Richard P. Demmy, 91, of York, formerly of Lancaster Junction, Lancaster County, died Wednesday, April 4, 2012 with his wife of 70 years, Florence, and daughter, Suzanne, by his side.

Born in Manheim, he was the son of the late Paul L. and Mary Bailey Demmy.

Mr. Demmy was a former member of Pleasureville United Methodist Church in York. During World War II, he served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater. He was employed as a manufacturing engineer by York Industries prior to retiring in 1986. Previously, he was employed by the former Thrift Master Company in York. Mr. Demmy was a member of American Legion, Pleasureville Post No. 799 and York Rifle Range. He was an avid fisherman, enjoying all types of fishing, especially fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Mr. Demmy was concerned about the health of the bay and supported "Save the Bay" initiatives. He enjoyed animals and having a hearty laugh.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters: Eileen L. Demmy, of Manheim; Lois D. Haas, of Richmond, Va.; and Suzanne P. Plitt, of Loganville; a son: Michael D., husband of Janice Demmy, of Flinton; three grandchildren; two step- granddaughters; and a step-great- granddaughter.

Mary Magdalene (Scheid) Plasterer, 89, of Manheim, went to be with her Lord Jesus Christ Monday, April 2, 2012 at Hospice of Lancaster County, Mount Joy, after a brief illness.

Born May 12, 1922, in Lancaster, and raised in Bausman, she was the daughter of the late Paul H. and Pauline (Culhane) Scheid. She was the stepdaughter of the late Mabel L. (Waldbauer) Scheid. Her husband, the late Richard H. Plasterer, died in 2006.

Mary Magdalene was a registered nurse, having worked many years at the former St. Joseph Hospital and Lancaster Osteopathic Hospital. She was a member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manheim. Mary Magdalene was a proud U. S. Army Nurse Corps veteran of World War II. She was an operating room nurse, helping establish hospitals in Japan and Hawaii.

Surviving are three children: Robert W. Milley, of Lititz; Carol A., wife of Ike B. Rittenhouse, of Manheim; and Richard M. Milley, husband of Rebecca (Lerch) Milley, of Leola; five grandchildren; five great- grandchildren; and two brothers: Paul H. Scheid Jr., of Millersville; and Harold D., husband of Lois (Arnold) Scheid, of Pottstown.

She was preceded in death by a sister: Norma R. Dexter, in 2008.

Charles J. Pennell, 82, of Lancaster, formerly of Lititz, passed away Thursday, April 5, 2012.

Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Alvin and Catherine Doersom Pennell. He was married to the late Susan Brandt Pennell, who died in 2007.

He is survived by two sons: David M. (late Melissa Ann) Pennell, and William B. Pennell; three daughters: Susan D. Pennell, Kathleen L. Pennell and Patricia A. (John) Oatman, all of Lancaster; three grandchildren: Mary Sue of Lancaster, David (Angie) Pennell II of Red Lion and Tanyzion Flourenciani Gilbert; two great-grandchildren: Gavin Charles and Gabriel Owens; two sisters: Theresa (late Dale) Herr and Barbara Ann (late James) Brown, both of Lancaster.

Charles was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during World War II and Korean War. He worked for RCA as an experimental tube builder for 37 years, retiring in 1989.

Charles was a member of Trinity E.C. Church, Lititz American Legion Garden Spot Post 56 and a life member of VFW Post 1463, Lititz. He enjoyed bowling with the Thursday Seniors at Leisure Lanes, woodworking, and he was a Hershey Bears fan and long-time season ticket holder.

Harvey Obetz, 76, former local Union president and Army veteran, passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2012 after a short illness.

Born in 1935 in Locustdale to the late Mazie Snyder and Lawrence Obetz, Harvey was the fifth of nine children.

Mr. Obetz was drafted into the Army in 1958 and was stationed in France, where he fell in love and married his wife, Monique. Upon returning to Lancaster, the couple raised their three daughters. Mr. Obetz worked for almost 40 years as a machinist at Kerr Glass and was elected president of the local United Rubber Workers Union. Until his illness, he worked at the Manheim Auto Auction. In recent years, the couple moved to Lititz, where he was known for his beautiful lawn and garden. He also enjoyed playing with his many grandchildren and fishing.

Mr. Obetz is survived by his wife of 52 years: the former Monique Descamps; three daughters: Brigitte Seldomridge, Christine Tufano and Michele Obetz-Moore; seven grandchildren: Nathan, Daniele, Lauren and Marc Seldomridge, Matthew and Alison Tufano and Megan Moore; one great- granddaughter: Luna Seldomridge; siblings: Bernice Webster, Leonard Obetz, Ronald Obetz, Rita Burchett and Rhoda Eshleman.

