Obituaries

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.

Elizabeth M. Cryan, 57, of Easton, died Friday, July 12, 2013 in her home. She was born August 30, 1955 in Phillipsburg, NJ.

Survivors: Four children: Preston in Alabama; Dorothea of Easton; Richard and April of Phillipsburg; and 12 grandchildren.

Services: A Memorial Service will be held 6:00 p.m. Saturday, July 20th at Cornerstone Church, 411 March St., Easton, PA.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the family in care of the funeral home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Opal M. “Opie” Myers, 89, of Easton, died Saturday, July 6, 2013 in Easton Hospital.

Born: February 2, 1924 in Halifax, PA, she was a daughter of the late Rev. William Russell and Bessie M. (Bitner) Murlatt.

Personal:  Her husband, Luther M. Myers died in 1972.  She was a captain for Globe Security at various locations including Ingersoll Rand, Ecolaire, Mack Printing and Dixie Cup until retiring in 1977.  She was a graduate of Enola High School, Valley Forge Christian College and Eastern Bible Institute.  Opie hunted in Alaska and has trophy moose, grizzly and caribou.

Memberships:  She was a member of Central Assembly of God, Bethlehem.

Survivors:  A son, Stephen H. Bookwalter and his wife, Linda of Easton; a grandson, Stephen J. Bookwalter and 5 great grandchildren, Bryana, Lauren, Shayne, Julia and Connor.  Her brothers, Austin, Jesse and Eddie died earlier.

Services:  7:00 pm Tuesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Call from 6:00 pm until service time Tuesday in the funeral home.  Interment will be held at noon on Wednesday in Rolling Green Cemetery, Camp Hill, PA.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Mary Ethelwyn (Pat) Price, 84, died June 24, 2013 in Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA.

Born: A longtime resident of Brookline, MA, she was raised in Phillipsburg, NJ and was the daughter of the late U. Grant and Ethel (Alpaugh) Price.

Personal: Following graduation from Phillipsburg High School in 1946, Mary Price, whose family and friends called her “Pat” (in her childhood her family called her “Patsy”) moved to the Boston area to attend art school. She had a long career in advertising, including the Boston Herald Traveler newspaper and eventually at the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, from which she retired as advertising manager. Following her retirement, Mary suffered a stroke and was treated for the resulting aphasia at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Grateful for the care she received there she remained a strong supporter of the hospital, contributing to the creation of a speech therapy area in its newly opened Charlestown facility. Mary was a talented watercolorist, antique button collector and traveled throughout the United States, Canada and England.

Survivors: She leaves her brother and sister-in-law: Stanley and Dorothy Price of Easton and a niece: Pamela Lechner of Sacramento, CA, as well as many friends.

Services: Will be Graveside 11:00 a.m. Thursday in South Easton Cemetery, Easton; the  Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials: Contributions in her memory may be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 137 Chambers St., Phillipsburg, NJ 08865.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com

Odell Hargrove, 75, of Forks Twp., PA formerly of Hillside, NJ died Friday, June 28, 2013 at home.

Born: February 26, 1938 in South Hill, VA he was a son of the late William and Lucy Harris Hargrove.

Personal: Odell was a great provider for his family working at RLB Trucking for 35 years before retiring at the age of 73. In his time here on earth, he enjoyed fishing, cooking for his family and watching sports.

Memberships: He was a member of the Pentecostal Church.

Survivors: His wife of 40 years, Minnie (Kelley) Hargrove; two sons: Odell Hargrove, Jr. of Hackettstown, NJ and Jermaine Hargrove of Hillside, NJ; 2 brothers and 2 sisters.

Services: Will be private; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com