Obituaries

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.

Minerva M. Benson, 89, of Easton died Saturday, November 17, 2012 in the Lehigh Valley Hospital Hospice Unit, Allentown.

Born: August 4, 1923 in Harmony, NJ she was a daughter of the late Clarence B. and LaWanda Lefler Miller. Her husband: John R. Benson, Sr. died in 1995.

Personal: A 1941 graduate of  Belvidere High School, she had been employed by the Easton Area School District at Palmer Elementary in the cafeteria for many years before retiring; prior to that she worked for Dr. Wolf at his Easton office.

Memberships: She was a charter and active member of Palmer Moravian Community Church, Palmer Twp.

Survivors: Children: Heston “Chip” Woolf, Jr. and his wife Carol of Georgetown, TX; Carol Buss and her husband Tim of Palmer Twp., PA; Marianne L. Woolf of Meadowview, VA; John Benson, Jr. and his wife Barbara of Breinigsville, PA; Mary Bray of Palmer Twp., PA; Sally Becker and her husband James of Bethlehem Twp., PA; Sue E. Steltz of Macungie, PA; sister: Marion M. Harmon with whom she resided; 8 grandchildren: Kelly, Grant, Kari, Jenny, Scott, Daniel, Jenna, and Barrett; 9 great-grandchildren and her first husband: Heston G. Woolf, Sr. of Palmer Twp., PA

Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday (11/21) in the church, 2901 John Street, Easton, PA with visitation from 1 to 2 p.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 Lehigh Valley Hospice, 2166 S. 12th St., Allentown, PA 18103. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Richard L. Kram, 80, of Williams Twp., PA died Wednesday, November 7, 2012 in St. Luke’s Hospital.

Born: January 23, 1932 in Bethlehem he was a son of the late Paul and Mildred Mitman Kram. He and his wife, the former Marion E. Bachman, have been married for 50 years.

Personal: A 1951 graduate of Liberty HS, he had been employed by Bethlehem Steel #2 Machine Shop for 44 years before retiring in 1995. He served in the Army during the Korean War.

Memberships: He was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Riegelsville; the Citizen’s Hose; a charter member of the former Williams Twp. Lions Club; life member of Fearless Fire Co., Catasauqua; Past-Commander of Honorary First Defenders Bethlehem-Easton Chapter; American Legion Post #215, Catasauqua where he served on the military honors squad; NCOA of Lehigh Valley #111 and he was the recipient of the Legion of Honor Award from the Chapel of Four Chaplains. He also volunteered with the Williams Twp. Fire Co.

Survivors: His wife: Marion; son: Jeffrey R. and his wife Tracy; daughter: Lori D. and twin granddaughters: Jessica and Katelyn all of Williams Twp. He was predeceased by a brother: Paul, Jr.

Services: Will be held 10 a.m. Monday (11/12) in the Ashton Funeral Home,   1337 Northampton St., Easton, with visitation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Interment will be in Raubsville Cemetery with military honors.

Memorials: May be made to American Legion Post #215, %Dennis Kisthart 330 2nd St., Catasauqua, PA 18032. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.