Elma W. Kopp, 88, of Lititz, and formerly of Willow Street, passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at Hospice of Lancaster County, Mount Joy.

Born Jan. 29, 1924, she was the daughter of the late John H. and Laura R. (Weaver) Burkhart. She was married to Paul G. Kopp in 1945. Mr. Kopp died May 11, 2007.

She will be lovingly missed by a son: Paul G. Jr., husband of Donn Kopp, of Nixa, Missouri; two daughters: Mary Ann, wife of Jon L. McElhany, of Ephrata; Linda J., wife of Boris Musich, of East Elmhurst, N.Y.; nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; four sisters: Mary Landis, Mildred Witwer, Lois Miller and Kathy Fellenbaum; and three brothers: Walter, Elvin and Wilmer Burkhart.

She was preceded in death by two brothers: Richard and Merle Burkhart.

Funeral services were held at the Andrew T. Scheid Funeral Home, Millersville, April 9 with the Rev. Ethan Levengood officiating. Interment took place in Conestoga Memorial Park, Lancaster.

Kindly omit flowers. Memorial remembrances can be made in Elma’s memory to United Zion Retirement Community’s Benevolent Fund, 722 Furnace Hills Pike, Lititz, PA 17543 or to Hospice of Lancaster County at hospiceoflancaster.org.

Chester Joseph Kopanski, 77, of Lititz, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at Hospice of Lancaster County Essa Flory Center.

Born on July 4, 1934, in Coatesville, he was the son of the late Anthony S. and the late Wanda Kopanski. Chester was the husband of Madeline M. (Staneski) Kopanski, to whom he was married for 52 years.

Chet was a graduate of S. Horace Scott Senior High School in Coatesville and a 1959 graduate of Penn State University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. Chet spent 15 years with general electric in the aerospace industry. He participated in the Manned Orbital Laboratory and space exploration projects. He served in the U.S. Army in a special program for aerospace. In 1970-72, he attained certification as a CFP financial planner and spent several years in the financial industry. From 1974 until 2002, Chester was the owner of Spring Gulch Resort in New Holland and Mill Bridge Village and Camp Resort in Paradise from 1992 until 2002. He retired in 2002. He was a member of Bent Creek Country Club and enjoyed golfing, traveling, reading and the Maryland shore. Chet’s fondest memories were the times he spent at the beaches of Rehoboth, Del., golfing with family and friends.

By: JOHN CRAWFORD Record Express Correspondent, Staff Writer

Is this the next generation of hometown heroes? These John Beck Elementary School students enjoyed a visit from volunteer firefighters during Fire Safety Week last fall.

The Warwick Emergency Services Alliance (WESA) has kicked off a multi-year advertising campaign called Hometown Heroes, designed to honor and strengthen the volunteers providing fire and EMT services to Lititz and the surrounding area. The program also highlights local needs in manpower and funding.

Created in 2001, WESA is a partnership of local government and volunteer emergency service providers dedicated to the continued support and success of the volunteer community for the region it represents, as stated on the Warwick Township website. The participating volunteer fire and ambulance companies include Lititz, Rothsville, Brunnerville and Brickerville fire companies; and Warwick, Rothsville and Brickerville ambulances.

The need for more volunteers and more funding from the public is nothing new, but this new campaign to bring more attention to the situation is.

Brooke GoodBrooke Good

Inside WHS’ Andrew Wenger scored his first professional soccer goal last weekend. Read all about it in this week’s sports section, page B1.

According to statistics, the average U.S. citizen consumes up to two pounds of pretzels per year. This year, however, that average will change — thanks to the first annual Lititz Pretzel Fest.

The Fest will be held April 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Lititz.

Playing off of the success of their biggest fund raiser, the Lititz Chocolate Walk, the Kiwanis Club of the Lititz Area has created this new event to raise funds for the Lititz/Warwick Community Chest’s food bank.

Tickets are $5 purchased in person or $6 online, and give the holder access to several rather unique pretzel tasting stations, a "Twisted Minute to Win It" competition with 10 challenges throughout town, German dancers, a photo-op area, a chef’s competition, Pretzel Bingo, banjo music, and a very special live preview presentation of the Sharadin Bigler Theater’s newest production, "Xanadu."

Also included in the day’s festivities will be a dunk booth, offering an opportunity to dunk local personalities, including the Mayor of Lititz, the editor and the associate editor of the Lititz Record and Ephrata Review, political figures, a school board member, an insurance agent, and everyone’s favorite mail carrier, among many others.