Obituaries

Herbert N. LaFever, 88, of Easton, died Saturday, November 24, 2012 in Easton Hospital.

Born:  May 21, 1924 in Wilson Borough, he was a son of the late Harvey G. LaFever and the late Leland and Mary (King) Longcor.

Personal:  He and his wife, the former Helen Pitela were married 62 years.  He was a printer for Hobson Printing, Wilson Borough for 50 years and retired in 1994.  He graduated from Easton High School in 1942 and served in the Army during WWII in the Asiatic – Pacific Theater.  He was a volunteer at the State Theatre and was a block captain for the Easton Area Block Watch Association.

Memberships:  He was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church and a member of the former First United Methodist Church, Easton where he served on various committees and was honored for being the head usher for over 40 years.

Survivors:  wife, Helen; daughter, Jill Moulthrop and her husband, Mark of Lehighton; 2 granddaughters, Lori Hontz and her husband, Matthew and Julie Carita and her fiancé, Chris Kelchner; a step-granddaughter, Vanessa Berger and her husband, Shawn; a step-great granddaughter, Alexis; a sister-in-law, Anna Brockett and a brother-in-law, Stephen Pitela and his wife, Shirley.  His son, Jack H. LaFever, his brother, Jesse LaFever and his sisters, Rella Todaro, Arlene Vincent and Mary Reiche died earlier.

Services:  1:00 pm Wednesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Call from noon until service time Wednesday in the funeral home.  Interment in Hays Cemetery.

Memorials:  Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, NY, NY 10163-4777, www.michaeljfox.org.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Miriam J. Welken. 94, formerly of Glen Head, NY, New Bern, NC and Salisbury, NC died peacefully on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 in Country Meadows Nursing Center, Bethlehem.

Born:  March 15, 1918 in Steele, ND, she was a daughter of the late Nels K. and Elida (Erickson) Nelson.

Personal:  She was the wife of the late Lloyd O. Welken, who died in 2004 and with whom she shared 61 years of marriage.

Survivors:  A son, Lloyd C. Welken and his wife, Joyce of Easton; a daughter, Mary J. Weisbach and her husband, Phil of Boulder, CO; a brother, Lloyd A. Nelson; a grandson, Cody Weisbach and his wife, Cara of Concord, MA and a granddaughter, Kristin Weisbach of Broomfield, CO.

Services:  A celebration of Miriam’s life will be held at a later date in North Dakota.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials:  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust, 11108 SE 40th St., Valley City, ND 58072.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Juliana Eberharter, 6, of Easton died Tuesday, November 20, 2012 in Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Born: August 13, 2006 in Bethlehem she was the daughter of Mary Green and the late Charles Christopher “Chris” Eberharter who died Nov. 20th.

Personal: She was a first grade student at Moravian Academy where she loved learning, singing, playing the piano and swimming. She also loved taking ballet and tap at the Nazareth Y, visiting the Learning Kingdom in Nazareth and greeting everyone with a hug.

Memberships: She was a member of the Forks Twp. Daisies.

Survivors: Her mother: Mary; grandparents: Joyce and Tom Green in FL; June Eberharter of Wynnewood, PA; aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Services: A Joint Memorial Mass for Juliana and her father will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday (11/28) in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 3219 Santee Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18020 with a calling period from 10 to 11 a.m. in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Interment will be private.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to Moravian Academy, for the Lower School Music Program, 7 E. Market St., Bethlehem, PA 18018. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Charles Christopher “Chris” Eberharter, 47, of Easton died suddenly Tuesday, November 20, 2012 in Forks Twp.

Born: September 24, 1965 in Washington, DC he was a son of June Nixon Eberharter of Wynnewood, PA and the late Herman Eberharter.

Personal: A graduate of St. Joseph’s Prep School in Philadelphia he was employed by Symantec Corporation for the past several years and was a consultant in the information technology field. He also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and in the political arena.

