All Obituaries

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved Edith Ida DuGuay, age 96, who passed away peacefully on December 7th in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was surrounded by family in the days and hours leading up to her final moments. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. Edith was born in 1923 in Reading, PA.  She graduated from Reading High School in 1942. She married the love of her life,...

Annie A. Ely, 100, of Kutztown, passed away December 7, 2019 in Penn State Health St. Joseph, with her loving family by her side. She was the wife of the late Stanley A. Ely, who passed away August 29, 1990. Born in Weisenburg, Lehigh County on October 29, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Francis and Bertha (Peters) Hartman. Annie was a member of Friedens Lutheran Church in Oley. Surviving are her children: James D., husband of Shelia Ely of Texas, Arlene C., wife of the late...

Virginia Anna Homan, 81, died December 1, 2019 in her Exeter Township residence. She was the wife of Gerald John Homan, with whom she shared 61 years of marriage. Born April 3, 1938, in Reading, she was a daughter of the late Ralph L. and Eleanor V. (Ely) Kofroth. Virginia was a 1956 graduate of Reading High School. She was formerly employed as a manager with Weis Markets, 13th & Rockland Streets, for 10 years prior to her retirement. Virginia enjoyed knitting and cross stitching,...

Kenneth Lander Stoliker, 87, of Cumru Township, died November 28, 2019 at Reading Hospital & Medical Center.   He was the loving companion of Marie M. (Pupo) Kirkpatrick, with whom he shared 18 years.   Born, May 12, 1932 in North Girard, Pennsylvania, he was a son of the late Lester C. Stoliker and Mildred A.A.(Waldo) Stoliker Palmer.   Kenneth was a 1950 graduate of Rice Avenue Union High School.   He was employed as a bus driver with Trailways and Greyhound...

Butch Beckner, 58, died November 26, 2019 in his Temple residence. Born in Winston Salem, NC, he was a son of Joye Mae (Wolfe) Beckner and the late Lawrence Joseph Beckner, Sr. He was a 1979 graduate of West Forsyth High School and a Photoengraver by trade. Butch was free spirited and had a kind soul. He was a hardworking man who touched many lives with his fun loving personality. His grandchildren were the light of life and his family meant the world to him. His love for music was...

David M. Mast, 86 of Oley, loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away November 23, 2019 in his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of the late Miriam M. Mast who passed away August 10, 2018. Born in Morgantown, PA on Dec. 5, 1932, he was the son of the late Aquila (A.D.) Mast and Lottie Diebert. David, along with his wife, owned Mast Mower Service, Oley for twenty years, before retiring in 1989. Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to Coudersport ...

Rachel Jane Benning, 46, of Douglas Township, Montgomery County, died November 23, 2019, in the Reading Hospital, with her loving family by her side.   She was the wife of Michael C. Benning, to whom she was married June 23, 2001. Born February 25, 1973, in Reading, she was a daughter of Barbara L. (Swartley) Yerger and the late Alan W. Yerger, who died in 2013. Rachel was a 1991 graduate of Oley Valley High School and a graduate of Kutztown University, where she earned her...

William “Bill” Houck, 71, passed peacefully with family by his side, on Friday November 22, 2019 in his home after a short battle with liver cancer. He was the husband of Diane (Souders) Houck, whom he married June 25, 2004. They were together for 27 years and married for 15 years. Born in Great Lakes, Illinois on July 31, 1948, he was a son of the late Marlin and Katherine “Kit” (Black) Houck. Bill was a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, serving with the Navy. He...

Anna Haladjian, 96, died November 20, 2019 in Rittenhouse Senior Living Center. Services will be held Tuesday, .December 3rd at 11:30 am in Stitzel Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., 423 Main Street, Oley. A visitation will be held Tuesday from 11:00 am until time of services. For online condolences, visit www.Stitzels.com

Ernest P. Hafer, 79, of Earl Township, passed away November 17, 2019 in his home. Born June 2, 1940 in Reading, he was a son of the late Paul M. and Elsie E. (Noss) Hafer. He was a member of Salem United Church of Christ, Oley. Ernest proudly served with the United States Navy during the Vietnam Era.   He worked in electrical line construction for Union #126. Ernest is survived by many cousins. Services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Stitzel Family Funeral Homes &...