Brent Wilson
Former Resident 
Mr. Brent Joseph Wilson, 28, of 39 Sailfish Drive, Ponte Vedra, Fla. died Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002, in Jacksonville, Fla. 
Mr. Wilson was born March 26 1974, in Wilkes-Barre, a son of Reginald A. and Carole Fornett Wilson. Surviving in addition to his parents of Walkertown, are a son, Tyler Joseph Wilson and his sons’ mother, Reena Motorca of Florida; two brothers, Scott Christopher Wilson and his wife, Crystal of Belews Creek and Joshua Dallas Wilson of Walkertown; a nephew, Christian Wilson of Belews Creek; his maternal grandmother, Agnes Fornett of Mountaintop, his paternal grandmother, Joyce Wilson of Florida; and several aunts and uncles. 
We shall all cherish Brent’s memory and he will be greatly missed. 

Teresa Kolesar
Hobbie Native 
Teresa Kolesar, North Washington Street, Wilkes-Barre, died September 30 in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. 
She was born June 12, 1932, in Hobbie, daughter of the late John and Mary Wayda, and was a 1950 graduate of Pringle High School.
Mrs. Kolestar was employed by Leslie Fay Inc., Plains Township, as a cafeteria supervisor for more than 29 years, until its closing.
She was a member of Sacred Heart- St. John’s Parish Community, Wilkes-Barre.
Her son, Tim, died in April2002. Brothers, Joseph, John, Frank and Michael, sisters, Rita Wensell and Suzanne Stein, also preceeded her in death.
She is survived by daughter, Barbara, Henderson, Nev.; five grandchildren; brother, Anthony Wayda, Kingston; sisters, Marie Zajac, Wapwallopen; Bernadine Stack, Wilkes-Barre. 

William H. Hall, Sr.
Army Veteran 
William H. Hall, Sr., 60, of Hobbie, formerly of the Honey Pot section of Nanticoke, died Thursday at home.
He was born in Wilkes-Barre, son of the late Harold and Mary Swithers Hall, and was a graduate of Nanticoke High School.
Mr. Hall was an Army veteran, serving as a sergeant in the Military Police. He was employed as a food broker for more than 40 years. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church, Dorrance; Honey Pot Volunteer Fire Company; and the H&L Gun Club.
Surviving are his wife, the former Beverly J. Valentinelli; daughter, Kimberly Novak, Hobbie; son, William, Jr., Lily Lake; two granddaughters; sister, Arlene Whitmire, Hunlock Creek; nieces and nephews. 

June Ogin Yeager
Mountaintop Resident 
June Ogin Yeager, 70, Kestrel Road, Mountain Top, died October 6 in Hospice Community Care Unit at Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre. 
She was born March 27, 1932, in Wanamie, daughter of the late Clarence and Edith (Ruth) Ogin, and graduated from the former Newport High School in 1950. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Shickshinny.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Miriam Capute.
Surviving are her husband, Allen S. Yeager, whom she married June 30, 1951; sons, David, Rollinsville, Colo.; Scott, Carlisle; three grandchildren; sisters, Kathryn Benscoter, Rochester, Minn., and Dorothy Powell, Dallas.
Funeral will be Wednesday, October 9 at 11 a.m. from Mayo Funeral Home, Inc., 77 N. Main St., Shickshinny, with her pastor, the Rev. Karen B. Allen, officiating. Interment will be in Stairville Cemetery, Dorrance Township. Friends may call Tuesday, October 8 from 7 to 9. 

John M. Kaytrosh
World War II Veteran 
John M. Kaytrosh, 79, of Fairview Township, died October 4 at Hospice Community Care In-patient Unit, Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
He was born in Kingston, May 14, 1923, son of the late John J. and Mary Popeck Kaytrosh. He was a graduate of Kingston High School and the Pennsylvania Military College at Widener. He graduated from Wilkes College in 1949.
Mr. Kaytrosh was an Army veteran of World War II, serving as a second lieutenant in the European Theater.
He was employed as an insurance adjuster by Nationwide and State Farm insurance companies in the Wyoming Valley prior to his retirement.
He had resided in Mountaintop for the past 46 years. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church, Wilkes-Barre Township.
Surviving are wife, the former Mary A. Dennis; daughters, Pamela Sudall, Radnor; Kaverne Kaytrosh-Rorstrom, West Chester; son Gerald John, West Chester; three grandchildren.
Funeral was held from McCune Funeral Home, 80 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountaintop. 

