OBITUARIES

Oct 8, 2023

Thomas Edward Smathers, 79, of Ephrata, passed away Sunday, October 8, 2023 at the Lebanon VA Hospital. Born in McArthur, OH, he was the oldest son born to the late Thomas E. & Violet (Bentley) Smathers and the loving husband to Patricia L. (Brubaker) Rathman-Smathers for 26 years. Tom was a U.S. Army veteran then moved to Michigan and...

Oct 8, 2023

Frances Grace Hunter, age 86, of Ephrata, passed away at Keystone Villa on Sunday, October 08, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Curwensville, a daughter of the late Delphin & Lena (Pentz) Snyder, she was the wife and best friend of Paul Hunter.

Frances graduated from Curwensville High School, class of 1955. She...

Oct 7, 2023

William W. Edmondson, 80, fell asleep in death on Saturday, October 7, 2023.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Debra; his daughters, Nichole, Amy Jo, and Tracy; and a son, Mark. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Gideon, Táem Marie, and Táj.

One of Jehovah’s witnesses, he was a...

Oct 7, 2023

Daniel George Larkins, age 65, of Elizabethtown, PA passed away on October 7. Daniel was born on August 1, 1958, in Bayonne, NJ to parents Helen and Raymond Larkins of Jersey City where Daniel was raised along with his three siblings. He attended St. Paul's (Greenville) Grammar School, and then graduated from Hudson Catholic High School in 1976.

Oct 7, 2023

Margaret Jane (Trefethern) Martin, 93, of Ephrata, passed away Saturday, October 7, 2023, at United Zion Retirement Community in Lititz where she had resided for the past three years. Born in Hundred, WV, Jane was a daughter of the late Winthrop N. & Florence (Lemley) Trefethern and the loving wife of 69 years to Jay Wilmer Martin until his...

Oct 6, 2023

Alexander "Sandy" W. Battisto Jr., 73, of Reinholds, passed away Friday, October 6, 2023 at the Tower Health Reading Hospital after a long courageous battle with cancer. Born in Overbrook, Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Alexander W. Sr., & Marjorie Ellen (Shields) Battisto and the loving husband to Sherry Lynn (Jones) Battisto for over 22 years....

Sep 30, 2023

Alice Fay Huyard, 83, of Denver, passed away Saturday, September 30, 2023. Born in Lancaster, she was a daughter of the late Howard Lynch & Bertha (Rankin) Trout. She was the former wife of J. Kenneth LeFever and then of Frank Huyard until his passing. Alice grew up in Conestoga and started her family with Kenneth when they were...

Sep 30, 2023

William Cordes Jr., 83, of Denver and formerly of Cape May, NJ, went home to be with the Lord on September 30th, 2023. He passed peacefully at home with his loving wife of 54 years at his side.

William was born in Orangeburg, New York, the son of the late William Cordes Sr. and Cecilia...

Sep 30, 2023

Minerva A. Bitner, 96, of Ephrata, formerly of Reamstown, passed away early Saturday morning, September 30, 2023. Born in Ephrata, she was the daughter of the late Oran & Kathyrn (Zerbe) Boose. Minerva grew up in Reamstown and raised her family in Reamstown. For many years, she loved volunteering for the Girl Scouts of Lancaster and York Counties and...

Sep 29, 2023

Theodore "Teddy" Gray Rhoades, 10, of Bowmansville, 5th-grader at Blue Ball Elementary School, and precious son of Matthew T. & Jaclyn M. (Zuzzio) Rhoades, passed away at Hershey Medical Center on Friday, September 29, 2023. Teddy attended therapy at the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development. His special needs began at only 3 months of age but with the tender...

Sep 29, 2023

Michael G. Madara, 57, of Reinholds, passed away Friday, September 29, 2023. Born in West Reading, Mike was a son to Jean E. (Esterly) Madara and the late Ronald R. Madara. He was the devoted husband of 29 years to Beverly L. (Lesher) Madara. Mike grew up in Laureldale and was a graduate of Governor Mifflin High School, class...

Sep 24, 2023

Grace Pearl (Wolfe) Potts, Resident of Country Meadows, Wyomissing was born December 16, 1936, in Highville, PA. Her father, Rev. Ralph Wolfe Sr. was the pastor at Highville Church. She shared her home with mom, Florence (Uhler) Wolfe, and siblings, Ralph Jr., Charles, Naomi, and Josephine. She graduated from Donegal High School in 1955. She met her future husband...

Sep 24, 2023

Floyd G. Wentzel Sr. “Pit”, 74 of Ephrata passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2023.

He was a son of the late Florence and George Sr. Wentzel. Loving and devoted husband to Sandra M. Wentzel for 42 years and father to Floyd Jr., husband of Trista; Mindi, wife of Michael Rankin; Richard; Barb; Marg; Bryan;...

Sep 21, 2023

Jay Dean Acton, 60, of Reinholds, passed away late Thursday night, September 21, 2023, in the loving presence of his parents after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Indiana, Dean was a son to Gary R. & Elmetra F. (Stewart) Beder and the late Wilber Acton. Dean was a graduate of Terre Haute North High School, class of...

Sep 20, 2023

Edward W. Leed Sr., 89, passed away Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Ed was a son of the late Lloyd & Stella (Haldeman) Leed and for 57 years, he was the loving husband to the late Annamaria (Uibel) Leed. Born and raised in Salunga, Lancaster County, Ed started working at a young age and he later obtained his GED. For...

Sep 17, 2023

Walter ‘Bud’ B. Hughes Jr., age 78, of Ephrata, passed away at the WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital on Sunday, September 17, 2023. Born in Phoenixville, a son of the late Walter B. Hughes Sr. and Irene E. (Fulmer) Hughes, Walt was the loving husband of Jessie N. (O’Neal) Hughes until her passing in 2011.

Walt...

Sep 15, 2023

Raymond G. Groff, 86, of Akron, passed away Friday, September 15, 2023. Born and raised in Conestoga, he was the son of the late Raymond E. & Cora M. (Gebhart) Groff and the loving husband of 62 years to Mary Frances (Troyan) Groff.

Ray was the owner and operator of R.G. Groff Co., an automotive...

Sep 13, 2023

Ruth Strange-Stevenson, 33, of Denver, passed away Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at the Tower Health Reading Hospital. Born in Kansas City, MO, Ruth was the daughter of David Michael Stevenson and Norma Jean Strange. Ruth worked in Human Resources for many years, a career well suited for her friendly, helpful manner and people skills. She left Missouri several years...

Sep 12, 2023

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Richard "Poppy" Unger, a man whose life was a testament to love, service, and unwavering faith. Poppy, born in the city of Philadelphia on Sept. 16, 1944, journeyed through life as a cherished son to John and Florence Unger, a loyal brother to Jack Unger, and a beloved...

Sep 8, 2023

Timothy A. Talbot, 60, of Leola, passed away Friday, September 8, 2023, at the West Reading Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Born in Lancaster, Pa, he was a son of Walter C. and Shirley M. (Crouse) Talbot.

Tim was born and raised in Lancaster and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1981 to 1982....