Obituaries

“No Soldier Left Behind”

Richard T. Cross

A.K.A. “Tricky”

At 17:15 (5:15 pm) on October 1, 2025 while a resident of Easton Skilled Nursing Facility, in Easton, PA, Dick was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was two days shy of being 80 years old when he was called home to be with the Lord. He is finally at peace with God and reunited at Fiddler’s Green with those whom he served with and who preceded him. 

Dick was born on October 3rd, 1945, in Fort Devens, Massachusetts, to Paul and Marjory Liggett Cross. His childhood was characterized by change and turbulence. Much of his young life was guided by his mom, whose priority was to put food on the table; because of this, Dick was accepted at the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA. He remained in this boarding school through high school, and upon graduation, he attended College.  While in College, Dick showed that he had a highly developed moral compass, a very sharp mind, and excellent communication skills that were all controlled by his very disciplined work ethic and a knack for leadership. But above all, Dick could be mischievous and was most comfortable just having fun. So, before he completed College, he was drafted into the US Army and was trained as an Infantryman, and upon completion of his initial training, he was assigned to Armor Officer Candidate School and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of armor. 

From there, he immediately went to flight school and was certified as a pilot of a UH-1 Huey Helicopter. Dick found his calling! All he wanted to do for the rest of his working life was fly a Huey. Like so many others of the time, Dick ended up in Vietnam. During his first tour of duty, Dick flew medevac. He was the guy who came in, no matter how much gunfire there was, because he had to get the wounded to a hospital. During his second tour in Viet Nam, he did the second most dangerous job a pilot could have – piloting a reconnaissance helicopter in the Army’s Air Cavalry. He was a “Scout Pilot.” During this tour of duty while flying a “Little Bird”,OH-6, on an operational mission, Dick, was in the face of intense enemy fire, earning by his actions the nation’s third-highest award for valor in combat. Dick was awarded the Silver Star. Along with the Silver Star, he was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star. 

During his career in the Army, he married Ann Reddy in Fort Rucker, Alabama, on August 1st, 1970, and they had three children, Chad, Sasha, and Sean. They were assigned to numerous duty stations in the continental USA, Alaska, and a tour of duty in Europe. After Dick retired from the Army in 1991, he went back to school to finish his Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, which he earned in 1993 and his Masters degree of Science from the Central Texas College in 1996.  In 1999 Dick relocated back to Pennsylvania and worked at an art gallery to help Ann with framing her artwork. In 2002 Dick bought the art gallery, not in hopes of making a profit, but in hopes of bringing his children back together to work in the family business. He had a heart for family; the “No Soldier Left Behind” wasn’t just a mentality for Dick, it was his heart.   Dick loved photography, camping, gardening, art, going fishing, watching the Dallas Cowboys, and the Phillies, whenever they played. He also loved going to see the Iron Pigs with his oldest son and daughter at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. Dick was an inspiration to his wife Ann with her artwork and helped her frame her pictures for art shows in Texas. He had many different interests, but teaching became a passion of his. 

Dick is preceded in death by his father, Paul, and his mother, Marjory. He is survived by his wife, Ann, his sister Midge McClary, his brother Glenn Cross, and his three children, Chad and his wife Robin, Sasha and her fiancé Mike, and Sean Cross. Dick also has three grandchildren: Bobby White, Tristan Zawick, and Seth Cross. As well as three great grandchildren Jordyn, Jocelyn, and Justus.   A Celebration of Life Service is planned for 1 PM, Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA with a calling period from 12:30 to 1 PM.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com. Thank you and God Bless.

Kenneth John Lafata 52, of Nazareth, PA died Sunday, September 28, 2025 at home. Born September 24, 1973 in Staten Island, NY he was a son of Diane (Williams) Lafata of New Port Richey, FL and the late James V. Lafata.

A true creative spirit, Ken was always tinkering — searching for his next hidden treasure and crafting it into something uniquely his. With an eye for the eccentric and a love of making things with his hands, there wasn’t much he couldn’t turn into a “Ken original” with a little shellac and imagination. He leaves behind many creations along with his two greatest achievements in life, Nicholas and Jayden.

Though his ways were often unconventional, Ken loved deeply and fiercely. His intentions were always rooted in care, and his passion for fun in life was impossible to ignore. He lived life on his own terms — unapologetically, stubbornly, and wholeheartedly.

He is survived by his mother: Diane; sons: Nicholas Lafata and his wife Lauren of Northampton, PA and Jayden Lafata; his brother: James Lafata of New Port Richey, FL; loving girlfriend: Patty Derau and her grandchildren whom he adored. Services will be held at the convenience of the family. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton, PA is handling arrangements. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Joan Marilyn Bartish, 90 of Easton, PA died Thursday, September 25, 2025 at Abington Manor Memory Care, Williams Twp., PA. Born July 31, 1935 in Easton, she was a daughter of the late Edward and Esther (Mohr) Harling. She was a graduate of Easton High School and had been employed by the ILGWU for many years, working at various locations including A & H Sportswear and Yankee Sportswear. She was a longtime member of First Moravian Church, Easton.

