Obituaries

William D. “Bill” Black, Sr., 88, of Palmer Twp., PA died Monday, September 5, 2022, after a long illness. He was the son of the late Agnes (Pasch) and James Black. A graduate of Easton High School, Bill was an entrepreneur who had several successful businesses, the last of which was as a subcontractor for the US Postal Service. He was an avid horseman who raised and trained racing trotters.

He is survived by his son, William Black, Jr. (Cathy), his two daughters, Agnes “Cookie” Black and Valerie Black, and his youngest brother, Joe. He was the loving grandfather of Taylor (Ali) and Will, Jennifer and Chuck, Muriel and Connie, and Julian and great-grandfather of four. Bill was predeceased by his wife, Ann Louise Hevner, his beloved daughter, Shirlee Frey, his brother, James Black, and his sister, Shirley Beasley.

The family will hold a private service of remembrance. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Elizabeth A. “Betty” Cooper, 95, of Bethlehem, died Thursday, September 1, 2022 in Kirkland Village. Born October 1, 1926 in Washington, DC, she was the daughter of the late Rosewell and Anne (Stansberry) Jinkins. She grew up in Highland Park, IL. Her husband, John G. Cooper died in 1998. Betty attended Iowa State University and she and John graduated from the University of Iowa. They were long time residents of Bethlehem having moved to Bethlehem after World War II and finishing college. She loved living in Bethlehem and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem and the Bethlehem Garden Club. She enjoyed playing golf at Saucon Valley Country Club with John and her friends. She was also an honorary lifetime member of the Bethlehem branch of AAUW.

Surviving are a son, John R. Cooper and his wife, Charlotte; a daughter, Beth Cooper Rogers and her husband, Steven; a daughter-in-law, Kim Cooper. Her son William (Bill) S. Cooper preceded her in death. She is survived by six grandchildren – Ben Rogers, Caitlin Cooper Montalvo, Julie Rogers, Emily Cooper and Cheyenne and Autumn Cooper. She is also survived by her brother Robert L. Jinkins and two great grandchildren – Henry and Warren Montalvo.

Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18017 or Ascend Hospice, 1120 Welsh Rd., Suite 220, Gwynedd Corporate Center, North Wales, PA 19454.

Elwood J. Sargent, Sr., 69, of Easton, died Monday, August 22, 2022 in St. Luke’s Hospice House. Born March 27, 1953 in East Stroudsburg, he was the son of the late Elwood D. and Emily Jane (Miller) Sargent. He worked for Easton Plating and Metal Finishing for over 20 years.

Surviving are two sons, Elwood Sargent, Jr. and Mike Sargent and his wife, Monica Kennedy; a daughter, Monica Savercool and her husband, Thomas; three sisters, Bonnie Altemose, Linda Thompson, and Tami Dugey; five grandchildren; and 1 great grandson. Two sisters, Connie Reiss and Georgeanne Sargent died earlier.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 to 6:00 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2022 in Strausser Community Center, Wilson Borough. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Thelma (Betty) I. Young, 97, of Forks Township, passed away on Monday, August 22, 2022. Born in Nazareth on March 16, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Albert Fehr and Freda (Getz) Fehr. She was the beloved wife of the late Charles “Vic” Young. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary Nov. 29, 2018.
Betty started a career as a secretary after graduation from Easton High School in 1943 and continued working as Vic was in the army during WWII. Betty managed her busy life well, raising 4 children along with managing multiple rental properties with Vic.
Betty’s cooking expertise showed up at their summer home in the Poconos, enjoying children, grandchildren and many get-togethers.
She will be lovingly remembered by her family, daughters Debbie Crafa and husband John, Cindy Seiple and husband, Roy; sons Craig and wife, Dianne, Brian and companion, LaRae; grandchildren Timothy VanHorn and wife, Tonya, Joshua Young, Jeremy Young, Rebecca Viglianti and husband, Steven, Ryan Seiple and wife, Danielle, Randy Seiple and wife, Kara, Christine Seiple; great grandchildren Tyler, Sophia, Owen, Giavanna and Leah.
Betty was predeceased by husband Vic, brothers Stanley Fehr and Ralph Fehr, and granddaughter Jennifer VanHorn.
Viewing hours will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 am on Friday, August 26, at the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St. Easton, PA. A service will follow at the funeral home. Burial will be at Forks Cemetery, Stockertown.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Seeing Eye Organization, Morristown, NJ or The Center for Animal Health and Welfare, Easton, PA. Please offer condolences online at www.Ashtonfuneralhome.com.

