Obituaries

On Sunday, February 12, 2023, Robert A. Nitchkey, Sr., 87 of Palmer Twp., PA passed peacefully from the embrace of his loving family into the open arms of his Savior, in time to spend Valentine’s Day and (on Feb. 20) their 68th wedding anniversary, with his bride, Bertha Mae (Stetler), who preceded him in death in 2016. Born in Wilson Borough, PA, he was a son of the late August and Lillian (Koch) Nitchkey and graduated from Easton High School in 1954.

Bob had a deep love for our country and was proud to have served in the US Air Force from June of 1954 until he was honorably discharged in June of 1962, the latter four years in the Reserves. Toward the end of his Reserves duty, he awoke from an extended coma after surgery for a brain tumor and went on to work as a machinist for 42 years at Harvel Plastics, Forks Twp., until retiring in Oct. of 2006. Bob was a member of the American Legion, Post #9; Junior Order of Mechanics; a Miller Blood Bank donor; and life member of the Sampson Air Force Veteran’s Association. He loved gardening and in between the “occasional” political comment on Facebook, also loved watching his Philadelphia Eagles. However, he most loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, in all of whom he constantly expressed boundless pride.

Bob is survived by his son: Robert A. Nitchkey, Jr. (wife Terry) of Forks Twp.; his daughter: Darlene Stahl (husband Roy) of Palmer Twp.; sister: Jean Gertner (husband James); grandsons: Jason Nitchkey (wife Ashley), Justin Nitchkey (wife Maria), Jesse Nitchkey (fiancé Anna); granddaughters: Kaitlyn Stahl, Amanda Stahl Hansley (husband Fred); great-grandson: Grey Hansley; great-granddaughter: Lucy Elizabeth Nitchkey (daughter of Justin and Maria); and countless friends and neighbors who were like family to him. He was predeceased by his brother William Nitchkey.

Services are 10 AM Saturday (Feb. 18) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with visitation 6 to 7:30 PM Friday. Interment with military honors will be in The Historic Easton Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project or the Disabled American Veterans. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Arlene Kramer-Feltham, 86, formerly of Manalapan and Marlboro, NJ, passed away Friday, February 10, 2023 in Moravian Hall Square, Nazareth. Born February 12, 1936 in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Salvatore and Bessie (Finkelstein) LaMonaco. Her first husband, Edward Kramer and her second husband, Dieter Feltham predeceased her as well as her brother Neil LoMonaco.
While family was her greatest joy, she provided service to others through her 30+ year career in real estate as a broker/agent for Coldwell Banker and Weichert Realtors. A hard worker both at home and in her career, Arlene still found time for a love for the arts, especially the works of Michelangelo, with a visit to Italy to see his works being one of her favorite trips.

Surviving are two sons, Ira Kramer and his wife, Emma of Nazareth and Dr. Lawrence Kramer and his wife, Linda of Middlesex, NJ; five grandchildren, Rebecca Manzi and her husband, Cameron, Rachael Kramer, Miriam Kramer, Sarah Kramer, and Ruth Kramer; and three great grandchildren, Christian, Adaline, and Oliver. She is missed greatly by all of them!

Services will be held at 12:30 pm on Saturday, February 18, 2023 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. A visitation will be held from Noon until service time on Saturday in the funeral home. Interment will be in Neshanic Cemetery, Hillsborough, NJ.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, www.nationalmssociety.org or Cerebral Palsy https://donate.cerebralpalsyfoundation.org/give/95593/#!/donation/checkout.
Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Frances R. Dean, 78, of Palmer Township, passed away Friday, February 10, 2023 in Arden Courts, Old Orchard. Born June 13, 1944 in Lexington, KY, she was the daughter of the late George J. and Louise (Thompson) Reynolds. She and her husband, Joel Dean, were married 55 years. She graduated from Lafayette High School, Lexington Kentucky in 1962. She went on to study elementary education at Eastern Kentucky University and graduated in 1966. It was there that she met her husband, Joel Dean. They married in July of 1967 and moved to Pennsylvania where she started her teaching career in the Council Rock School District, Bucks County. The family grew to four with the birth of two boys, Scott and Chris. She started playing tennis when they moved to New Orleans in 1975 and she greatly enjoyed raising her family. The family moved back to Pennsylvania in 1980, living in Easton, where she re-entered teaching at Palmer and Tracy Elementary Schools. She retired in 2001. She continued to be active with her family and friends and enjoyed annual trips to Florida during the winter as well as many trips to visit with friends and family. She played competitive USTA tennis for many years and went to districts many times and nationals in Arizona with her team. She was a long-time member of Northwood Racquet and Fitness Club. She was a volunteer for various organizations, such as Meals on Wheels and URW Club and was a member of the Allentown Area Corvette Club. Frances was a devout Presbyterian and a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Easton.

Surviving with her husband, Joel, are two sons, Scott Dean and his wife, Lisa, and Chris Dean and his wife, Meredith; a brother, Robert Reynolds and his wife, Martha; seven grandchildren, Kim, Jeremy, Jacob, Justin, Drew, Jack, and Quinn; and a great grandson, Dash. A grandson, Josh, and a great granddaughter, Daejah, passed away earlier.

