Obituaries

Joyce O. Krout, 90, of Wilson Borough, PA died Monday, January 19, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus.

Born August 5, 1924 in Freemansburg, PA she was a daughter of the late Charles and Helen (Rustine) Overbeck. Her husband Reuben O. Krout died in 2010.

A 1942 graduate of Wilson High School, she worked in their cafeteria for 20 years before retiring in 1986. Prior to that she was employed by Binney and Smith for 8 years.

She was a member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Tatamy and was a Sunday school teacher, choir member and in the Dorcas Circle at the former Memorial UCC, Wilson.

She is survived by her children: Diane O’Rorke and her husband Brian of Palmer Twp., PA, Keith Krout and his wife Janice of Pen Argyl, PA; sister: Phyllis Nolf of Palmer Twp., PA; 5 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Reuben and brother: Glenn Overbeck.

Services will be 11 AM Saturday (Jan. 24) in Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with a calling period  from 10 – 11 AM.  Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s UCC, 401 Broad St., Tatamy, PA 18085.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

John S. Holtz, 77, of Forks Twp., PA died Sunday, January 18, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Anderson Campus.

Born July 14, 1937 in Alpha, NJ he was a son of the late John and Emma (Smith) Holtz.

He had been employed by the Phillipsburg National Bank and Trust, United Trust and PNC for 44 years before retiring in 2007.  He was an army veteran and member of Phillipsburg Lodge #52, F. & A. M.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Georgia (Wyant) Holtz; children: Michael Holtz, Joan Holtz-Puglia and her husband Vincent, Jami Taranto and her husband Russell, Jodi Holtz, Mary Beth Bracken and her husband Jeff all of Easton, PA; a sister and five grandchildren: Ava, Rumer, Abigail, Rowan and Gianni. He was predeceased by a son: John Holtz.

Services will be 11 AM Thursday (Jan. 22) in College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead St., Easton with a calling period from 6 to 7:30 PM Wednesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Lois A. “Loie” Mengel, formerly of Wilson Borough died Saturday, January 17, 2015 on her 82nd birthday in Gracedale.

Born January 17, 1933 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Lester and Helen (Meyers) Mengel.

She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Nazareth.

Surviving are a sister, Delma Hulbert and her husband, Paul of Wilson Borough, two brothers, Dale Mengel and his wife, Lucille of Nazareth and Lee Mengel of Phillipsburg, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.  Three brothers and four sisters died earlier.

Services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, January 21 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.  A visitation will be held from 10:00 am until service time on Wednesday.  Interment will be in Easton Heights Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gracedale Activity Fund, 2 Gracedale Ave., Nazareth, PA 18064.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Elizabeth M. “Betty” Wightman, 73 of Forks Twp., PA died Monday, January 12, 2015 in Easton Hospital.

Born January 30, 1941 in Camden, NJ  and raised in Pennsauken, NJ, she was a daughter of the late Oliver and Jessie (McCurdy) Barnish. She and her husband The Reverend William W. “Bill” Wightman have been married for 50 years.

A graduate of  Merchantville High School, she received a degree in Health and Physical Education from Trenton State College. She was a Paraprofessional for the Easton Area School District, mostly at the elementary schools for 25 years before retiring in 2006. Prior to that she had been employed by the Easton YWCA as Play Center Director. She had also been a Health and Physical Education teacher in the Burlington County School District and a substitute teacher for the Schuylkill Haven School District.

Betty was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Easton where she was active with the Fine Arts Committee and Quilting group. She was involved in many community and church activities including managing the Joshua Howell Fund.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; 2 children: Beth Wightman of Los Angeles, CA, Paul Wightman of Nazareth, PA; 2 brothers: Edward Barnish of Pennsauken, NJ, Jerry Barnish of Erial, NJ; a sister: Susan Emmert of Harrisburg, PA and 2 grandchildren: Zachary and Hanna Wightman.

Services will be 2:00 PM Friday (Jan. 16) in St. John’s Lutheran Church, 330 Ferry St., Easton, PA with a calling period from 5:30PM to 8:00 PM Thursday (Jan. 15) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA.  Interment will be private.

In her memory, Betty’s wish was that friends would plant a tree in which birds could nest. Or memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 330 Ferry St., Easton, PA 18042 for the  Gallery.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.