Schuylkill County Obituaries for 04/03/19
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G. Arlene Newswanger, 91, of Providence Place, Pine Grove, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at Providence Place. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
Born on September 24, 1927 in Schoeneck, Lancaster Co, she was a daughter of the late Eli and Elizabeth Martin Gehman and step daughter of the late Mary Musser Gehman.
Arlene and late husband Amos moved to Pine Grove from Stevens, Lancaster Co. in 1953 and farmed until 1970. She supported Amos in his bus business, and was instrumental in keeping all of the buses clean and ready for trips.
Arlene worked in the Pine Grove High School and Middle School cafeteria washing dishes for many years. She enjoyed reading, crocheting and sewing, but her first love was playing board games with her grandchildren.
Arlene and her late husband Amos were founding members of the Roedersville Mennonite Church, Pine Grove. She was active as a Sunday School teacher for many years, and was also involved in the church Sewing Circle.
Preceding her in death were her husband of 68 years Amos Newswanger, Jr.; grandson Matthew Newswanger; sister Lucile Gehman; brother, James Robert Gehman, a brother who passed in infancy.
Surviving are four sons, Barry and wife Kathie Newswanger, Jerry Newswanger, Clair and wife Debra Newswanger, all of Pine Grove, Fred and wife Megan Newswanger of Hyde Park, NY; daughter Linda and husband Carl Driedger of Willow St.; 15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and two on the way.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 11:00 A.M. at the Schuylkill Church of the Brethren, 347 Sweet Arrow Lake Rd., Pine Grove with Pastor Daryl Martin officiating. There will be a viewing on Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at the Church. Interment will follow in Roedersville Mennonite Cemetery, Pine Grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer contributions be made to the Roedersville Mennonite Church Benevolence Fund, c/o Jean Hurst, 1085 Rock Rd., Schuylkill Haven, Pa. 17972 or Hospice of Central Pa, 1320 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, Pa. 17110 in her memory.
The H. L. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., Pine Grove is in charge of arrangements and you may send condolences to the family at www.hlsnyderfuneralhome.com
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Shirley E. Ryan, age 78, of Macungie and formerly of Mahanoy City died Sunday night at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown.
Born in Mahanoy City she was the daughter of the late John D. and Elizabeth M. (Ward) Thomas. She was a 1959 graduate of Mahanoy City High School. In 2000 she reorganized the alumni group after a 52 year hiatus and was instrumental in helping to save memorabilia from the former high school.
She was past president of the alumni association and was also a member of the Mahanoy Area Historical Society. She was a member of St. Paul's UCC of Mahanoy City and a more than fifty year member of the Order of Eastern Star Puritan Chapter # 126. She was employed 38 years with the federal government having worked for the US Information Agency and the US Public Health Service in Washington and the Social Security offices in both Allentown and Bethlehem.
Preceding her in death in addition to her parents was her husband Paul J. Ryan who died on September 12, 2009.
She is survived by her sister Beth Rusin and her husband Jack of Macungie, a nephew John D. Rusin and his wife Celeste of Toms River, NJ, a niece Nicole Rusin Hausman and her husband Robert of Allentown, a great niece Amanda Rusin along with aunts and several cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a religious service to be held at 12:30 PM Saturday at Sky View Memorial Park in Hometown. The Rev. Craig Zimmerman will officiate.
Contributions in Shirley's name to the Mahanoy Area Historical Society or the Endowment Fund of St. Paul's UCC would be appreciated by the family. David D. Jarrett Funeral Home of Mahanoy City is entrusted with arrangements. Please visit www.jarrettfuneralhome.com for more information.
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Dolores was a retired seamstress having worked in the local garment industry for many years. She was a member of the ILGWU. Her interests included baking, having helped her daughter-in-law in the former Cobblestone Bakery, Shenandoah, and she also enjoyed doing ceramics.
Besides her parents, Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Trutt in 1991.
She is survived by 1 son, Glenn Trutt with his wife Grace, Sheppton, 1 daughter, Donna Trutt Richart, Ringtown, 1 brother, Francis Kerico with wife Joan, Toms River, NJ, 4 grandchildren: Bryon, Shawn, Justin, and Joshua, 7 great granchildren: Emily, Katherine, Briana, Anthony, Ryan, Alexis, and Abigail, several nieces and nephews also survive
Scripture services will take place on Saturday, April 6th at 10:30am at the Oravitz Home for Funerals Inc, 40 N. Jardin St, Shenandoah with Pastor Jay Serafin officiating. A visitation for family and friends will be held Saturday morning from 8:30 to 10:30am at the funeral home. Interment will follow services in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Shenandoah Heights
Contributions in memory of Dolores may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church in Brandonville, PO Box 261, Ringtown, Pa 17967
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Raymond F. Bender, 93, of Kalmia Road, Tower City, passed away Monday afternoon, April 1, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Kalmia on November 14, 1925, one of 18 children to Oley and Mamie Schaffer Bender, he was a World War II Army Veteran.
Raymond began working as a coal miner and later worked for Daub’s Transportation, where he was a truck mechanic and a school bus driver. He also drove school bus for Jecks Service Center. Raymie spent almost 50 years driving school bus. He retired as a foreman from Budd Company, Lebanon. Following retirement he founded one of the first bottled water businesses, Stoney Mountain Springs, Tower City.
He was a former member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Reinerton, where he was a Sunday school teacher and Luther League Leader. He was a current member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Orwin. He was also a member of the Swatara Lodge, F&AM, Tremont, and the Orwin and Muir Fire Companies.
He was preceded in death by his parents and 14 siblings. His wife of 58 years, Dorothy (Dottie) Lebo Bender, passed away in 2005.
Surviving are his son, Gary Bender and wife Melissa, Tower City; three daughters: Dr. Janice Minetola, Hanover; Jill Schade, Tower City; and Julie Bender, Dauphin; his companion, Ethel Behney, Tower City; three sisters: Dottie Lebo, New Cumberland; Anna Yiengst, Cleona; and Ruth Mence, Florida; 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Raymie's life will be held on Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m. at the Chapel of the Dimon Funeral Home Inc., Tower City. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the chapel. Private burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Orwin. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you do a random act of kindness, something that Raymie and Dottie did all their lives. If you wish, you can post your act of kindness on the funeral home website. To sign the guestbook or list your act of kindness visit www.dimonfuneralhome.com.
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