Oliver C. Kochel

Oliver C. "Jake" Kochel, 80, of Cumru Township, died July 14th at 11:10 pm in the Reading Hospital and Medical Center, where he had been since July 8th.

He was the husband of Katie W. (Westley) Kochel and predeceased by his first wife, Helen M. (Smith) Kochel, who died July 25, 1997.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Oliver C. and Anna V. (Davis) Kochel.

He was a 1942 graduate of Wilson High School.

Kochel was an Army Veteran of WWII.

He was a member of Immanuel Evangelical Congregational Church, Adamstown, where he was a past steward.

Kochel was employed for 22 years in the forming department at Alexander's Hat Company, West Reading.

He later worked 22 years as a routeman and inside supervisor at Harting's Bakery before retiring in 1986.

Kochel was a past secretary/treasurer of the International Hatters Union, Berks Chapter.

He was a past president of the Golden Agers of St. John's United Church of Christ, East Earl, Lancaster County.

Kochel is also survived by a step-daughter, Linda W. (Woods) Huber, Lititz, Lancaster County and two step-sons, Larry R. Woods, Reinholds, Lancaster County and T. David Woods, Adamstown.

Others survivors include three sisters, Jane (Kochel) Ortyl of Reading, Catherine (Kochel) Richards and Suzanne (Kochel) Kramlich both of Robesonia.

There are also five step-grandchildren and eight step-great grandchildren.

Services will be Tuesday at 10:00 am in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading. Viewings Monday evening 6:30 - 8:00 pm and Tuesday 9:30 am until time of service in the funeral home. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Exeter Township. Contributions may be made to Hospice Compassionate Care, 4 Park Plaza, Suite 205A, Wyomissing, Pa 19610.