Obituaries

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.

Roadlia M. Christian, 64, of Wilson died Monday, November 5, 2012 in Easton Hospital.

Born: July 13, 1948 in Easton she was a daughter of the late Edward, Sr. and Elsie Schiele Rogers.

Personal: She had been employed by Dixie Cup for many years, Regis Inventory and Wine Stuff.  She loved shuffleboard and going to the casino.   Memberships: She was VP of the Keystone Ladies Shuffleboard League and captain of her team; she was also a member of Franklin Hose, Pioneer Club, Am Vets and Avona Fire Co.

Survivors: Son: Kris Christian of Wilson; daughter: Angel Christian of Easton; siblings: Frederica Rogers, Edward Rogers, Jr. and James Rogers all of Wilson; Lois Wilson of Nazareth; John Rogers of Easton; and 2 grandchildren: T’leyah Coleman and Ta’mere Thomas.

Services: Memorial Service 3:00 p.m. Thursday (11/8) in Faith Community Assembly of God, 3000 Freemansburg Ave., Easton.

Memorials: May be made to the family % the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.ashtonfuneralhome.com.

Wanda Ivette Ramos, 49, of Allentown died Sunday November 4, 2012.

Born: November 2, 1963 in San Juan, Puerto Rico she was the daughter of the late Victor Ramos Martinez and Rita Esther Morales.

Survivors: She will always be remembered by: her sons: Carmelo Reyes, Elisamuel Reyes and his wife Asia of Allentown; Kenneth Reyes of Lancaster; Raymond Reyes and his wife Ana of Las Vegas; David Reyes and his wife Leah of Easton; brother: José Ramos of Allentown and 10 grandchildren. She was predeceased by brothers: Victor and Hector.

Services: Visitation will be held 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday (11/8) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton.

Memorials: May be made to the family % the funeral home.  Offer online condolences at www.ashtonfuneralhome.com.

Olga M. Grencer, 85, of Lutheran Manor, Bethlehem passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 3, 2012.

Born:  March 20, 1927 in Bethlehem, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Dekany) Lodics.

Personal:  Her husband, Prof. John Grencer, died in 1982.

Survivors:  A son, John J. Grencer, Sr. and his wife, Marian of Bethlehem Township; a brother, Ernest Lodics of Indiana and a grandson, John. Three brothers, John, Joseph and Charles Lodics and two sisters, Margaret Stocker and Velma Lodics died earlier.

Services:  Private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials:  Professor Grencer Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Development Office, Moravian College, 1200 Main St., Bethlehem, PA 18018.

Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Lillian T. “Lily” Sax, 101, of Easton, formerly of New Jersey died October 28, 2012 in ManorCare Nursing and Rehab Center, Palmer Twp.

Born: January 17, 1911 in Newark, NJ she was a daughter of the late Herman and Anna Steinhouse Turkel. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Nathan Sax and lived as a widow for almost 40 years.

Personal: She was a talented artist, spending her days at the piano. Lil was involved in numerous recitals, shows and musical events as a director, producer and accompanist. With very little encouragement, she would approach her Steinway and belt out any one of many Broadway show tunes. Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Cole Porter were just some of her favorites and she knew most of their work by heart! Family and music were so very important to her that a wedding, bar mitzvah, a day at the beach or any family gathering at holiday time filled her with great joy. Lil was so proud that her great-grandchildren have embraced music as she had and loved hearing them perform.

Survivors: Her daughter: Cynthia Joy Daniels with whom she resided; her son: Richard M. Sax, MD and his wife Janed of Huntington Beach, CA; 3 grandsons: Eric and his wife Joanne, Douglas, Steven and his wife Judy; and 5 great-grandchildren: Michael, Andrew, Zachary, Nathan and Molly whom she hopes will never forget the love she felt for them all.

Services: Graveside, Noon, Sunday (11/4) at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin, NJ; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is in charge of arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.ashtonfuneralhome.com.