First Posted: 2/26/2012
BESTEDER – Helen Jean (Edwards), 91, of Centermoreland, died Friday, February 17, 2012, at Greenley’s Personal Care Home in Tunkhannock, where she had been a guest for the last three years.
She was born in Parson, on July 7, 1920, was a lifelong resident of Centermoreland and a longtime member of the Centermoreland United Methodist Church. She was a graduate of Dallas Township High School and, for many years, worked for Endicott Johnson Shoe Company in Tunkhannock and later in the garment industry in Wyoming.
She was an active volunteer of the Centermoreland Volunteer Ambulance and the American Red Cross. She never missed voting in an election.
Surviving are a son, Karl, Tunkhannock; a daughter, Susan Riggs, Virginia Beach; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations to the Centermoreland United Methodist Church, c/o Robert Phillips, 124 Creamery Rd., Tunkhannock, PA 18657.
CASTERLINE – Bruce Alan, 49, of Tunkhannock, died Sunday, February 12, 2012, at home.
He was born in Scranton on October 5, 1962.
Surviving is his sister, Gladys Amaya, of Henderson, Nev.
CONNER – Marguerite Weir, 87, of Dallas and formerly of Wilkes-Barre, died Monday, February 13, 2012, at the Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Dallas.
She was born on August 22, 1924 in Wilkes-Barre, raised in Wilkes-Barre and was a graduate of E.L. Meyers High School, Class of 1942. Prior to her retirement, she was employed by Berkheimer Associates, Wilkes-Barre. In her earlier years, she was employed by Merrill Lynch and the YWCA, both of Wilkes-Barre.
She attended Gate of Heaven Church, Dallas and was a past member of the former St. Therese Church, Wilkes-Barre. She was affiliated for many years with the Foster Grandparent Program, Wilkes-Barre. Additionally, she held membership with the Saint Al’s Senior Citizens Club, Wilkes-Barre.
Surviving are her son, Elmer, Dallas; daughter, Margaret Loefflad, Mountain Top; four grandchildren; six great-granddaughters; brother, Walter Weir Jr., Dallas; nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations to the American Heart Association, 613 Baltimore Dr., Suite 3, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.
FARVER – Ann B., 93, of Sweet Valley, died Monday, February 13, 2012, at the Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas.
She was born January 5, 1919, in Cambra, and resided in Sweet Valley most of her life.
She graduated from Huntington Township High School in 1936, and was employed by Jay Fashions dress factory in Sweet Valley for 17 years, retiring in 1970.
She was a member of the Sweet Valley Church of Christ, the Sweet Valley Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary and the Dallas Senior Citizens.
Surviving are her daughters, Shirley Major, of Sweet Valley; Jean Hillard, of Dallas; Sharron Davis, of Dallas; and Paula Birth, of Jim Thorpe; brothers, George Beuka, of Berwick, William Beuka, of Lakehurst, N.J.; sisters, Mary Kitching, of Port Richie, Fla.; Virginia Place, of Clearwater, Fla.; and Irene Barrett, of Huntington, Long Island; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson.
Memorial donations to the Sweet Valley Church of Christ, 5439 Main Rd., Sweet Valley, PA 18656.
FINNEY – Janet Marie, 61, of Tunkhannock died Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at home.
She was born September 22, 1950, in Bellefonte.
Surviving are her companion of 19 years, Bill Auchus, Tunkhannock; children, Mary and Kenneth Trudgen, Swoyersville; Dawn and Glen Ford, Courtdale; Donald and Adrienne Finney, Courtdale; Gene and Tammy Finney, Courtdale; Hope and Steve Bednarek, Kingston; brothers, Ray DeArmitt, Kingston; Joseph Emel, Kingston; Mick Emel, Hunlock Creek; Terry Emel, Glen Lyon; sisters, Kate Shotwell, Wilkes-Barre; Tina Ellesworth, Exeter; Dorothy Strohl, Tunkhannock; Pat Emel, Hunlock Creek; 13 grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
GERSTEIN – Allan J., of Dallas, died Sunday, February 19, 2012, at home.
He was born in Wilkes-Barre, served in the United States Army 101st Airborne Division and was the recipient of the OCC Medal Germany and the National Defense Service Medal.