Survivors: His mother: June; brothers: Thomas and his wife Marie of Croton-on-Hudson, NY; Richard of North Wales, PA; sister: Judy of Drexel Hill, PA; niece: Paige Hannigan of North Wales and his daughter’s mother: Mary Green. His daughter: Juliana died Nov. 20th.

Services: A Joint Memorial Mass for Chris and his daughter will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday (11/28) in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 3219 Santee Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18020 with a calling period from 10 to 11 a.m. in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Interment will be private in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, PA.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to Moravian Academy, for the Lower School Music Program, 7 E. Market St., Bethlehem, PA 18018. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Viola M. Peters, 88, of Easton, died Sunday, November 18, 2012 in Easton Hospital.

Born:  February 18, 1924 in Tannersville, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Emma (Transue) Groner.

Personal:  Her husband, Carl Peters, Sr. died in 1971.  She was a seamstress for Yankee Sportswear, Easton.

Memberships:  She was a member of the 7th Ward Democratic Club and the Weston Club, Easton and was an avid bingo player and loved to go to the casinos.  She played bingo at the Astor Bingo Hall, Allentown and attended Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wilson Borough.

Survivors:  two daughters, Susan Worman of Easton and Eleanor Gable of Palmerton; two sons, Bill Miller of Blue Jay, CA and Barry Grube of Bath; a sister, Lucille Wallace of Pen Argyl; 8 step-children; 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.  Her companion, Charles Ehrie; three sisters, Lorraine Engler, Ruth Knitter and Martha Heitzman and 2 step-children died earlier.

Services:  10:00 am Saturday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.   Call from 6:30 – 8:00 pm Friday in the funeral home.  Interment in Hope Cemetery, Hecktown.

Memorials:  American Cancer Society, 393 Adler Place, Suite 170, Bethlehem, PA 18017 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Richard C. Shupp, Sr., 88 of Easton died Sunday, November 18, 2012 at home.

Born: June 30, 1924 in Easton he was a son of the late Aaron and Alice Weisenberger Shupp. His wife of 59 years, the former Teresa Lesher died in 2004.

Personal: He was a self-employed Master Plumber (Shupp Plumbing and Heating) for more than 60 years before retiring.

Memberships: He was a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Elks Club.

Survivors: 2 sons: Richard C., Jr. and his wife Zenaida of Palmer Twp.; Edward A. of Phillipsburg; 2 daughters: Beverly Skrapits and her husband Robert with whom he resided; Susan M. of Easton; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson. He was predeceased by his wife; 4 siblings: Clarence, Mildred Etter, Miriam Timmins, his twin: Robert and a granddaughter.

Services: Will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday (11/21) in Faith Community Assembly of God, 3000 Freemansburg Ave., 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.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the church or the American Cancer Society. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Robert D. Smith, Sr., 71 of Wilson Borough died Saturday, November 17, 2012 in Easton Hospital.

Born: July 29, 1941 in Easton he was a son of the late John R. and Gladys Everitt Smith. He and his wife, the former June Marie Sandt have been married for 49 years.

Personal: He was employed by Lafayette College on their grounds crew for 46 years; he also worked for the Express- Times as a night watchman and as security at the Governor Wolf Building and the Court House.

Memberships: He was a member of First Baptist Church, Palmer Twp.

Survivors: His wife: June; children: Lisa A. Smith of Easton; Melanie A. Miller and her husband Harry, Jr. of Nesquehoning; Robert D. Smith, Jr. of Bethlehem; Stephanie L. Bissey  and her husband Nathan of Bethlehem Twp.; brothers: John Smith of Nazareth; Bruce Smith of Kunkletown; and Harrison Kline, Jr. of Bushkill Twp.

Services: Noon Tuesday (11/20) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 14th and Northampton Sts., Easton; with visitation from 11 to noon in the funeral home. Interment will be in Forks Cemetery,  Forks Twp., PA

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.