Obituaries

Cronrath, Audrey L. - 12/27/2007

Audrey L. Cronrath, 69, Topton, died Dec. 27, 2007, in Lehigh Valley Hospital.
 
She was the wife of Ray W. Cronrath. They were married Jan. 23, 1971.
 
Born June 12, 1938, she was a daughter of the late John H. and Kathryn M. (Barto) Smith.
 
She was a personnel counselor in the human resource department of Allentown General Hospital, Allentown, for 19 years, until her retirement in 1982. She also worked at Atlas Mineral Products, Mertztown.
 
She was a 1956 graduate of Kutztown Area High School, and a 1958 graduate of the former Reading Business School with a degree in executive secretary studies.
 
She was a member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Topton.
 
She is also survived by a son, J. Timothy, husband of Jennifer L. (Jeschke) Cronrath, Topton; a stepdaughter, Debra A. (Cronrath), wife of Michael J. Billowitch, Whitehall; and a stepson, Michael R., husband of JoAnne (Murphy) Cronrath, Fredericksburg, Va.
 

Deeds, Robert Leon, Sr. - 12/21/2007

Robert Leon Deeds Sr., 71, Robeson Township, died Dec. 21, 2007, at 8:46 p.m. of natural causes in his residence.
 
He was the husband of Joan M. (Krammes) Deeds, who passed away July 26, 1995.
 
Born in Bernville, he was a son of the late John Edward Deeds Sr., and Mary Esther (Shirey) Deeds.
 
He had been a self-employed builder/developer, “Robert L. Deeds,” from 1964 to the present.
 
He is survived by two daughters, Sandra L., wife of John Alting Jr., and Shirley L., wife of Joseph M. Mack, both of Robeson Township; and a son, Robert L. Deeds Jr., husband of Michele Deeds, Robeson Township.
 
Other survivors include four grandchildren: Robert III and Daniel Deeds; Matthew Nguyen; and Christy Goff; and two great-grandchildren, Stanley and Hunter Goff.
 
He was predeceased by a son, Barry L. Deeds, in 1961; two brothers and three sisters.
 

Gallagher, Grace C. - 1/22/2005

Grace C. Gallagher, 87, Reading, died Jan. 22 in Phoebe Berks Skilled Nursing Unit, Wernersville, where she had resided since February. Her husband, Joseph P. Gallagher, died Dec. 9, 1999. Born in Reading, she was a daughter of the late George and Mary (Cummings) Boas. Gallagher was a graduate of St. Peter’s High School, Reading. She was a member of St. Margaret’s Roman Catholic Church, Reading. Gallagher served as a judge of elections in Reading for many years until 2003.
 
Surviving are two sons, the Rev. Joseph P., Philadelphia, and Kevin T., Spring Township; and two daughters, Patricia J. (Gallagher) Rehr, Reading, and Kathleen G. (Gallagher) Strause, Bernville.
 
Other survivors include two sisters, Dorothy (Boas) Buser and Miriam (Boas) Hillbish, both of Reading.
 
There are also 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
 

Gundy, Walter M. - 12/28/2007

Walter M. Gundy, 98, Berkshire Commons, Exeter Township, and formerly of Robeson Township, died Dec. 28, 2007, of natural causes in Reading Hospital.
 
Born in Robeson Township, he was a son of the late Lee and Mary (Messner) Gundy.
 
He had been a self-employed farmer. His farm was on Gunhart Road, Robeson Township.
 
He was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Gibraltar.
 
Surviving are six nephews and a niece.
 
Graveside services and burial will be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in St. John’s Cemetery, Gibraltar, with the Rev. William E. Harner Jr., officiating.
 
Dengler Funeral Home Inc., 144 N. Spruce St., Birdsboro, is in charge of arrangements.1
  • 1. Reading Eagle, 12/30/2007

Hiester, Adam Reber - 8/15/1962

Fleetwood, August 16---Adam R, Hiester, 87, of Fleetwood, R.D. 3, died last night in the Community General Hospital. Born in Lower Heidelberg Township, he was the son of the late Wellington and Amelia (Reber) Hiester. His wife, Ellen (Weihrer) Hiester, died in 1961.

He is survived by five sons: Albert E., Morgantown; Walter A., Aberdeen, Washington; Wellington A., Fleetwood R.D. 3; Paul G. Reading; and Daniel W., Reading. Four daughters, Florence M., wife of Jerome Kachline, Egypt, Lehigh County; Mildred E., wife of Charles Conrath, Fleetwood; Helen M., wife of Milton Ochs, Sinking Spring, and Elsie E., wife of J. Walter Emore, Leesport; 23 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and two sisters, Lillia, wife of Raymond Manderbach, Laureldale; and Mrs. Debbie Esterly, Ocean Grove, NJ.