He was a graduate of Meyers High School and attended Penn State University until he went into business with his father. He owned and operated General Radio and Electronics Company as well as a Honda motorcycle dealership, Wilkes-Barre, prior to retiring.
He was a member of Temple B’nai B’rith, Irem Temple Shriners, Masonic Lodge and the Jewish Community Center.
Surviving are his wife, the former Natalie “Honey” Salsburg; daughter, Dr. Jaclyn Gerstein, Boise, Idaho; sons, Mitchell, Dallas; Dr. Brad Gerstein, Shavertown; three grandchildren; two sisters, Roberta Kirshner, Shavertown; and Marcia Fleishman, Pittsburgh; nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations to the American Heart Association , 613 Baltimore Dr., Suite 3, Wilkes-Barre, or Temple B’nai B’rith, 408 Wyoming Ave., Kingston.
GUNSTER – William P., of Country Club Road, Dallas, and Harveys Lake, died February 18, 2012, at the Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas, where he had been a guest.
He was born in Luzerne on July 24, 1915, was a graduate of the former Kingston High School and Wyoming Seminary School of Business and also attended Bucknell College, which is now Wilkes University.
He was the former president of Luzerne Bank and was also a member of its board of directors for 50 years. He formerly held the office of Luzerne County Clerk of Courts. He was a licensed real estate agent and insurance broker and owned and operated the W.J. Parry Agency in Luzerne up until the time of his death.
In 1956, he was elected as a presidential elector for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and also for Richard Nixon. He was a member of the Young Republicans, serving as past regional director and, in 1959, was elected as a member of the Young Republicans Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Kingston Lions Club, serving as a past president. He was a member of the Luzerne County Republican Committee and was a former treasurer.
He was a former member of the West Side Settlement. He was a former treasurer and school director for the Luzerne School District. He was a member of the Luzerne Volunteer Fire Company, where he served as past president and treasurer. He was a member and past president of the Luzerne Businessmen’s Association.
He was a member and past chairman of the Harveys Lake Municipal Authority and of the Harveys Lake Boat Club. He was a member of the Kingston Lodge 395 F&AM and the Caldwell Consistory, as well as the Irem Temple Country Club.
Surviving are his wife, the former Ada Feebish; sons, Parry Gunster and Greg Hanson; a daughter, Willa Heverin; four grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; a sister, Lou Ann Gunster; nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations to the American Association of the Blind.
HARDISKY – Helen, 90, formerly of Lehman Township and a resident of Star Hill Rest Home, Harveys Lake, died Tuesday, February 14, 2012.
She attended Swoyersville schools.
Surviving are a daughter; Marie Caricato, of San Diego, Calif.; one grandson and two great-grandchildren; brother, William Tibus, Swoyersville; nieces and nephews.
HOLDREDGE – John C., 83, of Dallas, died Sunday, February 19, 2012 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
He was born in Trucksville and was a graduate of Kingston Township High School. He was an inspector with the Tobyhanna Army Depot for 28 years.
He was a member of George M. Dallas Masonic Lodge and Keystone Consistory, Scranton and also Irem Temple Shriners and the Shrine Board of Governors. He was a veteran of the Korean War and a member of Daddow Isaacs American Legion, Post 672, Dallas. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Dallas.
Surviving are his wife, the former Bina Dendler; son, Scott, Folsom; daughter, Jacqueline Holdredge, East Kingston, New Hampshire; four grandchildren.
JONES – Jeanne B. “Nana,” of Lehman, died Sunday, February 19, 2012, at Little Flower Manor, Wilkes-Barre, at the age of 88.
She was born in Wilkes-Barre and was a graduate of Coughlin High School. Upon graduation, she attended Wilkes-Barre Business School.
She was employed by Spring Brook Water Co. for a number of years before going to work at the Hazard Insulated Wire Works.
She was an active member of First Welsh Presbyterian Church in Wilkes-Barre, where she served as an elder, deacon, member of Women’s Fellowship, choir mother, Quilter, Welsh cookie baker and a member of the Ethnic Committee.
She was a member of the National Welsh Gymanfa Ganu Committees in 1983 and 1993, where she was chairman of the Market Place. She and her husband, the late Thomas Jones, opened their home to more than 40 foster children.
Surviving are her daughter, Kyle Yankoski, Lehman; son, Heath Simms, Oneida; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations to the First Welsh Presbyterian Church, South Meade and East Northampton streets, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 or to Creating Unlimited Possibilites, 159 Simpson St., Wilkes Barre, PA 18702-1445.
