Obituaries from the Perry County Times (11/4/23)

Obituaries for Perry County for the weeks preceding November 4.

KENNETH L. BRADY JR.

Kenneth L. Brady Jr., 75, of Elliottsburg passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.

He was born Jan. 20, 1948, in Mechanicsburg to the late Kenneth L. Sr. and M. Gladys (Shaver) Brady.

He graduated from John Harris High School, Harrisburg, in 1966. He started in 1966 at Bethlehem Steel mill as a general laborer and ended his 38-year career in management. While working for the mill, he completed tasks throughout the entire plant. In 1974, he completed the machinist program. He later became a union shop steward and continued in later years to hold several management positions. In 1997 and 1998, he traveled to Egypt to assist in the installation of the old Bethlehem rebar mill. He retired in 2004. During his employment with Bethlehem Steel, he was awarded several achievements and accolades. In 1991, he received a certificate of completion of Bethlehem Steel’s training system front line leadership. In 1995, he received the prestigious Environmental Achievement Award from the Senate of Pennsylvania for his development of the aqueous parts cleaning technology for Bethlehem Steel. The award was for a huge tank he created to environmentally safely clean line shafts and extra-large parts with a thermostatically controlled steam heat and air bubbling system. In 2000, he received the SKF Bearing Maintenance Institute Achievement Award for his work on the continuous caster. After retirement, he worked as a building inspector for BUI in Perry County.

In his free time, he enjoyed the great outdoors, being passionate about fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, kayaking and eating at dive bars. He thoroughly enjoyed drinking beer with ribs and chicken wings. In 1998, he started flying lessons. He also was becoming proficient in making his own beer.

Surviving are his beloved wife of 54 years, Ava K. (Gust) Brady; two children, Kenneth L. Brady III of Elliottsburg and Sara K. (Brad) Fritz of Loysville; three grandchildren, Benjamin, Hayden and Emma; four siblings, Richard (Marlene) Brady of Harrisburg, Glenn (Sharon) Brady of Lancaster, John (Cindy) Brady of Camp Hill and Doris Herring of Grantville; two sisters-in-law, Janet Brady of Arizona and Diane Brady of Elizabethville; and many, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and James Brady.

An informal celebration of life open house will be held from 3 to 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 10, at New Bloomfield VFW.

Nickel-Lochstampfor Family Funeral Home, is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Perry County Food Bank (Neighbor Helping Neighbor Food Bank), 300A S. Carlisle St., New Bloomfield 17068.

BARBARA L. LUTZ

Barbara L. Lutz, 87, of Marysville passed away, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, at Stonebridge Health and Rehabilitation Center, Duncannon.

She was born Dec. 26, 1935, in Harrisburg to Patrick and Charlotte O’Brien.

She was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church, Marysville, where she sang in the choir for many years, and the Red Hat Society.

She was the widow of Glenn M. Lutz.

Surviving are three sons, Jeffrey A. Lutz of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Dennis B. Lutz of Duncannon and Stephen G. Lutz of Shermans Dale; and several nephews and cousins.

A service was held Oct. 25 in Michael J. Shalonis Funeral Home, Marysville, with pastor Therese M. Finney officiating.

BARBARA KING

Barbara Ann “Barb” King, 71, of Harrisburg went home to be with her Lord, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.

She was born Friday, Feb. 22, 1952, in Harrisburg to the late Howard Orville and Pearl Vera (Schoffstall) Heckert.

She was well known for working at Walmart as a front support customer service employee for many years. She also was employed as a seamstress at the Duncannon Dress Factory until its closing. She was an entrepreneur, operating for Undercover Wear for several years. She was a very creative and artistic person, loving painting ceramics, crocheting clothes for dolls, sewing, knitting, making scented candles, and traveling with her husband. She enjoyed taking photos and documenting her family’s lives and events. She also enjoyed serving as a den mother for Duncannon Cub Scout Pack 64 in the 1980s. In addition, she loved her dogs, flowers and Maddie.

