Ashton Funeral Home

Obituaries

Julia-Ellen Swartwood Smickle

March 30, 2012

Julia-Ellen Swartwood Smickle, 88, passed away Friday, March 30, 2012 in Easton Hospital.

Born: April 30, 1923 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late James Elsworth and Mary Florence (Smith) Swartwood.

Personal:  Her husband, William C. Smickle passed away in 2009. Julia-Ellen was a lifelong resident of Wilson Borough.   She graduated from Wilson High School in 1941 and was a graduate of West Chester University. She received her master’s degree from Lehigh University.  She became a very popular social studies and music teacher in the Wilson School District for 44 years and is still remembered by former students and teachers alike.  Julia-Ellen was an accomplished musician.  She played the piano, violin and viola and was a piano teacher.  She was an animal lover and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.  She also volunteered over 4,000 hours at The Crayola Factory.

Memberships: She was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Easton and the International Order of the King’s Daughters and Sons.

Survivors: Julia-Ellen is survived by cousins, nieces, a nephew and many friends.

Services: 10:30 am Wednesday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Call from 9:30 am until service time Wednesday in the funeral home.

Memorials: Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Park Rd., Easton, PA 18042.

Justina A. Mendoza

March 30, 2012

Justina A. Mendoza, 86, of Bethlehem Twp., PA formerly of Moravian House, Bethlehem died Friday, March 30, 2012 at St. Luke’s Hospital-Anderson Campus.

Born: April 13, 1925 in the Philippines she was a daughter of the late Bernard and Eugenia Arcon. She attended CIT Adult Day Care in Forks Township.

Survivors: Daughters: Leda Lomibao and her husband Eduardo, with whom she resided; Bernadette Mendoza of San Diego, CA; and  granddaughters: Dr. Frances Lomibao of Pittsburgh; Adel Lomibao of Bethlehem Twp.; and Ida Lomibao of Manhattan. She was predeceased by her husband, Francisco Mendoza.

Services: Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday (4/2) at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, 4049 Hartley Street, Palmer Twp. with a calling period from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the church. Arrangements: Ashton Funeral Home, 14th & Northampton Sts., Easton. Interment: Northampton Memorial Shrine.

 

Betty Frances Dietz

March 25, 2012

Betty Frances Dietz, 86, of Washington, NJ, formerly of Easton died Sunday, March 25, 2012 in Hackettstown Hospital.

Born: February 15, 1926 in Easton she was a daughter of the late John and Dorothy Smith. Her husband Raymond E. Dietz, Sr. died in 1995.

Personal: She had been employed by Electric Sanitary Laundry in Easton for many years before retiring. An avid bingo player she also loved to watch Dancing with the Stars.

Memberships: She was a member of Arndt’s Lutheran Church, Forks Twp.

Survivors: 2 sons: Raymond, Jr. and his wife Sondra of Washington, NJ; John and his wife Wendy of Pen Argyl, PA; a daughter: Carol Morley and her husband Jesse of Easton; 2 sisters: Hope Greffe of Mountaintop; Jane Francis of Easton; 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Her faithful dog Jasper died earlier.

Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday (3/29) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with a calling period from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment will be in Arndts Cemetery, Forks Twp.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the American Lung Assoc. or the Center for Animal Health and Welfare, 1165 Island Pk. Rd., Easton.

Russell W. Brandt

March 23, 2012

Name: Russell W. Brandt, 65, of Nazareth, PA died Friday, March 23, 2012 after being stricken at home.

Born: September 25, 1946 in Milwaukee, WI he was the son of Willard Rolland Brandt in Milwaukee, WI and the late Lorraine Wentz Brandt.

Personal: He received his BS and MBA from the University of Wisconsin and had been the Exec. Dean of Advancement at Warren County Community College since 2006. Prior to that he had been the VP of Fund Development at the Easton, Phillipsburg Family YMCA; VP for Institutional and Alumnae Affairs at Cedar Crest College; Director of The Valley Health Foundation for Easton Hospital from 1990 until 2002; Exec. Director of the General Hospital Center Foundation in Passaic, NJ from 1984 to 1990 and Director of Fund Raising for various United Ways in NJ and WI from 1974 to 1984.  He received the Northampton County Distinguished Sales and Marketing Award in 2000 and took much pride in showing his vintage corvette.

Memberships: He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Nazareth and former member of the Easton Rotary Club and Phillipsburg Kiwanis Club. He served on the Board of Directors of the Sales and Marketing Executives of Northampton County and was a member of the Association of Hospital Philanthropy and Association of Fund Raising Professionals.

Survivors:  His father; his wife: Susan; 2 sons: Ryan and Jason, both at home; and 2 sisters: Leanne Jaques and Marlyn Brahm both in WI.

Services: 11:00 a.m. Friday (3/30) in St. John’s Lutheran Church, 200 S. Broad St., Nazareth, PA with visitation from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Charles W. Zehnder

March 22, 2012

Charles W. Zehnder, 79, of Bethlehem Twp. died Thursday, March 22, 2012 in Manor Care Health Services, Old Orchard.

