Obituaries

Sharon C. LaRose, 72 of Bethlehem, PA went home to be with the Lord, Monday, August 16, 2021 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg. Born March 28, 1949 in Easton, PA she was the daughter of the late Grace A. (Trauger) and Alfred V. Lock, Sr. Her husband, Lee A. LaRose died in 1992. She was retired from Selective Insurance Companies of America and had attained her Associate in Underwriting and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designations. For 50 years Sharon served as the organist at several churches including Green Pond United Methodist, the former First United Methodist both in Easton and Hawley United Methodist Church, Hawley.  She was also a member of the American Guild of Organists Lehigh Valley Chapter.

She is survived by her sister: Linda Lock and her husband Michael Nizza of Bethlehem Twp, PA; nephew: Donald Kemmerer of Bristol, PA; nieces: Susan Lock of Nazareth, Deborah Lock-Smith of White Post, VA; a great-niece and great-nephew; pet companions: Shyla and Samson and many special friends. A brother: Alfred Lock, Jr. and nephew: Kristian Kemmerer predeceased her.

Services are 10:30 AM Friday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton, with a calling period from 9:30 to 10:30 AM. Interment is in Northampton Memorial Shrine.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com 

Julia Alice Allen, 83 of Saylorsburg, PA, died August 15, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Monroe Campus. Born April 19, 1938 in Tunkhannock, PA she was the daughter of the late Lois Marie (Steinruck) and Alex Zona. Her husband Ellis W. Allen, Sr. died in 1995. She is survived by her sons: John Allen of Bethlehem, PA, Alfred Allen of Sciota, PA; her brothers: Tom Zona of Oswego, NY, Joe Zona of Tunkhannock; best friend: Bobby Branham; and 4 grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Ellis and sons: Ellis, Jr. and Jeffrey.

A graveside service will be held 11:30 AM Tuesday, August 24 at St. John’s Union Cemetery, Williams Twp., 2745 Morgan Hill Rd., Easton, with visitation 5 to 6 PM Monday in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com

Ruth E. Cassidy, 77, of Tafton, PA, died Sunday, August 15, 2021. Born September 25, 1943 in Springfield Township, PA. she was a daughter of the late Robert and Ruth Eleanor (Beyer) Vogel. She and her husband, James Edward Cassidy were married 55 years. Ruth worked for the Warminster Township Municipal Authority for 25 years.

Surviving with her husband are two sons, Christopher Cassidy and James Cassidy and a granddaughter. Her sister, Nancy Anne Spencer died last month.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:30 am on Monday, August 23, 2021 in the Ashton Funeral Home, 1337 Northampton St., Easton. Burial will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday in Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Ambler, PA. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Jeanette H. Wilkins, 92, of Easton, died on August 12, 2021 in St. Luke’s Hospital – Anderson Campus after a recent illness. She was born in Easton on March 18, 1929 to the late Elmer F. Hinkel and Catherine Ryerson. She was married for 67 years to Raymond E. Wilkins until his passing in 2016. She graduated from Wilson High School and was employed by the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania and Wanamaker’s Department Store after retirement. She lived in Forks Township most of her life and up to her passing.

Survivors include daughters, Renee Wilkins of Palmer Township, Cindy Badway of Ocala, FL, a son, Raymond F. Wilkins of Easton; a brother, Bruce Hinkel of North Dakota and a sister, Barbara Cuva of Phillipsburg. Also, her beloved grandchildren, Chad, Christopher, and Matthew Tonay, Kevin Badway, and Lisa Badway-Maloney; and five great grandchildren. A brother, Richard Hinkel, and a sister, Virginia Hinkel-Beidler preceded her in death.

Services will be private. The Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 1110 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042 or Paralyzed Veterans of America, www.pva.org. Offer online condolences at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.

