Irvin L. Kissinger

Irvin L. Kissinger, retired travel agency owner and former West Lawn councilman, died Nov. 20 at 9:02 a.m. in Phoebe Berks Health Care Center Inc., Wernersville, where he had resided since Nov. 15.

Kissinger, 90, of Liggett Avenue, formerly of Penn Avenue, West Reading, was predeceased by his wife, Esther I. (Shutt) Kissinger, on Sept. 11, 2002.

Kissinger and his wife were the owners-operators of Kissinger Travel agency, West Reading, from 1950 to 1974.

From 1947 to 1953, he chartered trains for tours for the public and formed the Reading Railfan Society.

Kissinger served as a councilman in West Lawn from 1943 to 1947.

He was the owner of the Kissinger Cab Co., West Reading, during the 1960s and 1970s.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Irvin H. and Eva (Freeman) Kissinger.

Kissinger was previously employed for 25 years by the Berkshire Knitting Mills, Wyomissing.

He was a graduate of Reading High School and attended the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute.

Kissinger was a census taker in 1980 and 2000.

From 1989 to 1999, he served as a tipstaff to Judge Albert Stallone.

Kissinger was a choir member at the West Lawn United Methodist Church, where he also formed its men's league and served as president.

He was a past president of the West Reading Lions club; West Reading Board of Trade; the men's league at Bausman Memorial United Church of Christ, Wyomissing; and Post C, Travelers Protective Association, Reading.

Kissinger was a former board member of the Olivet Boys & Girls Clubs.

Surviving are a son, Roy E., Wyomissing; and two daughters, Elinor K. (Kissinger) Wiest, Lancaster, and Ruth K. (Kissinger) Walker, Wyomissing.

Other survivors include two brothers, John, Long Island, N.Y., and Earl, Mohnton; and two sisters, Eva (Kissinger) Shultz, Douglassville, and Betty (Kissinger) Schlegel, Sinking Spring.

There are also seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be Dec. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in St. James Church, West Reading. Burial will be private in Laureldale Cemetery, Tuckerton. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., West Reading, is in charge of arrangements.