Harold Richards
School Director, Supervisor 
Harold Richards, 86, of Prospect Road, Rice Township, died Nov. 29 in Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
He was born in Mahanoy City, May 12, 1916, son of the late John and Lena Richards. He was a 1935 graduate of Mahanoy City High School.
Mr. Richards was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad as chief clerk of the Wilkes-Barre station, retiring in the early 70s.
He served on the Central Luzerne County Joint School Systems of the Crestwood School District for 32 years. He also served as a supervisors of Rice Township for 15 years.
Mr. Richards participated in activities of the Mountaintop Ambulance Association, the Rice Township Volunteer Fire Company, and Rice Twp. Little League. He was a social member of American Legion Post 781.
He was preceded in death by sons, John and James Harold; sisters, Martha Scholl and Margretta Drumheller; brother, John.
Surviving are his wife of 65 years, the former Dorothy L. Johns; son, Lynn, Wright Township; daughters, Barbara Helfrick, Eastpointe, Mich.; Marilyn Myers, Dorrance Township; Debra Powis, Slocum Township; Diane Yanchulis, Laceyville; 13 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held from McCune Funeral Home, 80 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rice Township Fire Company, 128 Willoweby St., Mountain Top Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 33; Mountain Post 781 American Legion, 1550 Henry Drive; Mountain Top Little League, 375 Alberdeen Rd., all of Mountain Top, PA 18707. 

Helen Mae Keiper
White Haven Resident 
Helen Mae Keiper, 89, of White Haven, died November 27 in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.
She was born in Buck Township, daughter of the late Ralph and Maude Mae Wood Blakeslee and attended Shades Creek School.
Mrs. Keiper was a member of Mountainview Community Church of White Haven. She was employed as a utility worker by White Haven Center and Split Rock Lodge.
Her husband, Stanley, died in 1987. She was also preceded in death by brothers, Calvin, Joseph, Lucius, and Bradley; sisters, Violet Worthen; Mildred Keiper; Joyce Hendershot.
Surviving are a son, Carl, White Haven; daughters, Jeanne Mae Gettig, Weatherly; Carol Joy Hunsinger, Freeland; eight grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; sister, Florence Wheeler, White Haven; brother, Clarence Blakeslee, Shades Creek; nieces and nephews. 

Mary I. Strenk
Former Resident
Mary I. Koschelnick Strenk, 90, of South Plainfield, NJ, died January 24, at the Woodland Care Center, Plainfield, NJ.
She was born in Mountain Top and was a former resident of Manville, NJ, before moving to South Plainfield, NJ 16 years ago.
Mrs. Strenk was employed as a coil wrapper by the former Diehl’s Manufacturing Company, Bridgewater, N.J., for five years.
She was a communicant of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, South Plainfield, NJ.
Her husband, Joseph, died in 1976.
Surviving are daughters, Dolores Sauers, Mountain Top; Terry Wilson, South Plainfield, N.J.; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; sister, Margaret Ogin, Manville, N.J. 

James Eckenrode Sr.
World War II Veteran
James E. Eckenrode Sr., 88, of Fairview Township, died January 27 in Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
He was born in Wilkes-Barre on April 22, 1914, son of the late George and Mary Eckenrode. He was a graduate of St. Nicholas High School.
Mr. Eckenrode was an Army veteran of World War II. He was employed by ACF Industries, Berwick, for several years, and was a member of Teamsters Local 401, Wilkes-Barre.
He resided in Mountain Top for more than 50 years and was self-employed as a carpenter and contractor. He was an avid outdoorsman.
A son, Donald L., preceded him in death.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, the former Ruth Blakeslee; son, James E. Jr., Mountain Top; four grandchildren; sister, Betty Williams, Colorado; brother, Carl, Wilkes-Barre.
A Memorial Service was held at McCune Funeral Home, 80 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist Church Building Fund, PO Box 7, Mountain Top, PA 18707. 

Rose M. Nitkewicz
Former Resident
Rose M. Nitkewicz, 72, of Second Street, Plymouth, died January 28 in Mercy Hospital, Wilkes-Barre.
She was born on May 1, 1930 in Dorrance, daughter of the late John and Stella Stankewicz Losczyk, and attended Dorrance Township schools.
Mrs. Nitkewicz had resided in Newark, NJ, and Michigan prior to moving to Plymouth in 1975. She was a member of St. Mary’s-St. Stephen’s Church Community of Plymouth. She was employed as a beautician in Newark, NJ, for many years.
Her husband, Thaddeus, died in August 1995.
Surviving are her companion, Richard Kotch, at home; nieces. 

