Obituaries

Kenneth W. Rupp, 35, of Palmer Twp., PA died Friday, July 26, 2013 following a motorcycle accident in Glendon.

Born: July 25, 1978 in Easton he was a son of Brenda (Hammerstone) Allen of Phillipsburg, NJ and the late Norman K. Rupp.

Personal: He was a self-employed contractor in New Jersey for many years.

Memberships: He was a member of the Street Ripperz Motorcycle Club.

Survivors: His mother: Brenda; son: Kenneth Rupp, Jr.; sister: Crystal Opdyke; half-brothers: Louis and Scott Rupp; Scott Adam; half-sister: Vicky Herrera; aunts, including: Louise Feflie and Betty Goodman; companion: Veronica Lorenz; step-father: Kenneth Allen; step-mother: Gwen Rupp and many extended family members.

Services: A calling period will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday (8/1) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 14th and Northampton Sts., Easton.

Memorials: May be made to Louise Feflie, 317 Berks St., Easton, PA 18045 for the benefit of Kenneth, Jr. and toward funeral expenses.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Robert Terry Harrison, 65, of Cary, NC died Friday, July 19, 2013, peacefully at home, surrounded by his wife and two children after a courageous battle with lymphoma.

Born: March 21, 1948 in Monticello, IN, he was a son of the late Carroll and Helen Marie (Reynolds) Harrison.

Personal: He graduated from Purdue University in 1971 and was a member of the Theta XI fraternity.  While a student at Purdue he worked with The Marshall Space and Flight Center in Birmingham, Alabama on the Apollo space capsule design. After graduation he moved to North Carolina to work for the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as a mechanical engineer. Terry retired from the EPA after more than 30 years of service. In his retirement he was able to do what he loved most, next to his family, which was fish, fish, fish. In addition, he had the opportunity to take care of his loving grandchildren after they were born.

Survivors: His wife of 36 years, the former Susan Steckel; son: Kevin and his wife Jill; daughter: Emily; 2 brothers: John and Larry Shell; sister: Connie Spear; and the light of his life, his grandchildren: Kira and Jace.

Services: A graveside service will be held 11:30 am Saturday in Forks Cemetery, 4500 Sullivan Trail, Stockertown, PA. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling local arrangements. A service was held Tuesday in North Carolina.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to Zoweh Ministries, P.O. Box 2261, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2261 or Take A Kid Fishing Foundation P.O. Box 1191, Morehead City, NC, 28577

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com or www.BrownWynneCary.com

Alice D. Baskin, 83, of Moravian Hall Square, formerly of Easton, passed away on Friday, July 19, 2013 after a lengthy and courageous battle against ovarian cancer.  Alice was surrounded by her loving family at the time of her passing and maintained her sense of humor and wit.

Born:  January 7, 1930 in Hazleton, Alice was the daughter of the late Howard John and Ella (Leggoe) Deis.

Personal:  Alice began a career in sales in her mid-50’s, working first as a sales associate at the former Milton H. Faust Jewelers of downtown Easton before launching a successful career in real estate at Prudential Paul Ford Realtors.  She actively pursued her real estate career despite the onset of her illness and debilitating treatments, earning numerous prestigious awards for sales excellence from Prudential Real Estate and the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors.  Throughout her long and fulfilling life, Alice was an active volunteer in many charitable and civic associations.  She enjoyed traveling and gardening, spending countless hours in gardens she maintained at her various residences, including most recently at Moravian Hall Square.  Alice was an avid reader; enjoyed crossword puzzles, completing the most challenging in record time; and relished the outdoors.  Over the course of her life she enjoyed tennis, golf and skiing; playing bridge and penny-ante poker; and baking and cooking.  Her family will always remember Alice for her Christmas cookies but probably less so for her many variations of zucchini-based food products, as she creatively utilized her bountiful harvests.  She actively pursued these many interests despite her illness.  She was a loyal Philadelphia Phillies fan, attending many games, cheering on her beloved Chase Utley.

Memberships:  Alice was an active member of College Hill Presbyterian Church for over 55 years.  She was a member of Who’s Who in Residential Real Estate in North America, was a member of the Women’s Board of Easton Hospital, was on the Board of the Easton YWCA, was a founding Board member and former Treasurer of the Weller Center for Health and Education and was a member of the Auxiliary of the Easton Children’s Home.  She also served on various committees during her residence at Moravian Hall Square.

Survivors:  Her son, Rich and his wife, Liz of St. Davids, PA; her son, Jeff and his wife, Diane of Bethlehem; her daughter, Janet Glass and her husband, Kent of Jacksonville, FL; adoring grandchildren, Andrew, Kate, Lauren, Cali, Kristin and Connor and her loyal and affectionate “grand-dogs”, Otto, Rufus and Jax.  She was preceded in death by her brother, Howard and twin brother, Alan.  She will be dearly missed by her family and her extensive network of close and supportive friends developed and nurtured over her long life.