LYNCH – Thomas E., 18, of Harveys Lake, died Monday, February 13, 2012, shortly after arrival at the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center Emergency Room, Plains Township, due to injuries received in a motor vehicle accident in Dallas Township.
He was born December 21, 1993, in Kingston. A Dallas High School senior, he was a member of the Boy Scouts Two Mountain District Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and earned his Eagle badge on his birthday last December 21. His Eagle Scout project was building an information center for the Back Mountain Trail on Harris Hill Road. He also traveled to Philmont, N.M., on a high-adventure trip.
He had enlisted in the U.S. Army and was scheduled to report to Fort Benning, Ga., on August 8, with ambition to be a Cavalry Scout. Surviving are his mother, Liz deLeur Lynch; aunts and uncles.
Memorial donations to Troop 281 Endowment Fund, c/o Ronald Santora, Scout Master, 25 Parsonage St., Dallas, PA 18612.
OLIVER – Esther M., died Monday, February 13, 2012. She had resided in Bonham Nursing Center in Stillwater and was a former resident of Hunlock Creek.
She was born on May 19, 1921, in Harmony, Union Township and was a graduate of Harter High School, West Nanticoke. She was employed many years as a seamstress in the garment industry.
Surviving are her daughters, Nancy Saxe, Clearfield; Jean Dorshefski, Hunlock Creek; Mary Lou Bodek, Shickshinny; sons, John H., North Wales; Michael J., Fountain, Colo.; 15 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 20 great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Susan Featherman, Shickshinny.
Memorial donations to Patterson Grove, c/o Ron Harvey, 136 Pine Crest Lane, Shickshinny, PA 18655, or to the Fairmount Springs United Methodist Church, c/o Gail Sorber, 218 Old County Rd., Benton, PA 17814.
PANEK – Joseph E., 75, of Dallas, died Sunday, February 19, 2012, at The Meadows Nursing Center.
He was born in Luzerne, was a graduate of Luzerne High School and had worked in the furniture industry with Nelson Furniture, Kingston, and also at the Pump and Pantry in Dallas.
Surviving are his wife, the former Jane Layaou; and daughter, Janet Kuren, both of Dallas.
SAYLOR – Marguerite, of Stark Road, Tunkhannock, died Tuesday, February 14, 2012, in Golden Living Center.
She was born in Endicott, N.Y., on September 25, 1928. She was a member of the church of Nativity BVM, Tunkhannock.
Surviving are her children, Gary, Tunkhannock; Stephen, Tunkhannock; Donna, Pittston; Rose Mary Swartwood, Falls; Robert, Tunkhannock; David, Meshoppen; Ann Gross, Danville; Jeffrey, Tunkhannock; Michelle Roth, Tunkhannock; 19 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations to Nativity BVM Church, 99 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, PA 18657.
SOBECK – George S. III, 66 of Tunkhannock, died Friday, February 17, 2012, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, following a nine-year battle with cancer.
He was born in Kingston on May 12, 1945, and graduated in 1963 from West Side Central Catholic High School. He was a Navy veteran who served his country during the Vietnam era. He worked at Procter & Gamble in paper making and retired in the late 1990s.
He was a member of the American Legion in Black Walnut and the Moose Lodge in Tunkhannock.
Surviving are his wife of 43 years, Geraldine Sobeck; his children, George IV, of Springville; Steven, of Falls; Jennifer Lane, of Tunkhannock; eight grandchildren; a brother, John, of Wyoming; a sister, Suellen Kravulski, of Hanover Township; nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations to the Hope Lodge, 626 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD 21201.
STONE – Sandra L., 65, a native of Tunkhannock, died Saturday, February 18, 2012, at her residence.
She was born in Tunkhannock on December 22, 1946.
Surviving are her husband, Clifford “Sunny” L.; her sons, Richard Vogrin Jr., of Tunkhannock; and Dennis Vogrin, of Tunkhannock; daughter, Mary Vogrin, of Denville, N.J.; brothers, Albert Robinson, of Laceyville; Kevin Robinson, of Tunkhannock; Richard Robinson, of Troy, Mo.; sister, Theadora Davitt Cornyn, of Oxnard, Calif.; nieces and nephews.