Michael James Leh, 20 of Easton, PA died unexpectedly Friday, August 19, 2022 at home. Born November 11, 2001 in Bethlehem, PA he was the son of Jeneane (Medina) and Michael W. Leh. A 2020 graduate of Wilson High School, he was employed by Wilson Products in Palmer Twp., PA. Michael loved playing baseball and especially enjoyed coaching kids in the Wilson Rec league. He was active with the Wilson Baseball and Softball Association and the Men’s Adult Baseball League of the Lehigh Valley. Michael also enjoyed the outdoors and snowboarding.

He is survived by his parents: Jeneane and Michael; 2 sisters: Dayna Snyder (Steven) and Samantha Leh; his grandparents: Raymond Medina, Dawn and Martin Leh, Sr.; his aunt: Michelle Medina; cousin: Mikaela Medina; Olivia Baron, his person; and his cat: Loki, the princess. His grandmother Ruth Medina and his uncle Martin Leh, Jr. predeceased him.

Services will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Howard Selden of Bethlehem, PA passed away Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at the age of 92. His three children and spouses were with him in his final days as his struggle with declining health peacefully came to an end. Howard was born in the Bronx, NY, October 11, 1929 to parents Albert Selden and Marcia Liebster. His mother was a teacher and school principal, his father a grocery store proprietor in Harlem. He grew up with a loving extended family, became an Eagle Scout, and learned to love the great outdoors which fed his lifelong passion for hiking, biking, skiing, and boating.

Howard met his wife, Tamara Kleinfeld, at a dance in New York City, where he persisted in getting her to agree to dance after first declining. According to Tamara, Howard was a good dancer. He received a B.A. from New York University in 1951, a DDS from Temple University School of Dentistry in 1955, and an Endodontic Specialty Certificate from Temple School of Dentistry in 1962.

Howard served as a Captain in the US Army Dental Corps at Fort Riley, Kansas from 1955-57. He was in private dental practice from 1962 to 1994, primarily in Bethlehem. He served as a clinical assistant professor at Temple University School of Dentistry, published over 30 scientific papers in peer-reviewed dental journals, and after retiring, published six books of fiction and a non-fiction memoir, A Dental Odyssey (Unlikely Musings of a Dentist).

He was a member of Temple Covenant of Peace (now Bnai Shalom) in Easton, PA for over 40 years and a former Temple president.

Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Tamara, and his grandson, Sam Selden. He is survived by his children, Nathan Selden (Leigh), David Selden (Julie Wallick), and Rachel Scotti (Michael); grandchildren Robert Selden (Becky), Elizabeth Karabas (Nikkos), Jack Scotti, and Benjamin Scotti (Mariana); and 6 great grandchildren.

Services and burial in Easton Cemetery were held privately. People wishing to honor Howard, can donate to the Sam Selden Memorial Endowment at Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, 1441 Wiehle Ave, Reston, VA 20190. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Doris Violet Miller, 79 of Bethlehem, PA died Sunday, August 14, 2022 at Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg. Born September 20, 1942 in Bath, PA she was the daughter of the late Violet C. (Kern) and Arthur C. Bruch, Sr. She was a graduate of Liberty High School and a former member of St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem. Doris was employed by Sure-Fit Products for many years before retiring.

She is survived by her daughters: Denise Madzik (husband Michael) of Allentown, PA, Donna Smith (husband James) of Palmer Twp., PA and 3 grandchildren: Jessica and Emily Madzik and Austin Smith.

A Celebration of Her Life will be held September 20, 2022 at 3 PM in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton with a calling period from 2 to 3 PM. Interment will be private in Altona Cemetery, Bethlehem. Memorial contributions may be made to any breast cancer organization or to the American Heart Assoc. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.