Services:  A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, in College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead St., Easton.  Call from 9:30 am until service time in the church. Interment will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial Contributions:  May be made to Moravian Hall Square, 175 W. North St., Nazareth, PA 18064 or to a charity of one’s choice.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Harvey G. Messinger, 74, of Easton died Thursday, July 18, 2013 in his son’s home in Plainfield Twp., PA.

Born: June 24, 1939 in Easton, PA he was a son of the late Frank and Hilda (Sterner) Messinger.

Personal: He was a graduate of Easton High School and served in the US Navy. He had been employed by the former Dixie Cup Company (American Can/James River/Georgia Pacific) for more than 40 years before retiring in 2001. He was an avid golfer and huge Easton High School football fan, especially enjoying the Thanksgiving Day Games.  He also loved the Redskins and the Dodgers.

Survivors: 2 sons: Barry of Bangor, PA; Bruce and his wife Cindy of Plainfield Twp., PA; 2 daughters: Connie in NJ; Joann DeHaven and her husband Douglas of Lower Saucon Twp., PA; a brother: Ernest of Bath, PA; a sister: Lorraine Fazekas of Hazelton, PA; 7 grandchildren: Emily and Ben Messinger; Barry, Joshawa and Nicole Matlock; Shianna and Ricky Klingle; 3 great-grandchildren and his former wife: Frances of Bangor, PA. He was predeceased by siblings: Maynard and Raymond Messinger and Doris Castner.

Services: Will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday ( 7/23) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 14th and Northampton Sts., Easton with visitation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 961 Marcon Blvd., Suite 452, Allentown, PA 18109.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Charles J. Christopher “The Beautiful One”, 58, of Easton died Monday, July 15, 2013 in the Hospice House of St. Luke’s. He was an astounding husband and father and a wonderful grandfather.

Born: March 3, 1955 in Brooklyn, NY he was a son of the late Lewis and Angela Costanza Christopher.

Personal: Charles, who had a strong work ethic that he instilled in his children, had been most recently employed by Elementis Pigments before his illness. He was a diehard Steelers and Yankees fan and who also enjoyed NASCAR.

Memberships: He was a member of many social clubs including: the Avona Volunteer Fire Co. and Palmer Fire Co.

Survivors: His wife of 33 years (on July 12th) Karen (Reider); 2 sons: Charles and his wife Jennifer of Jim Thorpe; Michael of Easton; daughter: Courtney Christopher-Riley and her husband Anthony of Phoenix, AZ; 5 grandchildren: Kylie, Kiya, Cruze, Madison, Breelyn; among his siblings: Guy, George, Tommy, Theresa, Winnie, Kelly; and many nieces and nephews.

Services: A Calling Period will be held 5 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday (7/18) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 14th and Northampton Sts., Easton.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the family c/o the funeral home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

William J. Smolow, 87, of Palmer Township, died Sunday, July 14, 2013 in St. Luke’s Hospice House.

Born:  December 14, 1925 in Easton, he was a son of the late Nathan and Minnie (Brody) Smolow.

Personal:  He and his wife, the former Roslyne Bugen were married 64 years.  He graduated from Easton High School in 1943 and Lafayette College in 1949 and served in the Navy during WWII.  Bill was the owner of Modern Wallpaper Co., Easton.

Memberships:  He was a member of Bnai Abraham Synagogue, Wilson Borough. He had been chairman of the Palmer Township Municipal Sewer Authority and was recently honored for over 41 years of service.  He was a member of Dallas-Lafayette Lodge #396, F&AM, Easton and Northampton Country Club.

Survivors:  Wife, Roslyne; two sons, Mitchell Smolow and his wife, Donna of Wilkes Barre and Mark Smolow of Easton; six grandchildren, Marcy Freeman, Rachel Kramer, Maret Landherr, Alec Smolow, Aaron Smolow and Linley Smolow and two great grandchildren, Ava and Laurel.

Services:  11:00 am Wednesday in Bnai Abraham Synagogue, Wilson Borough.  Interment in Bnai Abraham Cemetery, Forks Township.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials:  Bnai Abraham Synagogue, 1545 Bushkill St., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Jane K. Reich, 97, of Easton, formerly of Carpentersville, NJ until being displaced by flooding in 2005, died Saturday, July 13, 2013 in the Hospice House of St. Luke’s.

Born: September 9, 1915 in Carpentersville, NJ she was a daughter of the late Blair and Edna Ziegler Koontz.

Personal: After graduating 2nd in her class from Phillipsburg High School she had been employed by Phillipsburg National Bank and Trust for several years.

Memberships: She was a lifelong, active member of First Moravian Church, Easton.

Survivors: Two daughters: Anne Hajdu and her husband Michael of Palmer Twp., PA; Lisa Hill and her husband James of St. Augustine, FL; 4 grandchildren: Melissa Larson, Nina Melvin, Elizabeth O’Hara, Julia Hill  and 3 great-grandchildren: Jessica and Hunter Melvin, Nora Larson. She was predeceased by her husband: Clarence “Reichie” Reich and her brother: Robert Koontz.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday (7/16) in the church, 225 N. 10th Street, Easton, with visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the church; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Interment will be in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorials Contributions: May be made to First Moravian, 225 N. 10th St., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.