Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John David Wollyung, 57, of Pottsville, passed away unexpectedly on Monday morning at
Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest, Allentown.
Born in Pottsville, on June 22, 1964 , he was a son of Barbara A. (Fielding) and the late Joseph M. Wollyung, Jr.
He was a 1982 graduate of Nativity BVM High School.
John was a member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, where he was a member of the building committee.
He was a co-owner of the family business, Rosenberger Plumbing & Heating, since 2001 with his brother, Mike.
John was an avid baseball fan. He especially enjoyed meeting players, and collecting baseball memorabilia and autographs. He enjoyed traveling to MLB spring training and the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He regularly attended the Reading Fightins, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles games.
His greatest joys were attending his son, Christopher's events, collecting celebrity autographs with him, and spending time with his wife, Marianne.
John was a life-long servant in the Pottsville Community and his absence will be felt by many. His accomplishments and affiliations include being a volunteer for the Pottsville Lions Ambulance since 1980; the Pottsville EMS, the Orwigsburg EMS, and the Schuylkill EMS; and he was also a trained EMT since 1980. John was very devoted to the Yorkville Hose Company, where he served two terms as Assistant Fire Chief and is the current Duty Officer as well as the current President. Through the years he also served as Engineer, Lieutenant, Captain, and Fire Trustee.
He is survived by his wife, Marianne (Marzullo) Wollyung, to whom he was married 32 years; a son, Christopher Wollyung, fiance of Rachel Wood, of Pottsville; two brothers, Joseph M. Wollyung II, husband of Suzanne, of Pottsville; and Michael J. Wollyung, companion of Amy Brahler-Miller, of Minersville; nieces and nephews: Andrew, Amanda, Michael, Stephen, and Emma Wollyung; aunts, uncles, and cousins; plus countless friends and his family of first responders in the community.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 8th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 913 Mahantongo St., Pottsville with Father David J. Loeper and Msgr. William Glosser as celebrants. A visitation will be held on Friday, January 7th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc., 1818 Mahantongo St., Pottsville and on Saturday morning in church from 8:30 a.m. until time of Mass.
Interment will follow in St. John #2 Cemetery, Pottsville.
The family request contributions in John's memory be sent to: Yorkville Hose Company, P.O. Box 1222, Pottsville, PA 17901
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Born in Herkimer, NY on February 23, 1933, he was the son of the late Americo and Angela (Macri) Centra.
After graduating from Herkimer High School, Class of 1950, John went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY at Albany, a Master's Degree from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Michigan State University. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1954 until 1956. John spent much of his career at the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ, and then as a Professor and Chair of the Higher Education Program at Syracuse University. He was a leading expert in the field of higher education and was well recognized for his research and publications in the area of faculty evaluation.
John was known for his sense of humor, his basketball skills, his love of sports (especially the Syracuse Orange), and his enthusiasm for discussing politics. But his greatest treasure was spending time with his beloved family. John is survived by his wife, Dr. Nancy (Halloran) Centra, who was his favorite travel partner while they explored many parts of the globe during their 58 years of marriage; three daughters: Catherine “Cathy” Coyle and her husband Timothy, Pottsville, Elizabeth "Liza" Corso and her husband Jonathan, Decatur, GA, and Joan Centra, Tucker, GA; four grandchildren: Ryan, Patrick, and Catie Coyle and Sam Corso; three sisters: Anne Ormond, Levittown, NY, Nancy Miller, Herkimer, NY, and Marlene Centra Smith, Herkimer, NY; and many nieces, nephews, and granddogs.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the St. John the Baptist Church in Pottsville at 11 AM on Wednesday, December 29th, with Monsignor Edward Coyle officiating. Relatives and Friends are invited to a viewing on Tuesday evening from 6-8PM and Wednesday morning from 10-11AM at the St. John the Baptist Church.
Interment with Military Honors will be held in the St. John the Baptist No. 2 Cemetery in Pottsville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pentagon Memorial Fund.
The Robert A Evans Jr Funeral Home in Port Carbon is in charge of arrangements.
Born April 26, 1939, in Drehersville, she was a daughter of the late Ross and Helen Bensinger Lukens.
Ruth was a graduate of Auburn Area High School. She then went on to receive her certificate from Ford Business School.
Ruth worked as a bookkeeper for a variety of businesses in the area. She last worked for Reading Mack Trucking Center.
She attended Grace Evangelical Congregation Church.
Ruth loved to bake, and she loved cleaning as well. She enjoyed helping others, always looking for ways to lend a hand. She also enjoyed attending Gospel concerts with her husband, Robert. Ruth loved doing crafts as well, whether sewing or painting ceramics.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Robert; and their daughters, Roxann Luckenbill, wife of Jeff Sterner, of Hamburg, and Renee Keller, wife of David Brown, of Orwigsburg. She is also survived by her grandson, John Keller Jr. along with her sister, Helen Runkle; nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at Grace E.C.C., Schuylkill Haven. A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of services. Interment will be on the grounds of Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven. Grabowski Funeral Home is entrusted with the services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks the donations in Ruth's memory be donated to Grace E.C.C., 15 Earl Stoyer Road, Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.grabowskifuneralhome.com.
Born in Pottsville, PA on April 25, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Emma (Reed) Geiger.
Carol worked as a van driver for both the I.U.29 and Pottsville Schools. She loved going camping, playing bingo, going to the casino, and had a great sense of humor. Most of all she loved spending time with her family and grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years William R. "Bill" Frantz on august 8, 2014, sisters: Geri Jobrey and Gladys Kuperavage and a brother Eddie Kissinger.
Carol is survived by five children: Patricia Prutzman, Charles "Chuck" Frantz, Raymond Frantz, Sharon Fanelli, and William "Bumper" Frantz; ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a sister Cathy Schroeder, a brother Tony Geiger. and nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services and Interment will be held private.
The Robert A Evans Jr Funeral Home in Port Carbon is in charge of arrangements.