Obituaries

Apr 10, 2025

Asa James New was born sleeping at 6:08 a.m. on April 10, 2025, after 22 weeks in the womb. The circumstances of his passing are uncertain, but what is certain is that he was deeply loved, wanted, and cherished for his entire earthly existence. Though his life was too short, it had a wide and eternal impact for the Kingdom...

Apr 9, 2025

Leroy G. "Lee" Levan, 78, passed away April 9, 2025, at Country Meadows Personal Care Home.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Roy and Marie (Dietz) Levan.

Lee graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor's Degree and later obtained his Law Degree from Villanova University. He practiced law for 35 years before retiring in 2019.

Lee often joked...

Apr 9, 2025

Apr 9, 2025

Glenn Alan Sell, 65, passed away April 9, 2025, in his Boyertown residence.

Born in Reading he was a son of Elizabeth (Matz) Sell and the late Fred Sell.

He was a graduate of Reading High School.

Glenn served as a Heating Technician for the Reading School District for 35 years, demonstrating unwavering dedication to his role.

Glenn enjoyed helping at his son's business,...

Apr 9, 2025

Jeffery Ray Gilbreath, 56, passed away on April 9, 2025 in Reading. He was the longtime partner of Lori Blankenship.

Born in Tyler, TX, he was the son of the late Jimmy Leo and Kay (Pearce) Gilbreath. Jeff served his country in the Army Special Forces 75th Ranger Regiment. He later worked in the aerospace industry as a machinist.

Jeff was in...

Apr 9, 2025

Maryann Alicia (Garman) Beeman, 48, of Reading, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2025, surrounded by her loving family at Jefferson Hospital.

Born on October 15, 1976, in Reading, Maryann was the cherished daughter of the late James Garman, Aida Luz (Rodríguez) Garman and her stepfather Frank Joseph Willet III . She was the beloved wife of Richard Beeman, with...

Apr 9, 2025

Allan F. Epting, 79, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in his Tilden Twp. residence. He and his wife Lela M. (Brown) would have celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on June 1.

He was born in Tilden Twp. to the late Lester F. and Myrtle V. (Fink) Epting. Allan was part of the Hamburg High School class...

Apr 8, 2025

William B. Barrick, 86, of Wyomissing Hills, passed away on April 8, 2025 at Keystone Villa, Douglassville.

He was the husband of Patricia M. (Eppley) Barrick for 63 years.

Born in Johnstown, he was the son of the late Telford and Helen (Eversole) Barrick.

William was a graduate of Johnstown High School and earned his BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from Penn...

Apr 8, 2025

George Bennethum, 85, of Sinking Spring, passed away in his residence on Tuesday, April 8th, 2025.

He was the loving husband of Alice (Oxenreider) Bennethum.

Born to his parents, the late William and Leona (Seisler) Bennethum, George was raised in Reading alongside his late siblings, William G. Bennethum and Rosemary Brown. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1958 and later...

Apr 8, 2025

Frances Evangeline "Vangie" (Romero) Gallegos, 84, passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Birdsboro Lodge where she was surrounded by family and friends.

Frances, also known as Vangie, was born in Chama, New Mexico and raised in Albuquerque, where she enjoyed a happy childhood full of love. She received her Nursing degree in 1962 and would for the rest of...

Apr 8, 2025

Stephen T. Szajek, 75, of Shillington, passed away on April 8, 2025 at Hershey Medical Center. He was surrounded by family and friends who loved him. Born in Reading, he was the son of Stephen P. and Stella E. (Topur) Szajek. Steve was the loving husband of Bonita "Bonnie" (Johnson), with whom he shared 54 years of love and marriage.

Steve...

Apr 5, 2025

LaVerna Y. "Bernie" Ackelson, 95, of Wyomissing, passed away peacefully April 5, 2025.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 70 years, Rolland D. "Ack" Ackelson.

Born in Vandergrift, PA, she was a daughter of the late Arthur E. and Anna S. (Russell) Bier.

After attending the Robert Morris Business School, Bernie was employed as an Administrative Assistant for the Clerk of...

Apr 5, 2025

Walter M. Diener Jr., 85, passed away on April 5, 2025, at Columbia Cottage Wyomissing in Spring Township. Born in West Reading in 1939, Walter was one of three children of Ruth (Hiltebeitel) and Walter M. Diener Sr.

Among many interests, he was a ham radio aficionado.  You would often find him seated at his makeshift home station announcing his call...

Apr 4, 2025

Dale F. Aulenbach of Wyomissing, PA passed away peacefully on April 4, 2025 at the age of 77. Born in Reading, PA, he was the son of Fred and Edna B. (Schmehl) Aulenbach. Dale was predeceased by his parents.

Dale graduated from Reading High School in 1965 and was a proud graduate of Penn State University. He continued his studies at...

Apr 4, 2025

Harry Bortz, Sr. 93, of Reading, died April 4, 2025, in Reading Hospital, West Reading.

He was the beloved husband of Carmela Bortz, who passed away on October 4, 2011. They were a loving couple for over 60 years and Harry mourned the loss of the love of his life every day.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late...

Apr 2, 2025

Amy Riegel, 79, passed away on April 2, 2025, in the care of Reading Hospital. She was the wife of Rodney Riegel. In June they would have celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary.

Born in Chicago, she was one of the five children of the late John Geisel and Catherine (Dolan).

Amy enjoyed the variety of roles she was exposed to as a...

Apr 2, 2025

CarriAn (Ballaron) Murray, 57, formerly of Reading, PA, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Reading Hospital and Medical Center.

Born in Bryn Mawr, PA, she was the daughter of Francesco Ballaron of Winter Garden, FL and the late Karen (Smith) Boarman. She was the loving wife of Neal Murray, her high school sweetheart, with whom she shared 38...

Apr 2, 2025

Richard "Rick" J. Hunter, 74, of Exeter Township, passed away in his home on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 after a long battle with cancer.

Rick was the loving husband of Kathryn "Kate" A. (Dybalski) Hunter and the father of the late Michelle C. Hunter, Jayme L. Hunter, and Eric J. Hunter (all of Reading). Rick is also survived by his sister,...

Apr 1, 2025

Nancy L. Zimmerman, 90, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at Berks Heim. She was the loving wife of Howard Zimmerman, with whom she shared 42 years of marriage before his passing in 2022.

Born in Reading, she was a daughter of the late Belvin and Bertha (Haas) Seidel. After graduating Reading High School (Class of 1953), Nancy completed a...

Apr 1, 2025

Dorothy E. Merkel, 89, of Wyomissing, passed away on April 1, 2025, at Reading Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

Her husband, Donald A. Merkel, passed away on October 16, 2023. They were married on November 3, 1956.

Born in Reading, she was a daughter of the late Harold and Catherine (Walters) Neiman.

Dorothy was a graduate of Central Catholic High School. She...