Joan is survived by her children: John M. Bartish (Sherri) of Easton, PA, Joan Souders (Russ) of Bethlehem Twp., PA; grandchildren: William Bartish, Derrek Whisenant (Jacquelyn), Janelle Whisenant; and great-grandson: Hakon. She was predeceased by her husband: William J. Bartish in 1989; and siblings: Robert Harling, Eleanor Koose and Dorothy Kepner.

Services are 10:30 AM Tuesday (Sept. 30, 2025) in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with visitation 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Nancy Berry, 82, of Forks Township, PA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg. Born on July 8, 1943, in Jersey City, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Cecelia (Mulvoy) Berry. Nancy was a graduate of Notre Dame College, Staten Island, NY, and earned her master’s degree from Montclair University. Her career spanned more than 40 years, beginning as a learning consultant for two decades before joining Verizon Telecommunications, where she worked for 20 years until her retirement.

Nancy was a devoted member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, Palmer Township. She was active in the AAUW Easton Branch and the League of Women Voters, and in retirement, she gave generously of her time tutoring both children and adults. Above all, she cherished people—finding joy in good company, thoughtful conversation, and the simple gift of time shared with others.

She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Dennis Boyne; her daughter, Lisa Wilkes and husband James, of Maplewood, NJ; her brother, Bernard Berry and wife Marion of Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ; her sisters, Kathleen Jones and husband Jim of Oak Harbor, WA, and Marie McCarthy of Catonsville, MD; and two grandchildren, Katie and Jake. She was predeceased by her sister, Eileen Alfieri.

A calling period will be held 7 to 8:30 PM Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 at the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with a Memorial Mass at 10:30 AM Wednesday, Sept. 24 at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, 4049 Hartley Ave., Easton. Interment will be private in Easton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Catholic Charities of the Allentown Diocese at www.catholiccharitiesad.org. Online condolences may be offered at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Iris Ruth (Watkins) McTague, 97, of Palmer Township, died on September 9, 2025, after an extended illness. She was the wife of the late Robert Emmett McTague who served in the South Pacific for the U.S. Navy in WW II and was an agent for the Internal Revenue Service and died in 1984. Born in 1927 in Wilkes-Barre, she was the daughter of the late Gilbert and Ruth (Ross) Watkins of Dallas, PA.

She grew up in the close-knit borough of Laurel Run outside Wilkes Barre and in her younger days sang regularly on radio shows with her brother Ross. A graduate of Coughlin High School in 1945, she worked at the Boston Store in Wilkes-Barre and Pomeroy’s and the Surprise Store in Easton.

She was a long-standing member of St. Paul’s Third Lutheran Church in Palmer Township where over the years she sang in the choir, served on church council, taught Sunday School and was of member of the church’s Ambassador Club. She was a prior member of the Easton and Pocono Singles Dance Clubs.

Iris will be lovingly remembered by her sister Ruth Ann Weeks and her husband Tom of Montrose, PA, sons, Robert of Easton, Richard and his companion Terry of Palmer Township, Roger and his wife Janet of Bethlehem, daughter, Ruth Campbell and her husband Keith of Ft. Myers, Florida, grandchildren Collin and his wife Heather of Lancaster, Evan and his wife Elizabeth of Bethlehem, Robert Campbell and his wife Sara of Lincoln, Nebraska and Robyn Delsing and her husband Josh of Ft. Myers, Florida, and five great grandchildren with a sixth on the way.  She was predeceased by her brother Ross Watkins and his wife Dorothy of Sebring, Florida, previously of Easton.

The family will receive guests on Saturday, September 13 from 10:00 to 10:30 am at St Paul’s Third Lutheran Church, 2561 Newburg Road, Easton with a service to follow in the church. Interment will be in the Northampton Memorial Shrine. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the church in memory of Iris. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Edward W. Wackermann, Sr. 78 of Saylorsburg, PA died Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at home. Born February 19, 1947 in Phillipsburg, NJ he was a son of the late Edward and Helen (Vayda) Wackermann. Ed was an Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War and was an iron worker for most of his life. He was a mighty hunter and a great fisherman who loved his pets.

Ed is survived by his wife: Debby (Wheeler) Wackermann; his son: Edward Wackermann, Jr.; stepchildren: Felcia Tomino, Georgia Weber, Albert Dilts, Wendy Dilts; brothers: James and George “Bill” Wackermann and Arnold Wheeler; sister-in-law: Henrietta; 4 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; and the Wheeler family. He was predeceased by a brother: Carl Gercie.

Graveside services with military honors will be held 2 PM Tuesday (Sept. 9) in the Stewartsville Lutheran Cemetery, Richline Road at Washington St., Stewartsville, NJ. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton, PA is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o the funeral home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.