Irene B. Bickel

Irene B. Bickel, 89, formerly of Wyomissing, died November 19, 2009 in her daughter's Shillington residence.

She was the wife of Russell S. Bickel, Sr. to whom she was married on May 28, 1957.

Born in Reading, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Elwood and Emma (Katzenmoyer) Brown.

She was a Reading High School graduate in 1938.

Irene was employed by Althouse Chemical and later Glen Gery as a bookkeeper/secretary.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, West Reading and was an active member of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Reading.

Irene was an U.S. Navy WAVES veteran, serving as a Chief Storekeeper stationed in Boston during WW II.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, Russell S. Bickel, Jr., Leesport and her daughter, Barbara A., wife of Robert A. Swoyer, Jr., Shillington and three grandchildren, Sam, Mary and Johanna.

Memorial Services will be Saturday, November 28 at 11 a.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading. Inurnment will be Gethsemane Mausoleum. Friends may call Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Alzheimer's Association, 501 Washington St., Suite 801, Reading, PA 19601. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.