Born: December 4, 1932 in Easton he was a son of the late William and Dorothy Carty Zehnder.
 
Personal: He had been employed by Taylor-Wharton for many years before retiring from Stark Lumber Mills in Bath.  A  graduate of Easton High School, he was an avid hunter and served in the US Army.

Survivors: His wife of 47 years, the former Ellen LuRae Mullen; a daughter Julia Viscomi of Greenville, NC; a granddaughter: Ashlee Snider and her husband Byron of Hanna City, IL; and a great-granddaughter: Lillian. He was predeceased by his sister: Joan Marie Zehnder and a stillborn son: Steven.

Services: Will be 10 a.m. Monday (3/26) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St.,  Easton with visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. Interment will be in Hays Cemetery, Easton.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to Sacred Heart Hospice, 2268 So. 12th St., Allentown, PA 18103.

Reverend Clair N. Bath

March 21, 2012

Reverend Clair N. Bath, 93, formerly of Palmer Township, passed away Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at Old Orchard Health Care Center.

Born: April 4, 1918 in Wilson Borough, he was the son of the late Norman J. and Elsie Baskwill Bath.

Personal: Clair was preceded in death by his wife, Laura “Peg” Eck Bath on November 23, 2007 to whom he was married for 67 years.  He was employed in the Production Scheduling Department at the Bethlehem Steel Company (Alloy and Tool Steel Division-Lehigh Plant), January 1941 to January 1981.  Clair graduated from Easton High School in 1935, Moravian College in 1939 and Wesley Theological Seminary Course of Study, Washington, DC in 1984.

Memberships: He was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church since 1933 where he served on the Official Board, 1945 to 1970.  Also, he served on Commissions on Education and Evangelism.  He served in the Boy Scouts of America for 22 years as Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and Explorer Advisor of Troop 27 and attended Camp Weygadt several years where he received the Order of the Arrow Award.  He attended Philmont Scout Reservation as an assistant leader for a 10-day hiking and camping trip in July of 1957.  Also, he served as Institutional Representative-Chairman of the District Advancement Committee.  He was appointed Pastor of Raubsville United Methodist Church in June 1970 and served until June 1987.  He served as Visitation Pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church from 1987 to 2002.

Survivors: He is survived by a sister, Winifred B. Huyck of Paducah, KY; his two sons, Robert Bath and his wife, Doris of Philadelphia and Richard Bath and his wife, Elaine of Palmer Township; three grandchildren, Kristie, Jonathan and Anthony and two great grandchildren, Gabriella and Mason.  A sister, Marjorie J. Carver died earlier.

Services: Will be held Monday at 2:00 pm in Calvary United Methodist Church, 4411 Green Pond Rd., Easton.  Call on Monday from 1:00 pm until service time in the church.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials: May be made to Calvary United Methodist Church, 4411 Green Pond Rd., Easton, PA 18045.

Natalie M.McGowan

March 20, 2012

Natalie M. McGowan, 69, of Raubsville, PA died Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg.

Born: November 26, 1942 in Queens, NY she was a daughter of the late Ehrheardt “Fred” and Natalie Miller Kohm, Jr.

Personal: She had been a nurse at Warren Hospital for more than 20 years before retiring. She loved gardening, traveling, cruising, dancing, crabbing, baking, bingo, ceramics and time with her granddaughters.

Memberships: She had been a member of the former St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Raubsville and volunteer for the William’s Twp. Emergency Squad.

Survivors: 5 sons: Donald, Jr. and his wife Mary of Piscataway, NJ; Brian and Cullen of Raubsville; Scott of Bethlehem; Patrick of Worcester, MA; a daughter: Colleen of Easton; 2 sisters: Charlene Rosen of Parker, CO; Cheryl Hons of Hillsborough, NJ; 2 granddaughters: Nora and Kaylee and companion: Nick Colucci of Washington, NJ. Her husband Donald McGowan, Sr. and sister Judy Kohm died earlier.

Services: Will be 10 a.m. Saturday (3/24) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton; with visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Interment will be in St. John’s Union Cemetery, New Williams.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the American Cancer Society, 3893 Adler Place, Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Robert A. Noone, Sr.

March 19, 2012

Robert A. Noone, Sr., 74, of Easton died Monday, March 19, 2012 in ManorCare Health Services, Palmer Twp.

Born: June 30, 1937 in Easton he was a son of the late Fritz Noone and Mabel Stocker Noone Shellenberger.

Personal: He was self-employed as a plumber for many years before retiring.

Memberships: He was a member of the Citizens Hose and life-member of the Order of the Fleas.

Survivors: Children: Robert, Jr. and his wife Patricia of Allentown; Deborah; Richard and his wife Pamela; Stephen all of Easton;  a brother: Donald; 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife the former Cathleen Arnold in 2005 and son James in 1993.

Services: Will be private; the Ashton Funeral Home, 14th & Northampton Sts.,  Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorial Contributions: May be made to the American Cancer Society, 3893 Adler Pl., Bethlehem, PA 18017.