Dorothy R. Russell, 94, of Lititz, passed away Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at Luther Acres with her family by her side.

Born in Lancaster, and a lifelong area resident, she was the daughter of the late Ray and Mildred Yunginger Clark. She was the wife of the late Gabriel W. Russell, who passed away in May of 2003.

A graduate of Rothsville High School, Dorothy had worked as a tour guide for the Amish Farm and House from 1976 till 1989. Prior to this, she managed the Fannie Farmer Candy store in the 1960s. She was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lancaster, enjoyed sewing, cooking and working in her large garden. Her greatest joy was being with her family.

Dorothy will be lovingly remembered by her children: Susan, wife of Allen Mellinger, of Lancaster; and Robert C., husband of Martha Russell, of Williamsburg, Va.; her five grandchildren: Kathryn C. Mellinger, wife of Matthew Harry; Mark A. Mellinger; Michael, husband of Anne Russell; John Russell; and Laura Holley; and her five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sister: Lillian Musser.

Stanley Pate, 66, of Lititz, formerly of Ephrata, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 at the Hospice of Lancaster County, Mount Joy.

Born in Leicestershire, England, he was the son of Barbara (Cherry) Pate and the late Eldridge Pate. Stanley was the husband of Gretchen (Schumacher) Pate.

He was a machine operator and a truck driver, and a member of the Church of England. He was a NASCAR, Phillies and New York Giants fan. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and grand-puppies.

In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by his children: Anthony Pate, companion of Cheryl; Daniel Pate; Elizabeth, wife of Travis Metzler; and Andrew, husband of Adriana Pate; five grandchildren; and a brother: David Pate.

A celebration of life service will be held at 6 p.m. on March 5 at Hosanna! A Fellowship of Christians, 29 Green Acre Road, Lititz, officiated by the elders of the church.

Contributions can be made in Stanley’s memory to the Humane League of Lancaster County, 2195 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602.

To send the family online condolences, visit snyderfuneralhome.com.

Peggy A. Pack, 60, of Mount Joy, died peacefully surrounded by her family Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 at Hospice of Lancaster County, Mount Joy.

Born in Manheim, she was the daughter of Rosene Edwards Coleman, of Manheim, and the late Thomas D. Coleman. She was the loving wife of the late Ronald D. Pack, who died in June of 2006.

Peggy owned and operated with her husband the former Shore Motors in Manheim. She was a faithful volunteer at Brethren Village. Her interests included cooking, gardening, traveling and home decorating. She had a passion for her family and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Surviving are two sons: Kyle R., husband of Lisa Regina Hipple, of Manheim; Joshua T., husband of Julie Greene Pack, of Columbia; two grandsons: Andrew and Benjamin Hipple; three brothers: Steve T., husband of Linda Coleman, of Humble, Texas; Dan T., husband of June Ann Coleman, of Mount Joy; Peter T., husband of Sue Coleman, of Manheim; and a sister: Amy, wife of Tom Perkins, of Barrington, N.H.

Her memorial service was held at the Buch Funeral Home, Manheim, on Feb. 14. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family in Manheim Fairview Cemetery, Penn Township.

Aldus B. Kready, 84, of Coudersport, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 at Sweden Valley Manor in Coudersport.

Born on April 18, 1927 in Manheim, he was the son of Aldus Z. and Emma Brandt Kready. In May of 1985 in Smethport, he married Monta Clark, who died on Dec. 24, 2004.

Mr. Kready had lived in the Coudersport area since October of 2010, coming to the area from Middletown. He graduated high school in Manheim and then served with the U. S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He had been employed as a machinist with the Fuller Company in Manheim. He was raised Mennonite and was a 60-year member of Elizabethtown Moose FC 596 in Elizabethtown, where he was a fellowship degree member and past governor.

Surviving are two daughters: Janet L. Foltz, of Smethport; and Jean Weaverling, of Dothan, Ala.; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one daughter: Joanne Johnson; and two sisters: Anne E. Augst and Mary Jane Zimmerman-Kopt.

A memorial service was held on Feb. 11 at Elizabethtown Moose FC 596, 18 N. Market Street, Elizabethtown. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Evelyn R. Kilburn, 81, of Brethren Village, went to be with her Lord and Savior Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at Lancaster General Hospital.

Born in Patterson, N.J., she was the daughter of the late Lewis and Emma Molzan Myers. Evelyn was married to the late Raymond S. Kilburn, who died in 2008.

She was a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. She was a substitute teacher in the Warwick School District. Prior to that, she taught at Christ Home for eight years, taught in the Philadelphia School District for 15 years from 1979 to 1995, and she spent eight years as a missionary in Africa from 1955 to 1964. Evelyn was a member of the Grace Baptist Church, Lancaster. She was a dog lover and an avid gardener.