Clyde Wood
World War II Veteran
Clyde Wood of State Street, White Haven, died January 25 at Mercy Hospital Hospice Care, Wilkes-Barre.
He was born in East Side Borough, son of the late George H. and Florence Prutzman Wood.
An army veteran of World War II, Mr. Wood served as a technician and as a message center clerk, receiving two Bronze stars.
Prior to retiring, he was employed as a carpenter and as a cabinetmaker by the Pocono Hershey Resort.
Mr. Wood was a member of St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Freeland; the Lehigh Sportsman Association and the Disabled American Veterans.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Genevieve Sowa, who died in 2001. Brothers, Harold and Robert, also preceded him in death.
Surviving are his sons, David J., White Haven; Clyde J. Jr., Baltimore, MD; daughters, Mrs. Paul (Joan) Swerdon, White Haven; Mrs. Nicholas (Janice) Kavounas, Macungie; 10 grandchildren; brother, George, East Side Borough; sister, Jeanette Zehnar, White Haven; nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 643 Fern St., Freeland, PA 18224 of Hospice Community Care, 385 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, PA 18704. 

Julia Deal
Former Tax Collector
Julia Deal, 83, formerly of Towanda Street, White Haven, died January 25 at Davis Manor, Mountaintop.
Born in White Haven, she was a daughter of the late Loren and Anna (Haas) Deal. She worked as a secretary for Shafer’s and Wheeler’s Garages, and Bonnar Vawtar Printing, all in White Haven, and also worked for Mountaintop Container and was tax collector for White Haven Borough. She was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Church, White Haven, where she served as secretary, treasurer and Sunday School teacher.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Edythe F. and Ruth Meier.
Surviving are her sister, Gertrude Hildebrand, Hazleton; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Chuch, White Haven. 

Elizabeth M. Hammersley
Former Resident
Elizabeth M. Hammersley, 58, of Gumtree Drive, Tunkhannock, died January 29 in Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre.
She was born June 6, 1944, in Nuangola Station, Rice Township, daughter of the late Charles C. and Bertha Hamm Weismer. She was a graduate of Fairview High School.
Prior to retiring, she was employed by Acme Markets, Dallas, as a bakery manager.
Mrs. Hammersley was one of the founders of the Wyoming County SPCA. She was a member of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Tunkhannock.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, Sawyer Hammersley; sister, Charlotte Scott.
Surviving are her husband of 38 years, James S.; son, James S. Jr., Tunkhannock; daughter, Debra Sleboda, Wyoming; six grandchildren; sister, Dolores Amann, Hanover Township; brothers, Carl Weismer, Dallas, Texas; Joseph Tarutis, Deland, FL; nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Sawyer Bear Fund, 106 Baker Rd., Tunkhannock, PA 18657. 

Elsie Fey
Life Resident
Elsie Fey, 87, of Fairview Township, died Jan. 30 in Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.
She was born in Mountain Top on Sept. 30, 1915, daughter of the late John and Mary Skolnick Matejick. She was a life resident of Mountain Top, and was a graduate of Fairview High School.
She had been employed by Eberhard Faber Company, Crestwood Industrial Park, for 19 years, where she originated the title for the employee newspaper, “The Pencilvanian.”
Mrs. Fey was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the United Transportation Union, Sunset Lodge No. 451.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl. F.; son, Carl F. Jr.; sisters, Mary Brown, Alice Fichter and Anne.
Surviving are a daughter, Jean Ann, at home; son, John W., Wapwallopen; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Suzan Hudock, Mountain Top.
The funeral was held from McCune Funeral Home, 80 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Mountain Top, 10 Oaklawn Street, Mountian Top, PA 18707. 

Robert L. Richards
Former Resident
Robert L. Richards, 77, of Wilkes-Barre, died Jan. 31 in Hospice Care of the VNA at Heritage House, Wilkes-Barre.
He was born in Mountain Top on March 7, 1925, son of the late Robert and Ruth Jones Richards Haskins. He was a former resident of Philadelphia and had been employed as a maintenance man by apartment complexes in East Orange, N., before returning to Wilkes-Barre.
He was preceded in death by sisters, Jeanette Lindbuchler and Ruth Kishbach; twin brother, Ronald.
Surviving are his wife, the former Dolores Schaufer; daughter, Audrey Pesci, Wilkes-Barre; four grandchildren; brother, Gerald, Indian Rocks, Fla.; nieces and nephews.
Funeral was held from McCune Funeral Home, 80. S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top.