ry ER Jd I Post 4B NEW S Sunday, September 19, 2004 5 OBITUARIES | FLOYD WILLIAM KESTER ELINOR CRAGLE LEAH RANSOM JENNIE PATTON WILLIAM BRACKETT Ordained minister and missionary Sweet Valley native Service September 26 Member of Daughters of Skilled woodworker “For me, to live is Christ and o die is gain!” So said Paul and ‘so say I! “Absent from the body is to be present with the rd!”... Paul’s sure hope and mine as well! The death of this body is inevitable ... unless the Lord returns and the rapture occurs first! ... which could very well happen ... at any moment! ‘are some of the thoughts taken from Rev. Floyd W. Kester’s ‘most recent diaries. Floyd William Kester, age 77, ordained minister and mission- ary of 54 years, died at home, 422 Bethel Hill Road, Fair- mount Township, Sweet Valley, Pa., on September 13, 2004, fol- ing a five-year courageous tle with cancer. He was born on June 18, 11927, at 66 Furnace Street, ‘Shickshinny, Luzerne County, Pa., to the late Floyd and Bertha (Sarley) Kester. He at- tended Garrison Memorial High School and graduated in 1945. When yet a young man, he was born-again as a believer in Jesus Christ, was baptized by immersion in the lake at Forest Hills Baptist Youth Camp in Sweet Valley and joined the Independent Protes- tant Church (now Bible Baptist Church) of Shickshinny. Floyd served in the U.S. Army. His Military Occupation- al Speciality was Bandsman and he attained the rank of Sar- gent. He was honorably dis- charged November 11, 1946. On August 29, 1950, he was ted in marriage to Evelyn J. Beaujon in Johnson City, N.Y. er five years of Bible and istry training, Floyd gradu- d from Baptist Bible Semi- , Johnson City, N.Y. with a in Biblical Theology and ‘tlen ordained to the Gospel Ministry by the Independent “Protestant Church of Shickshin- ty in 1952. Floyd and his wife, Jelyn, were then commis- “oned as missionaries under Faptist Mid-Missions. 1In 1953, Floyd and Evelyn rtaveled -to Brussels, Belgium, br French-language training and then to missionary church slanting in the Belgian Congo. ‘They were evacuated out of ong in 1960 to Ghana, West ica, where they served as a jurch planter, field adminis- Wator, and co-founder of the ‘Wa Baptist Bible Institute until 1967. After returning to the States, Floyd and his family lived near Shickshinny on Cherry Hill while waiting God’s next min- istry assignment. In 1969, the Kesters moved to Takoma Park, Md., where Floyd planted the Good Samaritan Baptist Church. They moved to Sweet Valley in December of 1986 where they had faithfully served in evangelism and disci- pleship in area nursing homes, Hampton House of Hanover Township, Birchwood Nursing Home of Nanticoke and Leader East in Kingston. He directed the chorus at the Senior Citi- zen Center of Nanticoke and volunteered as an EMT for the Fairmount Township Fire Com- pany. Floyd was an active member of the Bible Baptist Church of Benton, where he served faith- fully on the Missions Commit- tee and ministered as song- leader and musician. Of note, Floyd was an accom- plished saxophonist. “He could make that horn sing as he ‘sub- missively’ played for the glory of God.” Of lesser distinction was Floyd's gift in the lan- guages. He learned Latin in high school and was trained in the biblical languages of He- brew and Greek in seminary. Then to minister in the Belgian Congo, he learned French and the local dialect of Kituba; in Ghana, Ga; in Takoma Park, Md., Spanish; and in Kingston, Pa., Polish. Floyd is survived by his wife, Evelyn, and children, David, Adamston, Md.; James, Oxford, Mich.; Paul, Kingsley, Pa.; Deb- bie (O'Keefe) Moscow, Pa.; Pe- ter, Springfield, Va.; Samuel, Peyton, Colo.; Ruth (Camp- bell), Silver Spring, Md.; grand- children, Shalom, Immanuel, Hannah, Joshua, Bethany, Ben- jamin, Brianna, Bradley, Brooke, Angelica, Deinno, Dustin, Danielle, Devon, Dylan, Jeremy, Jordan, Annalise, An- drew, Jacob, Heidi, Zachary, Chelsea, Alexander, Mahlon and Paige; sister Mary Lee (Smart), Silver Spring, Md.; brother, Eugene, Crestview, Fla.. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Bertha, and his daughter, Judith. Interment, Pine Hill Ceme- tery, Shickshinny. Memorial donations may be sent to Bible Baptist Church, 250 Shickshinny Road, Benton, PA 17814, designated for Kester Memorial Fund to be disbursed to Bibles Internation- al and the Ghana Theological Institute of Ghana, West Africa. PROPERTY TRANSFERS "The following property trans- fers were recorded recently at the Luzerne County Court- house: Daniel Gause and spouse to James Crabbe and spouse, 6 Brittany Lane, Dallas, $296,800. : Robert H. Schalm to Lynn Harris, Fern Ridge, Dallas Township, $179,900. .. Joseph J. Dollard to Jeffrey Tinner and others, Bluff Pointe, Dallas Township, $92,500. Donald Ide and others to Eu- gene E. Stec and spouse, Dallas | A ship, $500,000. eorge Patterson and spouse o Paul Bunson and spouse, Highland Drive, Dallas Town- ship, $139,900. Carl M. Gross trustee to Al- fred and Jean Camp, 42nd St., Dallas Township, $125,770. .