She is survived by a sister-in-law: Elizabeth Myers.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her brother: Walter L. Myers.

Evelyn’s life celebration service was held at Grace Baptist Church, Lancaster, on Feb. 14, with the Rev. Marvin Reich officiating. Interment will take place in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, East Hanover Township, on Feb. 16 at 12:30 p.m.

Sharon A. Humphreys, 65, a homemaker, of Millersville, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 at Lancaster General Hospital after a brief illness.

Born Sept. 29, 1946 in Norfolk, Va., she was the daughter of the late Paul R. and Carrie B. (Fordham) Cooper. She was married to John E. Humphreys III for 36 1/2 years.

Sharon was a member of New Danville Mennonite Church and a 1964 graduate of Warwick High School and then graduated from the Lancaster Business School.

Surviving are two children: Michelle L. John, of Lancaster; and John P., husband of Joanne M. Humphreys, of Conestoga; three stepchildren: Carol Keith, of Ephrata; Marie Hauk; and Sara Moylett; two grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; and one brother: Russ Cooper, of Lititz.

Funeral services were held at the New Danville Mennonite Church, Lancaster, on Feb. 15 with Pastor Jay C. Garber officiating. Interment took place in the Chestnut Level Presbyterian Cemetery, Quarryville.

Kindly omit flowers. Memorial remembrances can be made in Sharon’s memory to the American Heart Association.

To submit an online condolence, visit scheidfuneralhome.com.

Mary Jane Thompson Hiestand, 91, formerly of Manheim and Annville, went home to be with her Lord Monday, Feb. 6, 2012 at Brethren Village.

Born in Lebanon, she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Esther Gass VanWinkle.

Mary Jane retired from the Lebanon County Earned Income Tax Office. Previously, she was employed as a secretary for Lebanon Valley College, Annville. An accomplished pianist, Mary Jane taught piano privately for many years.

She was the wife of the late J. Loverne Hiestand, who died in March of 2001. Her first husband was the late Rev. Sterling D. Thompson, who died in February of 1964.

She was a member of Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church, Manheim, where she volunteered her time playing piano and organ at the church. Previously, she was a very active and faithful member of Zion Evangelical Congregational Church in Annville, where she was a lay delegate to the church’s national conference, served on the official board of the church, choir director, Sunday school teacher and helped with her husband’s ministry. Mary Jane was a member of the Lititz Springs Chapter #499 Order of the Eastern Star. Her interests included: needlecraft, crocheting, jigsaw puzzles, flower gardening and playing bingo.

Samuel M. Gockley, 90, of East Petersburg, formerly of Lititz, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 at Conestoga View.

Born in Lancaster County, he was the son of the late John and Amanda Landis Gockley. He was married to the late Mary E. Artz Gockley, who died in 2008.

Samuel was the co-owner of the former Gockley’s Insulation and he was also a self- employed farmer. He enjoyed snowmobiling, hunting, fishing and splitting firewood.

Surviving are two daughters: Jean H., wife of Stanley M. Ruhl, of Reinholds; Janet L., wife of Raymond Flory, of Gretna Springs; a son: John R., husband of Trish Gockley, of Lititz; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and two great-great- grandchildren.

Samuel was preceded in death by four brothers: Earl, Clarence, Richard and Harry; and two sisters: Mary Albert and Naomi Glick.

Samuel’s life celebration service was held at Spacht Funeral Home, Lititz, on Feb. 11 with Rev. Harry T. Dow officiating. Interment took place in Millport Mennonite Cemetery, Warwick Township.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to American Lung Association of Lancaster and Berks Counties, 630 Janet Ave., Lancaster, PA 17601.

By: LAURIE KNOWLES CALLANAN Record Express Correspondent, Staff Writer

Photo by Stephen Seeber
Lititz's annual Fire & Ice Festival will go on as planned, opening Feb. 17, but organizers are hoping for cooler weather. The warm winter has already forced them to scrap their ice skating party. The community rink behind Lititz Springs Park (above) had to be dismantled last week.Photo by Stephen Seeber
Lititz's annual Fire & Ice Festival will go on as planned, opening Feb. 17, but organizers are hoping for cooler weather. The warm winter has already forced them to scrap their ice skating party. The community rink behind Lititz Springs Park (above) had to be dismantled last week.

Faced with the warmest winter in recent memory, organizers for the annual Fire & Ice Festival in Lititz are hoping for chillier days as their three-day event approaches.

The festival, Lititz’s first big community event of the year, is set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17-19.