Surviving are her husband of 52 years, John J. “Joe” King; three sons, John L. King with wife Tonya (Holston) of North Carolina, Adam J. King with wife Jennifer (Linville) of New Bloomfield, and Steven A. King with wife Jessica (Catherman) of Carlisle; eight grandchildren, Zachariah, Kayli, Gracie, Riley, Ryan, Alyssa, Rebecca and Pria; three sisters, Jenny Heldreth of Ohio, Catherine Barner of Harrisburg and Mary Heckert of Mifflintown; and a brother, Howard “Butch” Heckert of Watts Twp.

A service was held Oct. 27 in Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home, Duncannon, with pastor Andy Meister officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Duncannon Cub Scout Pack 64, 3 Mockingbird Heights, Duncannon 17020, or Duncannon Boy Scout Troop 64, 40 Dunn Drive, New Bloomfield 17068.

JESSIE B. ZINK

Jessie B. Zink, 90, of Liverpool entered eternal rest on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, peacefully at her home.

She was born Feb. 1, 1933, in Millerstown to Jonathan and Elenor (Thompson) Black.

She was a graduate of Greenwood High School; employed by Bell Telephone Company in the billing department, and worked side-by-side with her husband in their business, Zink’s Greenhouse; a member of Liverpool Senior Center and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Liverpool; and among her favorite activities, she enjoyed going to the Liverpool Senior Center every day and going through her mail daily searching out charities that help people in need and, thus, donating to those charities.

She was the widow of Wayne Lower and Ray Zink.

Surviving are two children, Steve Lower of Arlington, Va., and Brenda Cumberledge and her husband Mike of Shermans Dale; four grandchildren, Tiffany Lower and her companion Jordan of Alexandra, Sean Lower of Portland, Ore., and Ryan Cumberledge and Nathan Cumberledge, both of Shermans Dale; and a sister, Kay McDonald of Mechanicsburg.

She was preceded in death by a son, Keith Lower, early in life; three sisters and their spouses, Beverly and Harvey McMaster, Deloris and Larry Latsha, and Mary and Amos Miller; and a brother-in-law, Richard McDonald.

A service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, in George P. Garman Funeral Home, Liverpool, with the Rev. Dr. J. Richard Eckert officiating. Inurnment will be in Liverpool Union Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to her church, 1000 N. Front St., Liverpool 17045.

LARRY L. MULLEN SR.

Larry L. Mullen Sr., 73, of Shermans Dale peacefully passed after a lengthy illness on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

He was born Aug. 9, 1950, at home to the late Robert J. and Dorothy M. (Sheaffer) Mullen of New Bloomfield.

He loved his family deeply and was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle.

He had been a dairy farmer in Carroll Twp. until his retirement in 1998. He graduated in 1968 from West Perry High School and continued his lifelong education on the farm. After retirement, he became a greeter at Walmart.

He was passionate about four things — family, farming, hunting and football. His first priority was always family, but if he could combine any of the four, the experience was so much better. He loved taking his grandchildren to see the elk in Benezette. He thrived, when he was able, to share farming with his children and grandchildren. He was a big Steelers, Penn State and West Perry football fan. He worked the chain gang at West Perry first with his brother Paul, and lifelong friend, Ron Barner, and then with his sons. The family tradition has extended to include a grandson on the team. He was an avid big game hunter — in Canada and western United States. His passions were reflected in his memberships, which were the National Rifle Association, Elk Foundation and Old Iron Club.

Surviving are his beautiful wife of 48 years, Nola J. (Hetrick) Mullen; five children, Larry L. (Jennifer L.) Mullen Jr. of Duncannon, Michael R. Mullen of Shermans Dale, Jason A. (Madeline R.) Mullen of Blain, Joseph A. (Ashley M.) Mullen of Shermans Dale, and Susan E. (Kevin R.) Fogleman of Liverpool; 10 grandchildren; and two siblings, Mary E. Bosser of Duncannon and Paul A. (Joyce) Mullen of Loysville.