Services will be held from the Lamm and Witman Funerall Home, Wernersville, on Saturday at 1:30 PM with the Rev. Ralph E. Starr officiating. Burial will be made in Hain's Cemetery, Wernersville R.D.

Hiester, Adam W. - 12/8/1956

Adam W. Hiester, 87, Clock Maker, Dies 
 
Adam W. Hiester, 87, well known Strausstown resident and retired watch and clock maker, died Saturday at his home following a year's illness. 
 
A native of Upper Tulpehocken Twp., Berks County, he was a lifelong resident of the Strausstown area. For many years he served as a correspondent for a Reading newspaper,
 
Active in the community life, he was a member of various fraternal and sports organizations, including the Strasusstown P.O.S.of A., fire company, Rod and Gun Club, and the Wilderness Park Ass'n, and the Eagle Climbing Club of Reading.
 
He was also an active member of the Evangelical and Reformed congragation of Zion's Church and Sunday School. He formerly served as Sunday School superintendent.
 
He is survived by his wife, the former Sallie B. (Spatz) Hiester, and several nieces and nephews.1

Hiester, Albert E. - 2/21/1970

Albert E. Hiester

Word has been received her of the death of Albert E. Hiester, 69, of 6701 Richardson Road, Baltimore, Md., formerly of Elverson, R. D. 1, in Woodlawn, Md.

Born in Reading, a son of the late Adam and Ella (Weiherer) Hiester, he was employed by Armour & Co., before retiring in 1963.

Mr Hiester was a member of Reading Lodge 549, F&AM.

Surviving are his widow, Ruth (Boas) Hiester; a son, James, Baltimore, Md., and two grandchildren.

Four brothers: Walter, Aberdeen, Wash.; Wellington, Fleetwood R D 3, and Danel and Pual, both of Reading, and three sisters: Florence, widow of Jerome Kachline, Allentown; Mildred, widow of Charles Cronrath, Boyertown, and Helen, wife of Milton Ochs, Sinking Spring RD 6.

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. in Woodlawn, Md.1

  • 1. Reading Eagle, 2/21/1970

Hiester, Alexander S. - 5/25/1884

Reading, PA. May 25. Alexander S. Hiester, a well known citizen, died very suddenly at twelve o'clock last night, at the residence of his brother, Gabriel Hiester, in this city, in the forty-fifth year of his age. Mr. Hiester was born on the banks of the Tuplehocken creek, Bern Township, this county.1

  • 1. Philadelphia Inquirer

Hiester, Amelia Ahrens [Reber] - 7/16/1924

Amelia A. (Reber) Hiester, widow of Wellington Hiester, aged 71 years, 6 months and 16 days, died of complications of ailments at 1:30 AM today at the home of son-in-law Raymond L. Manderbach on Earl St., Rosedale after an illness of five years. She was a member of the Lutheran denomination.

Surviving are eight children: Adam R., North Heidelberg Twp.; Alma, wife of John Stoudt , Reading; Harrison P., Louton, Oklahoma; Deborah, wife of George Esterly, Reading; Anna, wife of T. G. Stein, Phila.; Wellington, Lebanon; Robert W., Rosedale; and Lillie, wife of Raymond L. Manderbach at whose home she died. Also, 29 grand and 6 great-grand children. Two brothers: Adam, Lower Heidelberg and Jonathan , South Temple and two sisters, Sarah, wife of William Eyrich, and Malinda wife of Devilla Schaeffer of Reading.1

  • 1. Reading Eagle, 7/16/1924

Hiester, Charles H. - 4/10/1952

Charles H. Hiester, 84, a native of Stausstown, died yesterday in the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George Miller, Bethlehem. 
 
A retired mechanic, he was a son of Moses and Maris (Degler) Hiester. He was a member of Grace Reformed Church, Fountain Hill, of which he was an elder emeritus; the Washington Republican Club, Bethlehem; Knights of Pythias, Myerstown, and the P.O.S. of A., Strausstown.
 
His wife, Hannah (Dierwachter) died 40 years ago. Surviving are the daughter with whom he resided; a grandchild; and two brothers, G. A. Hiester, Pauling, Ca.; and Adam W. Hiester, Strausstown.1
  • 1. Lebanon Daily News, 4/11/1952

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