Obituaries

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.

Darlene Ellen Solove, 73, of Allentown, PA died Sunday, January 22, 2023 at home. Born October 2, 1949 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late William and Madeline (Arnold) Smith. She was a 1967 graduate of Easton High School and played drums for various local rock and Christian Bands in the 1970’s and 80’s. She was employed by Ingersoll-Rand from 1978 to 1987 and Pinebrook Family Services from 2000 to 2022. Darlene was a Suburban Rescue Squad volunteer and Awana Program Assistant for Fellowship Church. She also loved spending time with her family especially her 3 granddaughters.

She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Daniel M. Solove; her daughter: Sarah DeJesus (Feliciano, Jr.) of Ft. Myers, FL; sister: Deborah Mucklin (Jeffrey) of Easton, PA and 3 granddaughters: Chloe, Arianna, and Leah. She was predeceased by her brother: William Smith.

Services are 10:30 AM Thursday, Jan. 26, in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with visitation 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Interment is in The Historic Easton Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Ronald P. Lobb, Sr., 80, of Easton, died Sunday, January 22, 2023 in Gracedale.  Born March 31, 1942 in Easton, he was the son of the late Samuel Lobb, Sr. and Edith (Strauss) Lobb.  He worked for the Hunterdon Developmental Center, Clinton.  Prior to that he worked for Ecolaire, West Easton and Ingersoll Rand, Phillipsburg.

Surviving are two sons, Ronald Lobb, Jr. and his wife, Kathleen of Easton, and Randy Lobb and his wife, Kelly of Nazareth; five grandchildren, Zachary, Kaitlyn, Daniel, Mason, and Nolan; and two great grandchildren, Dovelyn and Chayton.  Three brothers, Samuel Lobb, John Lobb, and Robert Lobb and two sisters, Geraldine Poff and Sandra Harrie died earlier.

A graveside service will be held at 9:30 am on Friday, January 27, 2023 in The Historic Easton Cemetery, North 10^th Street, Easton.  The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements.  Memorial contributions may be made to Batten Disease Support & Research Association, www.BDSRAfoundation.org.  Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Dave’s family is heartbroken to announce that David L. Ott, 65, of Easton, PA passed away peacefully at home on January 19, 2023, surrounded by his loving family and faithful companion, Lilly, his English Cream Retriever, after a courageous battle with ALS. Born December 15, 1957 in Betts Hospital, Easton, he was the son of the late Edward and Lois (Lennen) Ott. He graduated from Easton High School in 1975 and later earned his Master’s Plumbers license from LCCC. He worked at Easton Hospital for 30 years, transitioned to Dual-Temp and finally, followed his dream by owning and operating Ott’s Plumbing, LLC. He was often referred to as the plumber of College Hill.

Dave touched many lives in his short time with us, he was known as “Otter” to some of his closest friends and was the kindest, most gentle, hardworking, and caring man anyone could know. A true gentleman, he was dedicated to his family, with a passion for life and, of course, his black C6 Corvette. But Dave’s zest for life came mostly from time spent on the Delaware River. There are so many special memories created from canoeing, jet skiing, boating, waterskiing, or even just sitting peacefully on the dock with family and friends! The river will always be “our happy place” because of Dave!

Dave was a member of the Delaware Canoe Club, Easton Area Corvette Club, Allentown Area Corvette Club, Easton Hospital Bowling League and a member of numerous softball leagues throughout the area, including: Industrial League, Metro League and Palmer League.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Lisa (Hess) Ott; his daughter: Jennifer Ott of Easton; his siblings: Edward Ott (Nancy) of Forks Twp., PA, Tom Ott of Kansas City, MO, Janet Miller (Allen) of Mt. Bethel, PA, Robert Ott of Easton, Paul Ott (Lori) of Cummings, GA; 3 grandchildren, whom he loved dearly: Isabel, Isaac, and Cali and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

A calling period will be held Friday, Feb. 3, from 4 to 6 PM in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St. Easton, PA. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers or donations, Lisa and Jennifer ask that you spend a little extra “quality” time with a loved one, as life is too short, and each moment is special.