Gerald Snavely

Gerald L. "Jerry" Snavely, 69, of Lititz, passed away suddenly on July 17, 2011 at Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lititz.

He was born in Denver to the late Lincoln Miles and Viola G. (Wiest) Snavely and was the husband of Dawn E. (Reinhart) Simpson Snavely, to whom he recently wed.

Jerry was an active member of the Ephrata Church of the Brethren. He enjoyed hunting, traveling and collecting antique John Deere tractors. He also bred and raised alpacas. He was an avid motorcyclist and fulfilled his lifelong ambition in 2009 where he rode to Alaska and back. He also instructed a motorcycle safety program.

Jerry farmed and owned a trucking company with his brother Ben. Then he was the president of Snavely’s Mill Inc. from 1985 until his retirement in 2009. He purchased the mill from L. M. Snavely in 1985 when the mill was destroyed by a fire. Under Jerry’s direction, the mill was rebuilt into what we know it to be today — a thriving modern mill.

Catherine Z. Seyfert, 92, of Moravian Manor, Lititz, formerly of Reading, died Saturday, July 23, 2011 at her residence.

She was born in Pine Grove, daughter of the late Irvin H. and Sarah A. Schrope Zerbe. Catherine was married to the late Walter C. Seyfert who died in 1977.

Catherine was a registered nurse and night supervisor at the former Community General Hospital, Reading, for 31 years and retired in 1981. She was a member of the Lititz Moravian Church and volunteered at the Lititz Public Library. She enjoyed cross-stitching.

She is survived by a stepdaughter: Mary Lou (James) Powers, Vero Beach, Fla.; and a niece: Nancy (Jack) Hartz, Lititz.

She was preceded in death by a brother: John Zerbe; and a sister: Faye M. Herr.

Catherine’s life celebration service was held at Spacht Funeral Home July 27. Interment was in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Pine Grove. Friends may call at Spacht Funeral Home on Wednesday from 12:30-1:00 p.m. To share memories of Catherine, visit lifecelebration.com.

Jean Moyer Patton died peacefully in her sleep on May 15, 2011 at the age of 89 in Middletown, Conn. She was predeceased by Robert A. Patton, her husband of 62 years.

She was born on May 11, 1922 in Lititz, the eldest daughter of Isaac and Lizzie Moyer.

Jean graduated from Lititz High School in 1940 and worked for RCA in Lancaster during World War II. She married Robert A. Patton in 1948.

They raised their family in Wyomissing. During that time she worked for Penn Square Mutual Fund. In 1972 they moved to their beloved colonial farmhouse on the banks of Pine Creek in Lobachsville, Pa.

Jean was an avid gardener and cook, she was skilled in many needlework crafts, and she was a self-taught and accomplished ornithologist. She delighted in fall trips to Hawk Mountain and participating in the Audubon winter bird count. She instilled a love of nature and conservation in her family.

She is survived by three children: Susan Louise Patton Munn, wife of Thomas Munn, of San Francisco; Peter Charles Patton, husband of Elsie, Middletown, Conn; and Stephen Rand Patton, husband of Lise Hanners, Weston, Conn. There are also six grandchildren: Abigail Patton Munn, Elizabeth Moyer Munn, Margaret Eliza Patton, Charles Sumner Patton, Emma Hanners Patton and Austin Hanners Patton.

Donald I. Markley

Donald I. Markley, 76, of Lancaster, passed away peacefully at Hospice of Lancaster County, surrounded by his family, Friday, July 22, 2011.

Born in Rothsville on Aug. 13, 1934, he was the son of the late Harry and Susan (Imhoff) Markley and husband of Esther L. (Dick) Markley. Donald and Esther celebrated 54 years of marriage on May 11.

Honorably discharged on Oct. 27, 1960 from the U.S. Navy after serving eight years on the USS Freemont, which included the Korean Conflict, Donald was a member of the American Legion Post 56 and the VFW Post 8757, Mountville, and Teamsters Local 771.

He retired from Lumsden Corp. in 1999 after working 18 years.

Donald enjoyed NASCAR racing; his favorite driver was Dale Earnhardt Jr. He loved spending time with his great- grandchildren and walking his dogs. He enjoyed strolling through the Root’s and Green Dragon markets.

Donald is survived by five children: Donald E., husband of Carolyn Markley, of San Diego, Calif.; Robin L., wife of Jeffery Neely, of Lancaster; Pamela Smith of Akron; Brian K., partnered to Rich Riccio, of Mount Joy; and Brent, husband of Kathleen Markley; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and brothers: Charles Markley; and Willard, husband of Ruth Sensenig.

Kathryn Hoover

Kathryn Mae (Buckwalter) Hoover, 100, formerly of Parkesburg and Shunk, died at Landis Homes, Lititz, on the morning of July 18, 2011.

She was born May 3, 1911 in Leacock Township, the daughter of Henry and Naomi (Kreider) Buckwalter. After the death of her father and subsequent remarriage of her mother, Sem Eby became her step-father.

In addition to homemaking, she worked intermittently as a telephone operator in Intercourse, Atglen, Gap, Parkesburg, West Chester and Embreeville State Hospital. After 30 years of farming near Parkesburg she and her husband moved to Sullivan County, where she served as a KOA camp manager.

Involvement in the community was a big part of Mae’s life. She was a PTA "Mom" and president, member of the Octorara School Board, coordinator for the Fresh Air Program and chair for the Chester County Migrant Ministry.

