Obituaries

Mary P. James, 100, of Wilson Borough, PA died Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at New Eastwood Health Care, Wilson. Born September 4, 1924, in Ashley, Luzerne County, near Wilkes-Barre, PA. She was a daughter of the late William H. and Mary Jane (Owens) Pope. Robert James, her husband for 54 years, died in 1996. She was a graduate of Easton High School, Class of 1942, and a graduate of Northampton Community College. Mary was a library aide at Wilson Borough Area High School and the Medical Librarian at Easton Hospital, from 1975 until retiring in 1991. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Easton.

She is survived by her children: Judith M. James of Denver, CO and Robert S. James of Northampton, PA; granddaughter: Laura James; great-granddaughter: Zara VanStry; her brother: Richard Pope; her sister: Eleanore Dodwell; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert James; brothers: William L. Pope, who died in World War II, and James Pope; and sisters: Ruth Bowan and Margaret Heller.

Services are private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Due to the threat of inclement weather, the services will also be live-streamed on the church’s Facebook page.  

Timothy A. Cain, 77, of Palmer Township passed away Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at Lehigh Valley Hospital. He was born May 1, 1947 in Berwick, PA. Tim was the son of the late Joseph T. and Betty (Fink) Cain. He and his wife, Constance “Connie” (Border) Cain, were married 58 years. Tim was a graduate of Berwick Area High School and attended Bloomsburg University. He was a Sports Commentator and News Director for WEST/WLEV in Easton from 1969-1987. Following his radio career, he worked for a private water utility company in NJ and then spent 22 years as an Account Executive and Marketing Director for Kressler, Wolff & Miller. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Easton where he served multiple terms as Deacon and Elder. Tim was a 35-year member and past president of the Easton Lions Club; a member of the Easton and Phillipsburg Area Chambers of Commerce; and, an 18-year member of the board of the Easton Suburban Water Authority and served as chairman from 2009-2021. Tim is survived by his wife, Connie, their two daughters, Kim Langlois (husband Alexis) and Kelly Young (husband Philip); and grandchildren: Jeremie, Gabriel, Naomi, Mitchell and Dillon. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 8, 2025 in First Presbyterian Church of Easton, 333 Spring Garden St. A visitation will be held from 1:00 pm until service time on Saturday in the church. Coffee and dessert will follow the service. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Easton or Easton Lions Club. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com. 

Myra I. Zoccola, 101 of Palmer Twp., PA passed away Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Vintage Knolls, Danville, PA. Born November 2, 1923 in Easton, PA she was a daughter of the late Albert Weeks and Evelyn (Fortner) Werkheiser Fretz and Raymond Werkheiser. As a child, she could often be found helping her mother and grandmother in their produce stand at the Arcade Market in downtown Easton. She was a graduate of Easton High School, where she was voted best dressed in her class. Myra graduated from Traphagen School of Fashion in NYC and attended the Philadelphia College of Art. While in school, she was featured in the NY Times for her design of one of the first women’s two-piece bathing suits.

Following graduation, she designed children’s clothing in NYC for Luv Brand. After WWII, she returned to Easton and married Frank Zoccola who died in 2001. Myra then worked for Rembrandt Photography Studio, painting photographs and she also worked as the office manager in her husband’s State Farm Insurance office for many years. Myra loved painting with watercolors, swimming in her pool, travelling to Europe with her husband, tending to her flower garden and spending time with family.

She was very special and will be missed very much by her children: Dana Zoccola and Debby James; grandchildren: Darren James and Tara Bingley; and great-grandchildren Hanna, Maia, Owen and Colby.

A Memorial service will be held 4 PM March 15 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with a calling period from 3 to 4 pm. Interment will be private. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Richard E. Gallagher Jr., 75, of Williams Township, died Saturday, February 1, 2025 in his home.

Born September 9, 1949 in Easton, he was the son of the late Richard E. Gallagher Sr. and Shirley (Vandergrift) Gallagher.

He was a welding  instructor at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, and for over 20 years a welding instructor at the Career  Institute of Technology. He was a chairman of the American Welding Society and was an avid fisherman.

Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Peggy (DeBleyker) Gallagher; two daughters, Stacey Gallagher and Dana (Gallagher) Mendoza and her husband Devin; and three grandchildren, Braden Richard, Catherine Grace, and Charlotte Linn. He was predeceased by his sister Elaine (Gallagher) Richards.

Services will be private with interment in Raubsville Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

George M. Esparza, 68, of Phillipsburg, NJ, died Wednesday, January 22, 2025 in St. Luke’s Hospital, Warren Campus. Born December 21, 1956 in San Antonio, Texas, he was the son of the late John and Rebecca (Perez) Esparza. His wife, Rona (Panchuck) Esparza died last year. George owned, operated, and performed with Phydeaux’s Flying Flea Circus and Wahoo Medicine Show, Phillipsburg. He also was the co-owner and manager of Omni Maintenance, Linden, NJ. George attended Tulane University and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with master’s degrees in business and music. He attended The Juilliard School, New York City and trained under Robert Shaw at the Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. George’s life was a ministry of music. He was the manager of both the Midland Texas Symphony Orchestra and the Savannah Georgia Symphony Orchestra. He sang in the choir of College Hill Presbyterian Church, Easton, and was a well known vocalist in the Lehigh Valley where he often performed at nursing homes and care facilities. He was also a member of the Heritage Guild, Easton.

Surviving are his son, Joshua Esparza and his sister, Eunice Aldrich.

A memorial service will held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 22, 2025 in College Hill Presbyterian Church, 501 Brodhead St., Easton. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Roland Wayne Joseph, 92, of Easton, PA died Tuesday, January 21, 2025 in Country Meadows, Forks Twp. Born March 21, 1932 in Wilson Borough, PA, he was the son of the late Samuel and May (Saul) Joseph. He was a 1949 graduate of Easton High School and a 1953 graduate of Colgate University. He and the former Dorothy Hutnik were married on April 1, 1953 in Norwich, NY. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from July 1953 to August 1962, attaining the rank of Captain. Roland was the former manager of Joseph’s Men’s Store in Easton. He joined the firm in October 1955 and remained with the company through its sale in 1978 before retiring in 1992. Roland was a member of the former Temple Covenant of Peace, the Easton Lions Club and the Jewish Community Center, where he served on their Board. He was also a longtime volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the American Cancer Society.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Dorothy Joseph; his children: Michael Joseph (wife Fujiko) of Wilson Borough, Debra McCall (husband Robert) of Easton, David Joseph (wife Debra) of Bethlehem, PA, Mark Joseph (wife Susan) of Easton, Paul Joseph (wife Kathy) of Tampa, FL; a sister: Marcia Director of Portland, OR; 7 grandchildren and a great grandson.

Services will be private with interment in Easton Cemetery. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Family Service of Lehigh Valley, 2004 Allen St., Allentown, PA 18104 (www.jfslv.org). Online condolences may be offered at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.