Bobbye Acopian, 91, of Easton, died peacefully on Sunday, August 8th, surrounded by her children and grandchildren who kept vigil at her bedside.  Born November 9, 1929, in Choate, Texas, she was the daughter of the late Joel and Anna Mixon. Bobbye grew up in Pawnee, Texas, and graduated from Pawnee High School in a graduating class of eight. She then went to business school in San Antonio, Texas. While at school, she had a blind date to play tennis with her future husband, Sarkis Acopian, who was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. His studies at Lafayette College were interrupted by his service at Lackland. That was the first and only time he ever played tennis and the last time Bobbye played for the next 28 years! They shared 59 years of marriage, until his death in 2007.

She was an extremely kind and vibrant individual, and was known for her sense of grace and elegance. She had a keen interest in art, particularly sculpting. Her own artistic creations enlivened her family residence.  Bobbye was an avid tennis player who was in her late 40s when she started seriously playing. She played on various women’s teams throughout the Lehigh Valley into her early 80s. One of her most exciting memories was when her team advanced to the USTA League Super Senior National Championships after winning the USTA Middle States Super Senior League Section Championships.

Bobbye shared her husband’s deep love for the community, the environment and philanthropy. Together, they did much for local, national and international causes which have included:  The Acopian Engineering Center at Lafayette College, the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the Acopian Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg College, the Acopian Center for the Environment at the American University of Armenia (AUA), the Acopian Ballroom at the State Theater, and the Acopian West Campus at the Children’s Home of Easton.

They also endowed the environmental and educational programs at the AUA and the Florida Institute of Technology. Other major philanthropic endeavors have included the St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church in Gyumri, Armenia, and the St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Charlotte, NC, the Embassy of Armenia, in Ottawa, Canada, and the Nature Conservancy Acopian Bog Turtle Preserve.  Bobbye and Sarkis were the largest individual donors to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

She is survived by her sons: Gregory and his wife Karen of Indialantic, FL, and Jeffrey and his wife Helen of Easton; six grandchildren: Ansley, Shae, Ezra, Gregory, Ani and Natalie; five great-grandchildren: Vegas, Sakura, Boston, Beau and Tallulah.

Services are private; the Ashton Funeral Home in Easton is handling arrangements. Interment is in Easton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Offer online condolences atwww.AshtonFuneralHome.com

Helen “Bitsy” Jeffers, 85, of Moravian Village, Bethlehem, PA formerly of Palmer Township, PA died peacefully at home on July 30, 2021. Born January 4, 1936 in Cold Spring, NY to Oscar S. Bray and Helen (Shanley) Bray, Bitsy grew up in Lynnfield, MA and graduated from Wakefield (MA) High School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Mount Holyoke College and a Masters of Education from Harvard University. She met her husband, Bill, during their freshman year in college, and they were married the year after they graduated. Together, they raised three children and delighted in the accomplishments of all their children and grandchildren.

Bitsy began her career as an elementary school teacher in Massachusetts, and later taught for 22 years at Easton Middle School and Easton Area High School before retiring in 1998. She was a voracious reader, was actively engaged in political discourse, and greatly enjoyed gardening, nature and the outdoors. Bitsy participated in many activities at Lafayette College, where Bill was a faculty member, was an active member of the League of Women Voters and AAUW, served on the Board of Directors of the Easton Public Library, and volunteered at St. Lukes Hospital in Fountain Hill until 2020.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Dr. William A. “Bill” Jeffers Jr. who died in 2008. She is survived by her children Peggy Duggan (David) of Arboles, CO, John Jeffers (Mary Edrich) of Houston, TX, and Will Jeffers (Nora Manley) of Mattapan, MA; her sister, Mary Elizabeth “Tish” Womack of Nashville, TN, sister-in-law Carol Hollenberg of Santa Rosa, CA, and brother-in-law Khaled Mrad of Tunisia; five grandchildren, eight nieces and nephews, and many friends.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held Saturday, October 9 at 10:30 AM in the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, 321 Wyandotte St., Bethlehem, PA with a calling period from 10:00 to 10:30 AM. Masks are required in the church. The service will be livestreamed at https://livestream.com/nativitycathedral/events/9875779.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to your favorite charity. Online condolences may be offered at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.