Obituaries

Ruth E. Wikert, 87, of Palmer Township, died Tuesday, April 16, 2013 in her home.

Born:  August 2, 1925 in Hoboken, NJ, she was a daughter of the late Soren and Frances (Pelzer) Teien.

Personal:  Her husband, John Wikert died in 1984.  Ruth retired from Lafayette Trust, Easton in 1984.  She enjoyed traveling and playing bridge, bingo and blackjack.

Survivors:  Two sons, Bruce E. Wikert and Neal J. Wikert and his wife, Patricia of Forks Township; a daughter-in-law, Jeanne Kleca of Bethlehem; 5 grandchildren, Kevin Wikert, Julie Kast, Timothy Wikert, Tricia J. W. Driscoll and Audra A. Schwartz and 4 great grandchildren.  A sister, Anne Duryea died earlier.

Services:  2:00 pm Friday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.  Call from 1:00 pm until service time Friday in the funeral home.

Memorials:  Palmer Moravian Church, 2901 John St., Easton, PA 18045.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

William J. “Bill” Yarka, Jr., 47, of Wilson Borough, PA passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem  surrounded by loved ones.

Born: April 19, 1965 in New Brunswick, NJ he was a son of Barbara J. Yarka of Hillsborough, NJ and the late William J. Yarka, Sr.

Personal: A 1983 graduate of Somerset Vocational School, he had been a sheet metal foreman for 29 years. He also volunteered with the Boys Scouts for many years and enjoyed riding his Harley, camping with his family and watching ice hockey. Bill also loved his three cats: Oreo, Princess and Roy.

Memberships: He was an active member of New Creation United Church of Christ, Palmer and active on the Board of Mary Meuser Library, Wilson. He was a member of  the Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 22.

Survivors: His mother: Barbara; his wife of 25 years: Judy; daughter: Lindsey; son: Joseph, both of Wilson; 2 sisters: Kathy Lysy and her husband John of Allentown, NJ; Karen Zielonka and her husband Eddie of Midlothian, VA; a niece and 3 nephews. Bill will be greatly missed by the many lives he has touched.

Services: 11:00 a.m. Saturday (April 13) in New Creation UCC, 3730 Nicholas St., Easton with visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the church and 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the family for the benefit of his children.

Offer online condolences at www.ashtonfuneralhome.com.

Carrie E. Williams, 94, of Wilson Borough died Saturday, April 7, 2013 at Country Meadows, Bethlehem Twp., PA.

Born: January 1, 1919 in Bethlehem, PA she was the daughter of the late Valentine and Ida (Serfass) Uhler. Her husband Llewellyn L. Williams died in 2001.

Personal: She had been employed by Northampton Community College and the PA State Parole Board for several years.

Memberships: She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wilson.

Survivors: Son: Llewellyn J. Williams of Lehighton, PA; daughters: Sharon Haas of Wilson Borough; Gail Savidge of Hopewell, VA; 6 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday (Apr. 12) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton; with visitation from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in Forks Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2115 Washington Blvd., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Pasquale Pat Vitale, 81, of Forks Township, died Saturday, April 6, 2013 in VNA Hospice of St. Luke’s.

Born:  September 29, 1931 in Easton, he was a son of the late Joseph and Anna (Gagliardi) Vitale.

Personal:  His wife, the former Lucille J. Johnson died in 2007.  He and his brother, Joseph owned Royal Painting and Paper Hanging, Co., Easton.  He was later employed by The Express-Times and Home Depot.

Memberships:  Pat was a member of Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, Palmer Township and played football for Easton High School.

Survivors:  His brother, Joseph Vitale and his wife, Fran of Palmer Township and nieces and nephews.

Services:  Services will be private.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials:  Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, 715 Chestnut Lane, Easton, PA 18045.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

William B. Hutchens, 89, of Palmer Twp., PA died Saturday, April 6, 2013 at home.

Born: August 25, 1923 in Pittsburgh he was a son of the late George W. and Estella (Trainor) Hutchens. His wife, the former Betty Stevens died in 2008.

Personal: A 1950 graduate of Robert Morris University, he was the owner of the Garden State (Union 76) Truck Plaza in Bloomsbury, NJ from 1972 until retiring in 1997.  Prior to that he was in banking at the Butler Savings and Trust in Butler, PA from 1950 to 1961. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII in the European Theatre, receiving a Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters.

Memberships: He was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Northampton and former member of Grace Lutheran Church, Butler, PA where he served on Church Council and as a Scout Master. He was also a member of IWSA; Victory Lodge #694 F & AM and he served on the Boards of Warren Hospital, Vista Bank (now PNC) and the Minsi Trails Council BSA.

Survivors: Son: Scott Hutchens, with whom he resided; daughter: Joy Schreffler and her husband David of Dillsburg, PA; daughter-in-law: Daune Hutchens; sister: Patricia Bacher; 4 grandchildren: Rachel Williams and her husband Joshua, David Hutchens, Jocelyn and Bill McCreary; 2 step-grandchildren: Brian and Eric Schreffler; and 2 great-grandsons: Luke and Jeremiah Williams. He was predeceased by brothers: George A. Hutchens and Carl Rose.

Services:  6:00 p.m. Tuesday (April 9) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton; with visitation from 5 to 6 p.m. in the funeral home.  A graveside service with military honors will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday (Apr. 12) in the Butler Co. Memorial Park Mausoleum, Evans City Rd., Butler, PA.

Memorial Contribtions: May be made to:  Joy El Camps @ www.joyelcamps.org or 3741 Joy-El Drive, Greencastle, PA 17225.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.