He was preceded in death by three siblings, Ruth M. Jones, Robert L. Mullen and Treva M. Mullen.

A service was held Oct. 25 in Young’s Church, Shermans Dale, with the Rev. George R. Kell officiating.

Nickel-Lochstampfor Family Funeral Home, Loysville, handled arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association online at https://www.heart.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give, or American Kidney Fund online at https://secure.kidneyfund.org.

FAYE E. HILFIGER

Faye Elizabeth (Parthemer) Hilfiger, 88, of Mansfield passed away on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at her home.

A service was held Oct. 28 in Buckheit Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Mansfield, with the Rev. Randy Parthemer Jr. officiating. Burial was in Gray Cemetery, Covington.

Memorial contributions may be made to Randy Parthemer Jr. for maintenance/repairs at the Evangelical Wesleyan Church, 933 Smith Road, Mansfield 16933 (www.buckheitfcandcrematory.com).

REBA D. PACE

Reba D. Pace, 85, passed away Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at home.

She was born Dec. 6, 1937, in Harrisburg to Charles A. and Kathrine J. Dice.

She was a 1955 graduate of Susquenita High School and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Shippensburg University. She was an educator for East Pennsboro School District, West Creek Hills Elementary for 10 years, real estate professional for 45 years achieving associate broker status, and an independent insurance agent for five years.

She was an avid traveler, visiting Italy, Florida, Cabo San Lucas, Canada and Taiwan and many other destinations. She was a member of Christian Life Assembly Church, Camp Hill, Marysville Lions Club as a Lion and Lioness, and past president of Marysville-Rye Library.

Surviving are her husband of 66 years, Ernest K. Pace; two sons, James D. Pace, and wife, Bonnie, and David T. Pace and wife, Cindy; a sister, Phebe J. Kelley and husband William; eight grandchildren, Jeremy D. Pace, Michael E. Pace and wife Stephanie, Courtney E. Book and husband Kyley, Lindsey N. Pace and partner Anthony Lehr, Christopher S. Pace, Katie F. Kravets and husband Alex, Kerie A. Romberger and husband Jeff, and Corey D. Knoble, 14 great-grandchildren, Jasiah Book, Sayla Book, Silas Book and Marcela Samar Pace, Skylar Pace, Tanner Pace, Posie Pace, Everett Kravets, Theodore Kravets, Sebastian Kravets, Conner Romberger, Ellie Romberger, Jayce Romberger and Carter Romberger; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Nov. 11, with visitation at 11 a.m. at her church, 2645 Lisburn Road, Camp Hill, with service and lunch following. Burial will be in Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Marysville.

Michael J. Shalonis Funeral Home, Marysville, is handling arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to her childhood church, Bethel Independent Church, 3534 Grier Point Road, Marysville 17053.

ARLENE I. MCGOWAN

Arlene I. McGowan, 93, formerly of Newport, affectionately referred to as Mutter or Peany by her grandchildren, passed away Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023.

She was born Sept. 25, 1930, to Harry and Viola (Coffman) Zeiders.

She was a member of the Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen, Newport, and a former member of the election board.

She was the widow of William R. McGowan.

Surviving are a daughter, Pat Dudley (Jim); two grandchildren, Matthew Dudley (Molly) and Billie Dudley (Dina); seven great-grandchildren, Maddy, Liam and Wesley Dudley, Taylor and Ethan Stitt, Dylan and Davis McGowan; and a stepgreat-grandchild Delaney Foreman.

She was preceded in death by a son, Michael, a grandson, Michael II, and a brother, Harold Zeiders.

A service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 4, in Church of the Nativity, Newport.

David Myers Funeral Home, Newport, is handling arrangements.

JOHN D. SWARTZ

John D. Swartz, 76, of Millerstown passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.

He was born Feb. 25, 1947, to John Robert and Eleanor Losch Swartz Hine.

