Obituaries

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.

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, 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.

Shirley A. Smith, 75, of Easton, died Monday, March 12, 2012 in Old Orchard Health Care Center.

Born: April 28, 1936 in Smith Gap, PA, she was a daughter of the late Preston and Nora (Smith) Correll.

Personal: Her husband, James E. Smith, Sr. died in 2007.

Memberships: She was a member of the Christian Women’s Club, Easton.

Survivors: Four sons, James E. Smith, Jr. of Wilson Borough, Dean A. Smith of Forks Township, Douglas P. Smith of Wilson Borough and Dana A. Smith of Easton; two daughters, Lynn S. Cooper of Hamburg and Deborah A. Sapp of Bethlehem; a brother, Samuel Correll; a sister, Lorraine Schnell; 13 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.  A granddaughter died earlier.

Services: 1:00 pm Friday in Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church, 3100 Hecktown Rd., Bethlehem. Call from noon until service time Friday in the church.  Interment in Middlecreek Cemetery, Kresgeville.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.

Memorials: Heartland Hospice, 881 Marcon Blvd., #3700, Allentown, PA 18109.