Services will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, February 17, 2023 in First Presbyterian Church of Easton.  A visitation will be held from 2:00 to 3:00 pm on Friday in the church.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.  Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Easton, 333 Spring Garden St., Easton PA 18042 or the Chris Kicking Butt GoFundMe account, https://www.gofundme.com/f/chris-kicking-butt.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

After a short illness, Henry “Hank” A. Lee, 93, passed away peacefully Feb. 4, 2023 in Tucson, AZ. He grew up in Easton, PA, a proud graduate of Lafayette College, where he earned a B. Sc. in electrical engineering. He maintained close ties with classmates and the college all his life. His 35-year career in project management with Standard Oil (Exxon) allowed him and his family to live in eight countries on four continents. He served the next five years as Director of the NATO Science for Stability Programme in Brussels. Later, he authored a book about the programme’s many projects. Once settled in Arizona, he loved to play golf, volunteer at the elementary school and work on his vintage automobile. Henry and his wife traveled the world and enjoyed Tucson’s many cultural offerings.

Henry wrote with passion and precision about experiences such as working on the family farm and playing sax and clarinet in a dance band and a marching band in his youth. A man who loved wandering old hardware stores and eating ice cream, he left us with memories of his hearty belly laugh, his ease with a slide rule, his puns, his sense of adventure, his delight in encouraging youngsters, and his compassion, generosity and probity. He was a true gentleman.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years: Marie-Pierre Lee, daughters: Diana Groden and Karen (Thomas) Grue, sons: Eric (Sabine) Lee and Patrick (Leanne) Lee, grandchildren: Aden (Taniah) Grue, Dustin (Allison) Grue, Matthew (Loriann) Groden, Renée Berol, Chelsey Grue, Spencer Lee and Julia Lee, great-grandchildren: Liliana Groden and Emilia Groden, sister: Virginia (Fred Jr.) Shotwell, niece: Gwendolyn (Jack) Swire and nephew: Fred (Jeanne) Shotwell III. He was preceded in death by his former wife: Josephine Lee, son: Robert Lee, daughter: Krista Lee, and parents: Alderman Lee and Elsie Lee.

Services are 11 AM Thursday (Feb. 16) in the Palmer Moravian Church, 2901 John St., Easton, PA with visitation 10 to 11 AM. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sarver Heart Center (www.heart.arizona.edu) or the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org). Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Robert T. Tintle, 85, of Lopatcong Township, died Monday, January 30, 2023 in his home. Born September 5, 1937 in Paterson, NJ, he was the son of the late Robert C. and Concepcion (Franco) Tintle. He and his wife, Susan L. (Haines) Tintle were married 65 years. He served in the National Guard and worked for Elastimold and Chardon Rubber Co. He was a member of Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church and was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. He enjoyed antique cars, especially his Ford Model T.

Surviving with his wife, Susan, are two daughters, Cheryl Tintle and Lisa Riddle; two sons, Michael Tintle and his wife, Jan and William Tintle and his wife, Chris; and thirteen grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 11, 2023 in Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church. A visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 am on Saturday in the church. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church, 17 Greenwich Church Rd., Stewartsville, NJ 08886. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Nora E. Lease, 80, of Wake Forest, NC, formerly of Bethlehem, died Monday, January 30, 2023 in her home. Born September 6, 1942 in Bethlehem, she was the daughter of the late James and Sue (Prosser) Stewart. Her husband, William C. Lease died in 2003. Nora graduated from Liberty High School. She was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, Cary, NC and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Surviving are two daughters, Shery Klaus and Mindy Spreen; a son, William Lease; and six grandchildren. Her sister, Pat Jacoby died earlier.

Services will be private with entombment in the Bethlehem Memorial Park mausoleum. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

John Biddle Foley, 95 of Phillipsburg, NJ died Monday, January 23, 2023 at home. Born February 23, 1927 in Park Ridge, NJ he was a son of the late Joseph and Sibyl (Abbott) Foley. He was a graduate of Blairstown High School where he loved theatre and baseball. He served in the Navy on the USS Topeka off the coast of Japan during WWII.

He received his bachelor’s degree from The New Jersey Teacher’s College in 1951 and was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity. He taught Industrial Arts at Philipsburg High School for many years before retiring in 1984 and was known as “Flash Foley” for taking pictures at sporting events and for the yearbook. John was also very proud of his restoration work on the school clock. He volunteered at the Firth Youth Center in Phillipsburg, where he was honored with the Community Service Award and he served on the Shade Tree Commission.

John built his own home in Phillipsburg (living there his whole life) including a putting green where he taught the neighbor kids to golf. He met his wife, the former Shirley (Scott) Smith, on the CB radio (he was Captain Jack, she was Shotgun Shirley), they married in 1984 and spent 34 years together before her passing in 2017. They enjoyed their cabin in the Poconos, where he loved to cut wood for heating and they loved camping in Canada with friends, where he fished on the St. Lawrence from his boat.

He is survived by his beloved family: his stepdaughter: Cindy Moskella and her husband Michael; 5 grandchildren: Carin Kocher (one of his primary caregivers in his last years), Jessica Pretopapa, Jaclyn Best, Christopher and Alexander Smith; 5 great-grandchildren: Adrianna, Carly, Chase, Rowan and Rylan; and his sister: Mary Ellen Schwartz. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley, brothers: Joseph, Peter, Andrew and David Foley and stepson: John K. Smith.

Graveside services with military honors will be held 11 AM, Friday, Feb. 3 at Union Cemetery, New Williams, Morgan Hill Rd., Easton. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

The family wishes to express special thanks to all his care givers over the years, especially Helen who was his guardian angel and with him the day he left this earth and gratitude to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice’s wonderful, supportive team. In lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks that you take a moment to hug your children, grandchildren or friend or walk in the woods for a moment, an hour, or a day…as time waits for no one.