OBITUARIES

Jan 31, 2025

Ella K. Felker, 94, of Ephrata Manor, passed away Friday, January 31, 2025. Born in Schoeneck, Lancaster Co, Ella was a daughter of the late Claude Calvin & Kathryn (Weaver) Kramer and the loving wife of Harry F. Felker Jr. who passed in 2000.

Ella loved her family and devoted her life to their care and needs. She was employed for...

Jan 30, 2025

Rosanna H. “Rose” Gray, 77, formerly of Mohnton, passed away on Thursday, January 30th, 2025, at the Zerbe Sisters Nursing Center. Born in Denver, Rose was a daughter of the late William I. and Edna (Sweigart) Heilinger. She was the loving wife of Samuel D. “David” Gray for 62 years.

Rose was a member of the Bridgeville Evangelical Church in Narvon....

Jan 29, 2025

Brittany S. (Parmer) Merklinger, 34, of Ephrata passed away on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, at the Ephrata WellSpan Community Hospital. She was the loving wife of Michael H. Merklinger for nearly 15 years. Born in Ephrata, PA, she was the daughter of Douglas W. Parmer & Deanna S. (Tackett) Horst and stepfather Clifford Horst.

Brittany was a graduate of Garden Spot...

Jan 29, 2025

Byron L. Fritz, 85, of Adamstown, passed away on Wednesday, January 29th, 2025, at the Tower Health Reading Hospital. Born in West Reading, Byron was a son of the late Eugene and Ethyl (Bohanan) Fritz and was the loving husband to Virginia Lee (Wagner) Fritz for 60 years.

Byron graduated from Governor Mifflin High School. Raised in Adamstown, Byron started working...

Jan 28, 2025

Virginia Diane Burkholder, 77, of Ephrata, passed away on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025, at the Lancaster General Hospital. Born and raised in Ephrata, Diane was a daughter of the late Harry W. and Jacqueline (Huey) Fry, and the loving wife of Larry Burkholder.

Diane graduated from Ephrata High School in 1965, then pursued her career interest in nursing and graduating from...

Jan 25, 2025

Mary Lou Kirkpatrick, 81, of Ephrata, passed away Saturday, January 25, 2025, in the presence of her loving family while in hospice care. Born in Jacksonburg, WV, Lou was the ninth of thirteen children of the late John H. & Martha A. (Hosteller) Kirkpatrick.

Lou grew up in West Virginia, a graduate of Valley High School, class of 1961 in Pine...

Jan 20, 2025

Barbara Jeannette Germer entered into rest at Hamilton Arms Center, Lancaster, PA on January 20 at age 92. She was wife of Frederick J. Germer of Mt. Joy, PA who predeceased her in June 2002. She was born on March 14, 1932, the daughter of the late Clarence Raber Miller and Rosmarie Barbara (Kamm) of Lebanon and Lancaster, PA. Barbara...

Jan 17, 2025

James Rohde, 79, of Levittown, passed away at his home on Friday, January 17th, 2025. Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, James was the son of the late Julius and Anna (Karabinchak) Rohde.

James was a graduate of Perth Amboy High School. After moving his family to Lancaster, James worked as a machine operator for Dart Container. A truly caring man...

Jan 17, 2025

Shirley M. Sensenig, 87, of Ephrata, and resident of Fairmount Homes, passed away Friday, January 17, 2025. Born in Brecknock Twp., Shirley was a daughter of the late Oliver H. & Mary W. (Zimmerman) Sensenig.

Shirley grew up in Red Run. She worked for the former Dutchmaid as a trimmer from 1953 to 2002 and for the former Skips clothing factory...

Jan 14, 2025

Clifford L. Gehman, 76, of Stevens, passed away on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025, at the Gardens at Stevens Nursing Home. Born in West Reading, Clifford was a son of the late Robert & Edna (Gephart) Gehman.

Clifford was a 1966 high school graduate. After graduation, Clifford served in the United States Navy from 1966 to 1969, fighting in the Vietnam War....

Jan 11, 2025

Albert O. “Al” Gilgore Sr., 88, of Stevens, passed away on Saturday, January 11th, 2025, at the WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital. Born in Christiana, Al was a son of the late Charles & Lucinda K. (Chandler) Gilgore. Al was the loving husband of Louise E. (Mohler) Gilgore for 54 years until her passing in 2019.

Al Gilgore was a 1956 graduate...

Jan 10, 2025

Teresa D. “Terry” Fravel, 71, formerly of Mount Joy, passed away on Friday, January 10th, 2025, at the Lancaster General Hospital. Born in Ephrata, Teresa was a daughter of the late Clair T. & L. Lorraine (Buffenmyer) Lausch, and the loving mother of Janel N. (Redcay) Snyder.

Terry was a 1971 graduate from Ephrata High School. She worked as a nurse’s...

Jan 9, 2025

Harriet E. (Payne) Buffenmyer, 80, formerly of Lititz, passed away on Thursday, January 9th, 2025, at the Lancaster Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Born in Ithaca, New York, Harriet was a daughter of the late Albert H. and Frances M. (DeGraw) Payne. Harriet was also the loving wife of R. Lee Buffenmyer.

Harriet was a 1962...

Jan 7, 2025

Kathleen J. Gaughan, 84, of Ephrata, passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Born in Reading, Kathy was a daughter of the late Russell W. Jr. and Mabel M. (Morgan) Berger.

Kathy was a former member of the United Zion Church in Ephrata and worked for several years at Kerr Packaging. She loved needlepoint and enjoyed...

Jan 6, 2025

David C. Dierolf, 67, of Reinholds, passed away on Monday, January 6th, 2025, at Tower Health Reading Hospital. Born in Reading, David was a son of the late Edwin and Shirley J. (Hoffman) Dierolf Jr. and the loving husband of 30 years to Alfreda Mosteller Dierolf.

David was a graduate of Muhlenberg High School and...

Jan 4, 2025

Beloved father, grandfather, brother and uncle John Rutt, 73, of Stevens, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully January 4, 2025. He was born June 20, 1951 and resided in both Stevens, Pennsylvania and Chincoteague, Virginia. He attended Cocalico High School, and after becoming the Lancaster County Scoring Champion for basketball two years in a row, he received first team all county...

Jan 2, 2025

Rockford P. “Rocky” Leed, 81, of Stevens, passed away on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025, at the WellSpan Ephrata Hospital with his loving wife and daughter, Karry, by his side. Born in Brownstown, Rocky was a son of the late Robert M. and Gladys (Bear) Leed. He was also the loving husband to Rosann M. (Lefever) Leed since their wedding...

Dec 26, 2024

Janet Catherine (Krebs) Lesperance passed on December 26th, 2024, while under hospice care at the Maple Farms Nursing Facility in Akron, Pa.

Cathy was born on April 8th, 1951, to Preston Calvin Krebs and Janet Ellen (Linkous) Krebs. Cathy graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1969. She went on to receive a bachelor's degree...

Dec 23, 2024

Sherrie Anne Stetler (Mimi), 70, of Denver, passed away unexpectedly at home on Monday, December 23, 2024. She was born in Findlay, Ohio, on September 17, 1954, to the late Richard and Mary Anne Long.

Sherrie was a respected member in her community for her charitable work and professional relationships developed during her 44-year career...

Dec 22, 2024

Richard L. Keller, 69, of Stevens, passed away on Sunday, December 22nd, 2024, at the Hickory House nursing facility. Born in Lebanon, Richard was a son of the late Silas H. and Elaine O. (Musser) Keller. He was also the loving husband to Deborah (Drum) Keller until her passing in 2008.

Richard was the owner...