TimesLeader.com

January 4

obituaries

BARBER - Joyce M., 54, of Loyalville, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 at Hershey Medical Center.

Born in Kingston on November 4, 1954, she graduated from Lake-Lehman High School in 1972 and attended Misericordia University, Dallas, for two years. She was most recently employed as an administrative assistant for the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania.

She was a member of Our Lady of Victory Church, Harveys Lake.

Surviving are her mother, Josephine A. Truska Evans, of Harveys Lake; her husband of 24 years, Bill; children, Susan J. Barber and Will N. Barber, both at home; brothers, Henry Evans, of Lehman; and Mark Evans, of Loyalville; sister, Christina Bryant, of Harveys Lake; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-niece and nephews and cousins.

Memorial donations to the Salvation Army, 17 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 or the American Cancer Society, 71 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

BOICE - Harold “Carl,” 79, of Drost Boice Lane, Tunkhannock (Sugar Hollow), died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008 at home.

Born in Tunkhannock on July 31, 1929, he was a 1947 graduate of Tunkhannock High School and was an Army veteran and member of VFW, Post 396.

Prior to his retirement, he was the owner and operator of Boice’s Valley View Farm in Eaton Township.

Surviving are his daughter, Deborah, of Tunkhannock; three sons, Carl R., of Rochester, N.Y.; Michael A., and George W. Matte, both of Tunkhannock; a sister, Shirley Stefanko, of Tunkhannock; a brother, Delmar Boice, of Tunkhannock; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations to the Wyoming County Humane Society, 9 E. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, Pa. 18657.

CAPRISTO - Cindy Zarychta, 49, of Keelersburg, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008 at home.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, she attended West Side Vocational/Technical High School, Pringle, and was a graduate of the Empire Beauty School, Wilkes-Barre. She had been employed in several area hair salons and prior to her illness, had been a partner/owner-operator of “A Little Off The Top” in Forty Fort.

Surviving are her husband, James C.; son, Jeff Swainbank, at home; stepdaughter, Jamee Capristo Rucco, Larksville; stepson, Nicholas J. Capristo, at home; three grandchildren; brother, Michael Zarychta, Tunkhannock; several nieces and nephews; a stepfather, William Bulford, West Wyoming.

Memorial donations to the Cindy Capristo Cancer Fund, c/o UFCW Federal Credit Union, Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming 18644.

CONDEELIS - Agnes A., of Falls, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 at Mercy Hospital Hospice, Scranton.

Born in Scranton on February 16, 1924, she was a graduate of Scranton Technical High School, Class of 1942.

Prior to her retirement, she worked at St. Michael’s School in Hoban Heights as a house mother for 16 years. She was a member of St. Mary’s of the Lake, Lake Winola, and its Altar and Rosary Society.

Surviving are sons, Paul G. Jr., Lake Winola; Richard D., Mehoopany; sister, Mary Kaminski, Clarks Green; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

FISCHER - Irma G., of Newberry Estates, Dallas, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008 at Hospice of the VNA, Heritage House, Wilkes-Barre.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, she graduated from Meyers High School. She was a member of Temple B’nai B’rith, Kingston; Temple Israel Synagogue, Wilkes-Barre; and a volunteer for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and other civic and religious organizations.

Surviving are her daughter, Lyn Carey, Dallas; sons, Steven Greenberg, Dallas; Jay Greenberg, Kingston; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Renee Veloric, Bryn Mawr; and nephews.

Memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 63 Northampton St., Wilkes-Barre; The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 5100 W. Tilghman St., Suite 40, Allentown, PA, 18104; or Hospice of the VNA, Heritage House, 60 E. Northampton St., Wilkes-Barre.

FUNKE - Myrtis D., 87, formerly of Dallas and Mt. Zion, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 in Bradenton, Fla., where she had resided.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, she was a graduate of Dallas Borough High School and attended College Misericordia. During World War I, she was employed by the War Department, working in the chemical division. Before retiring, she was an embroidery design artist for Herman Funke & Sons Mills, Ashley.

Surviving are a son, Henry John, Tampa, Fla.; daughter, Dr. Saralee Funke, Allentown; sister, Lucille Bittenbender, Donnelly, Ind.; numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations to the Luzerne County S.P.C.A., 524 E. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

JANCIK - William John, 93, of Dallas, and formerly of Kingston, and St. Petersburg, Fla., died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008.

Born on February 17, 1915 in Baltimore, Md., he attended the Boonton Public School System and New York University, New York City. He was assigned to the Field Artillery, U.S. Army in Schofield Barracks, Honolulu, Hawaii, from 1932 to 1935.

During World War II, he worked for Aircraft Radio Corporation, Boonton, N.J. He was an electroplating foreman for United Steel and Wire Co., formerly of Wilkes-Barre. He was the electroplating foreman for Metropolitan Wire Co., Wilkes-Barre, for many years. He was employed by AMF, York, and worked for the Tides Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he resided semi-retired for 10 years.

While a resident of Wyoming Valley, he was a member of St. Ignatius Church, Kingston, as well as the Knights of Columbus, Wilkes-Barre. He was also an officer and lifetime member of Sokol USA (a Slovak Social Club).

Surviving are his daughters, Alice Roberts, Wilkes-Barre; Jane Stevens, Ellicott City, Md.; Adele Kaschenbach, Dallas; Linda Jancik, Powells Point, N.C.; Susan Jancik, Shillington, Pa.; and Lori Jancik, Niskayuna, N.Y; sons, William and Joseph, Reading, and James, Mohnton, Pa.; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations to The Treatment Advocacy Center, 200 N. Glebe Road, Suite 730, Arlington, VA 22203.