His family knew him as Dad, Pop-Pop, Grandpa, brother, cousin, and by his friends as Pops, Jack, or just John.

He spent 25 years as a house parent, Scoutmaster and sports coach at Milton Hershey School. After retirement, he spent 21 years working at Fastenal Company where customers and co-workers affectionately called him Pops. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Duncannon, and a member of Masonic Lodge 197, Lebanon.

Like many of the men in his family, he served in the military as a civil engineer in the Air Force. He enjoyed vacations, boating, fishing and hunting with his family. Other hobbies included golf and wood carving. He loved gospel music, especially singing in church and publicly for others.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Judith Sholes Swartz; two sons, John Mark Swartz, wife Natasha Zahorian, and grandson, John Mark Swartz Jr., of Seven Stars, and Adam Leroy Swartz, wife Dawn Swartz, and grandson, J.T. Snyder, and Addisyn Swartz of Shady Side, Md.

Interment will be held at 9:30 a.m., Nov. 3, in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. At 2 p.m., a memorial service will be held in Highland Presbyterian Church, 11 Church Road, Newport.

David Myers Funeral Home, Newport, is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to his church, 115 Church St., Duncannon 17020.

ROBERT L. SHUEY

Robert L. Shuey, 83, of Mechanicsburg, passed away Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at UPMC West Shore Hospital.

He was born May 27, 1940, in Harrisburg to Robert B. and Doris (Deibler) Shuey.

He served in the Army from 1957 to 1960. He had been employed by the Quaker Oats Company for 36 years until his retirement in 2001. He was a member, and former usher, of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Enola. He loved sports and was an avid Penn State football and Philadelphia Phillies fan. While spending time with his family always was his highest priority, he also enjoyed working in his yard and tinkering with his pickup truck.

Surviving are his wife of more than 60 years, Joanne E. (Dietz) Shuey; a daughter, Karen Rhan and her husband, Jon, of Washington, N.H.; a son, Robert Shuey Jr. of Enola; six grandchildren, Cassandra Smith and her husband, Adam, of Bow, N.H., Amanda Barrett and her husband, Christopher, of Goffstown, N.H., Samantha Wyly and her husband, Shane, of Amarillo, Texas, Adam Rhan of Londonderry, N.H., Chloe Shuey and Robert Shuey of Newville; four great-grandchildren, Avery and Oliver Barrett and Janessa and Corban Wyly; and two brothers, Thomas Shuey of Erie and John Shuey and his wife, Jeannine, of Harrisburg.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Shuey.

A service was held Oct. 28 in his church with the Rev. John F. Overman officiating. Committal, with military honors, was in Union Cemetery, Duncannon.

Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home, Duncannon, handled arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to his church, 4685 Mt. Zion Drive, Enola 17025.

DOROTHY A. WEIMER-SWARTZ

Dorothy Ann “Annie” Weimer-Swartz, 68, passed away Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at Brookline Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Mifflintown.

She was born March 21, 1955, in Harrisburg to the late Jeannie C. Brown (Benson).

She was a longtime resident of Millerstown and enjoyed all things outdoors and auctioning. She spent many years helping at the Middleburg Auction House. She loved her family more than anything and she will be remembered by them as the sweetest soul.

Surviving are a son, Christopher M. Weimer of Millerstown; a daughter, Cynthia A. Swartz and companion Nicholas Maruszczak of Elsmere, Del.; five grandchildren, Keenan Weimer, Mikaela Weimer, Dontae Eyster, Haven Weimer and Angel Swartz; a great-grandson, Sawyer Weimer; three brothers, Charles Brown and wife Jennifer, Frank Benson and wife Lisa, and Jesse Brown Jr.; three sisters, Mary Prosser and husband James, Teresa Brown and Shirley Gabert and husband Don; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Jeannie C. Brown, her husband, Thomas Weimer, and her lifelong companion, Henry Swartz.

A service was held Oct. 25 in Brown Funeral Home, McAlisterville, with the Rev. Graham C. Fowler officiating.