Mae participated in various expressions of congregational life including teaching Sunday school and Bible school, and was deeply committed to the broader Church and its outreach. Many persons were supported by her faithful prayer ministry. She was a member of Wheelerville Mennonite Church, now Faith Mountain Fellowship, and after moving to Landis Homes in 2001, became a member of the Landis Homes Fellowship.

Samuel B. Heisey

Samuel B. Heisey, 95, formerly of Ephrata, passed away at Brethren Village surrounded by his family July 20, 2011.

Born in Clay Township, he was the son of the late Rev. Peter and Sadie Brubaker Heisey. He was married to the late Dorothy Snader and is survived by his second wife Arline Steckbeck.

Sam was a member of the Middle Creek Church of the Brethren, in Lititz, and was a lifetime deacon. A third generation farmer, he served on the Farm Bureau Board of Directors. He was a Clay Township school director and later served on the Ephrata Area School Authority.

Survivors include his wife Arline; children: Barbara, wife of Francis McCaffrey, Denver; Mary, wife of Thomas Keech, Ephrata; and David, husband of Joyce Heisey, Florence, Ariz.; step-children: Kenneth, husband of Janice Lutz; H. Ronald, husband of Jackie Lutz; and Dale, husband of Anna Lutz; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; sister: Ruth Bushong; and a brother: Enos Heisey. He was preceded in death by a brother: Ralph.

On July 23, burial took place in the Heidelberg Cemetery, Reistville.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Good Samaritan Fund, c/o Brethren Village.

Dorothy G. Geller, 89, of Lancaster, formerly of Reading, passed away Sunday, July 24, 2011 at Landis Homes in Lititz.

Born in Reading on July 15, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Jacob L. and Anna G. (Elisowitz) Graff. She was the wife of Samuel J. Geller, who passed away in 1974.

Dorothy was a 1939 graduate of Reading High School. She was co-owner with her husband of a grocery store and later owned and managed various real estate holdings with her husband in Lancaster. Mrs. Geller was a member and former vice president of Congregation Shomrei Habrith Synagogue, where she also managed the synagogue cemetery for many years. She was a former member of Temple Beth El in Lancaster, where she was also a member of Sisterhood. The temple, Sisterhood, friends and family all benefited from her flair for fashion, floral design and decorating.

She is survived by a son: Allan E. Geller, husband of Nan W. Chamberlain, of Lancaster; a daughter: Mitzi E. (Geller) Schreck, of Sunnyvale, Calif.; and two grandchildren: Shawn S. Geller and Jenna T. Schreck.

Florence M. Fritts, 87, of Lititz, passed away Sunday, July 17, 2011 at Luther Acres Nursing Home. She was born June 6, 1924, in Bethel, Ala

Florence was a graduate of Moravian College. She was an active member of Lititz Moravian Church and enjoyed reading, knitting and swimming.

Surviving are her husband: Warren H. Fritts; two sons: Tom Fritts, husband of Linda, of Franklin, Mass.; and John Fritts, husband of Anne, of Bethlehem; a daughter: Margaret Dapkiewicz, of Easton; six grandchildren: Jessica Brown, Rebecca Zedar, Adam Fritts, Diana Fritts, Kelcie Fritts and Allison Fritts; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, William Drebert.

A memorial service was held Monday, July 25, 2011 at the Lititz Moravian Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Library for the Blind, The Free Library of Philadelphia, 919 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Arrangements were made by Auer Cremation Services of Pennsylvania, Inc.

By: MICHELLE REIFF Record Express Staff, Staff Writer

Warwick School District is considering using a flat fee system, dependent on grade, rather than a tiered one, for the proposed extra-curricular activities charge, announced Todd Rucci, Student Activities Committee chair, during a July meeting. The target date for the implementation of this proposed program is the 2012-2013 school year.

The school board sub-committee began discussing the possibility of instituting this charge several months ago as a way to maintain the quality of its programs, particularly in grades seven and up. Research was done both locally and across the state, looking in particular at school districts like Elizabethtown and Contestoga Valley.

A recent online survey was made available to parents of students and taxpayers to get community input and determine what their out-of-pocket expenses were already and what should be done with the money once it is collected. Dr. Robin Felty, assistant superintendent for secondary education and administrative liaison to the committee, presented a pamphlet outlining survey results and plan ideas thus far.

"Prices are always increasing. We don’t want to short change anyone in quality of equipment," said Troy Price, Warwick High School principal. "We started many months ago and explored many options for fees."

By: MICHAEL C. UPTON Record Express Correspondent, Staff Writer

During a typically shortened summer business meeting Tuesday, Warwick School Board faced many personnel issues, including the hiring of a new marching band director.

The board unanimously approved the employment of Mathew Wolfe as band director for the 2011/12 school year at a salary of $4,050. Wolfe also gained another position in the district as high school instrumental music teacher. He is replacing Rebecca Staznik, who resigned earlier this year.

"I’m looking forward to working with the band," Wolfe said. "I think we are going to have a lot of fun together and achieve a lot of high, excellent standards."

In other personnel matters, during time set aside for public comment, district resident Chuck Biemesderfer addressed the board with his concerns regarding the current Warwick boys lacrosse head coach Chris Schmehl. Those concerns, Biemesderfer said, were shared by many parents of lacrosse players not in attendance. Biemesderfer first approached the board in May.

"I’m here to express a disappointment in the process that led to the approval of the head coach for reinstatement," he said. "There have been many e-mails and many meetings with the athletic director (John Kosydar), not just with myself, but with a multitude of parents who all have the same concerns."