NJ and Julianne Breiner and her husband, Ed of West Chester, PA; four sons, Drew Miller and his wife, Donna of Baltimore, MD; Thom Miller and his husband, Scott Edmiston of Waltham, MA; Ken Lange of Ambler, PA; and John Lange and his wife, Lin of Ambler, PA; a sister, Ann Louise Jaggard of Houston, TX; and twelve grandchildren.  His sister, Joyce Gilbert died earlier.

Services:  A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 28th at 11:30 am in St. John’s Lutheran Church, 330 Ferry St., Easton.  Visitation will be Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton and Saturday from 10:30 am until service time in the church.

Memorial Contributions:  St. John’s Lutheran Church, 330 Ferry St., Easton, PA 18042 or Easton Rotary Service Foundation, c/o Mike Dowd, 25 Chestnut Ridge Circle, Easton, PA 18042 or The Children’s Home of Easton, 2000 S. 25th St., Easton, PA 18042.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Thomas Robert Heywood, 76, of Bath, PA went home to the Lord, Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at home surrounded by his family.

Born: November 2, 1937 in Butler Twp., PA he was a son of the late Thomas B. and Grace (Davis) Heywood. He and his wife: Marguerite “Peg” (Heiser) Heywood have been married for 55 years.

Personal: He had been employed by the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. in Bethlehem for 23 years before retiring and prior to that by Western Union in Allentown for 25 years. He was a 1955 graduate of Girardville HS and had attended Penn State University, Eastern Baptist College and was an army veteran.

Memberships: He was an active member of the River of God Fellowship Church, Easton where he taught Sunday School for 38 years.

Survivors: His wife: Peg; children: Thomas D. in AZ; Stephen J. of Tatamy, PA; Mark G. and his wife Joan of Forks Twp., PA; Carol Merwarth and her husband Jon of Hanover Twp., PA; Rebecca Buschi and her husband Chris of Northampton, PA; Kristen Johnson and her husband Don of Wilson Borough, PA; a sister: Arlene Fee of Newton, NJ; 15 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother: Glenn Heywood and sister: Joan Schneff.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday (June 28) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with visitation from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorials: May be made to River of God Fellowship Church, 813 Reynolds St., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

John J. Groner, Jr., 90, of Palmer Twp., PA died Friday, June 13, 2014 at home.

Born: August 31, 1923 in Easton he was a son of the late John J. and Anna (Fetherolf) Groner, Sr. His wife, the former Barbara Nelson died in 2006.

Personal: He and his wife owned and operated Lafayette Cleaners on College Hill in Easton from 1948 until 1999. An army veteran, he served in the Pacific Theatre during WWII.

Survivors: Children: James, with whom he resided, John, Gabrielle and Katie; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife: Barbara and daughter: Carrie.

Services: Graveside 10 AM Saturday (6/21) in Forks Cemetery, Sullivan Trail, Stockertown. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.