JOHNSON - William Frazer, 59, of Beaumont, died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 at Kindred Care, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born August 13, 1949 in Wilkes-Barre, he was a graduate of Tunkhannock Area High School and earned his degree in human resources from King’s College. He enlisted in the United States Navy and served in Vietnam as a River Rat and was selected as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Navy. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

He was retired from the United States Postal Service and the Luzerne County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Agency.

He coached the Bob Horlacher girls’ softball team, umpired Little League and was the baseball player agent. He was a member of the Harveys Lake American Legion and belonged to George M. Dallas Lodge 531. He belonged to the International Norton Owner’s Association, was a member of TAP League, a former member of the APA and was affiliated with SCCA.

Surviving are his mother, Mary Ann Lewis Johnson; daughters, Cynthia Montigney, Duryea; Amy Giuli, Edwardsville; and Marion Gallagher, Exeter; seven grandchildren; sisters, Mimi and Dottie Johnson; brothers, Bob and Tom; several nieces and nephews and one great-niece.

Memorial donations to Kunkle Volunteer Fire and Ambulance, RR1 Box 301A, Dallas, PA 18612.

LAUER - Lois Marie Keener, 74, of Dallas, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born in Kingston, she was formerly employed by General Cigar, Bergman’s Department Store and Fashion Bug. She was a member of Holy Family Parish, Luzerne.

Surviving are her sister, Jane Handols, Washington, N.J.; brothers, Paul, Kingston; and Harold Jr., Luzerne; stepchildren, Mary Lou Lapallo, Virginia; Ann Swartwood, Clarks Summit; and Louis Lauer Jr., Phoenixville; nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations to the American Diabetes Assoc. 63 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

LEWIS - Kenneth F., of Valley Drive, Dallas, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2008 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born November 24, 1940 in Wilkes-Barre, he entered the U.S. Navy upon graduation and served for four years. He was a member of the Sports Car Club of America and the Susquehanna Valley Metal Detecting Club.

Surviving are his son, Scott Elick; six grandchildren, brother, Ronny Lewis; and a sister, Anna Mae Dudick.

OWENS - Henry M., 79, of Trucksville, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2008 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born in Plymouth, he was a graduate of Plymouth High School. Before retiring, he was a cutting room manager for Leslie Fay, Plains Township.

He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of Trucksville United Methodist Church and the American Legion Post in Plymouth.

Surviving are a daughter, Susan Schneider, Plains; companion, Rose Hanas, Miners Mills; two grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.

Memorial donations to the American Cancer Society.

POPE - Ian J., 17, of Centermoreland, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born in Kingston, he was a student in the junior class at Holy Redeemer High School. He was a member and captain of the soccer team, member of the track team and the National Honor Society. He was awarded varsity letters for soccer and track.

He had attained a Black Belt in Tang Soo Do and was a member of St. Nicholas Church, Wilkes-Barre, where he was an Altar Server. He was also a recipient of the Bishop’s Youth Award.

Surviving are his parents, James F. and Marie Yeager Pope, of Centermoreland; sister, Alyssa Marie, at home; maternal grandmother, Helen Yeager, Wilkes-Barre; paternal grandfather, J. Frederick Pope, Dallas.

Memorial donations to the Ian J. Pope Memorial Fund, c/o PNC Bank, 325 Memorial Highway, Dallas.

RINKUS - Mildred, of Keelersburg Road, Tunkhannock, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008 at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

Born in Waymart, she was a graduate of Meyers High School, Wilkes-Barre. For many years, she was employed by Rex Shoe, formerly of Exeter.

Surviving is her husband of 38 years, Joseph; children, Carol, Kentucky; Teri Fetch, Harding; Ronald, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Robert, Pittston; Leonard, South Carolina; Joseph Jr., Tunkhannock; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

RONDINELLA - Joseph, 89, of Dallas, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born in Wilkes-Barre on July 24, 1919, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

After he returned from military service, he worked as an auto body repairman and ran his own shop known as Herby’s Auto Body in Kingston until he retired in 1991 at age 72. He belonged to the Rush Inn Bowling League.

Surviving are his wife of 68 years, the former Irene Yatko; brother, Bill Montone, Camp Hill; sisters, Dolores Kraft, Willow Grove; Rosemarie Panzitta, Wilkes-Barre; 12 children; 21 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations to Gate of Heaven Church, Dallas.

TRESCOTT - Eva H., formerly of Tunkhannock and a current resident of the Star Hill Nursing Home, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2008 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born in Courtdale, she was a graduate of Dallas High School and was a member of the Evans Falls United Methodist Church.

Surviving are her children, Olive (Cookie) Lincoln, Virginia Beach, Va.; Gloria Klimas, Sheila Stonier, Loretta Moyer, Fred Mock and Clifford Mock, all of Tunkhannock; Mary Weyant, Winston-Salem, N.C., numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a sister; Eleanor Hontz, White Mills, Pa.

Memorial donations to Evans Falls United Methodist Church, 306 SR 292 E. Tunkhannock, PA 18657.

ZARYCHTA - George Zarychta, 81, of Keelersburg Road, Tunkhannock, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2008 at home.

Born in Keelersburg, he attended area schools. He was a lifelong farmer and retired from the construction industry. He was formerly employed by the Berwick Power Plant.

He was a member of the Church of the Holy Redeemer, Harding, and a member of the carpenters union.

Surviving are his wife, the former Helen Golenski; son, Michael Zarychta, of Tunkhannock; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.