+ Carl M. Gross trustee to John Halbing and spouse, 42nd St., Dallas Township, $32,000. arl M. Gross trustee to John Habing and spouse, Dallas ship, $28,000. 1 Lavery tax claim to Wal- te Pinkevich, Franklin Town- , $687. Ray W. Turner Jr. and spouse ‘to Theodore J. Anderer and ancy L. Henry to Felicia , Harveys Lake, $70,000. Marie C. Borton to Willard Velch and spouse, Lakeview brrace, Harveys Lake, 36,000. e Ann Stachla to Paul B. ory, Harveys Lake, 10,000. ‘Laura M. Lewis to Richard ischbein and spouse, Harveys ake, $285,000. ! i ; ® Annette D., Sincavage to Carl Jones and spouse, Harveys Lake, $195,000. Marina Commons at Harveys Lake to Mary Peperno, Marina Pointe, Harveys Lake, $229,870. Marina Commons at Harveys Lake to Gerald Kovaleski and spouse, Marina Pointe, Harveys * Lake, $179,900. William Lennon and spouse tax claim to Pen-Pol Corpora- tion, Rhodes Terrace, Harveys Lake, $908. Joseph Striano and spouse to William R. Davis, Harveys Lake, $8,000. Leonard Isaacs and others to Barbara Gianuzzi, Harveys Lake, $46,500. Gerard Gurnari to Eugene G. Pappas, Harveys Lake, $13,500. Ruckno Associates Inc. to Nicole M. Cooper, Indian Rock II, Jackson Township, $51,500. David Kaufman and spouse to Randy Soifer and spouse, Sutton Hills, Jackson Town- ship, $188,500. Eric McCabe and spouse to Martin Moore, Kingston Town- ship, $120,500. Charles Gelso co-partner to Joseph Newhart and spouse, Windsor Farms, Kingston Township, $72,900. Estate of Dorothy MacDon- agh to Marcus Sowcik and spouse, 7 Carverton Road, Kingston Township, $83,500. John Woychick and spouse to Louis Woychick and others, Trucksville Gardens, Kingston Township, $80,000. Gelso-Smith partner to Carl Gross Jr. and spouse, Windsor Farms, Kingston Township, $47,500. W.H. Conyngham & Co. Inc. to Patricia Nardone, Hayfield Farms, Lehman $84,500. Elinor “El” J. Cragle, age 76, of Sweet Valley, died Sept. 11, 2004, at home. She was born in Kingston, April 8, 1928, and was the daughter of the late Hulme and Mildred Edwards Daron. She has resided in Sweet Val- ley for the last 50 years. She graduated from Kingston High School, class of 1946 and from Wyoming Seminary Business School in 1950. She was employed as a secretary for H.S. Daron Concrete Block Inc., Luzerne; the for- mer Charles H. Long Co., Sweet Valley; and the Pennsyl- vania Fish Commission, Sweet Valley, retiring 14 years ago. She was a member of the Living Word Baptist Church, Fairmount Township; the Sweet Valley Volunteer Fire Co. Auxiliary; and was Past Worthy Matron of the Shick- shinny Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 190. She was also the first woman dispatch- er for the Sweet Valley Volun- teer Fire Co. She was preceded in death by a brother, Durland * Duke” Daron. Surviving are her husband of 50 years, Loren D. Cragle; son and daughter-in-law, David P. and Joy Cragle, Sweet Valley; grandsons, Josh, Chad and Zack, all of Sweet Valley; sis- ters, Elizabeth Laughhead, Gladwyne; and Roxie Sanders, Dixon, Calif. Interment, Maple Cemetery, Pikes Creek. Memorial contributions be sent to Hospice Care of the VNA, 468 Northampton St., Edwardsville, PA 18704; or the Sweet Valley Fire or Ambu- lance Assoc., P.O. Box 207, Sweet Valley, PA 18656. Grove MABLE CLARK Born in Tunkhannock Mable Clark, 78, of West Main Street, Laceyville, died Sept. 9, 2004, at the Robert Packer Hospital, Sayre. Born in Tunkhannock, she was the daughter of the late Clayton and Mary Lane Felker. She was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Laceyville. She was preceded in death by husband, Richard W.; and two sisters. Surviving are son, Robert, Jenningsville; sister, Ida Craw- ford, Tunkhannock; four grand- sons; eight great-grandchil- dren; several nieces and nephews. Interment, Sunnyside Ceme- tery, Tunkhannock. Leah Jean Ransom, 88, of Hunlock Creek, died Sept. 8, 2004, at Birchwood Nursing and Rehab Center, Nanticoke. Born Aug. 29, 1916, in Hun- lock Creek, she was the daugh- ter of the late Jonah and Ida Hutchins Whitesell. She was a member of the Roaring Brook Baptist Church, Hunlock Creek. She was a LPN for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; sister, Molly Whitesell; and brothers, Homer, Edgar and Ralph. Surviving are nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at the Roaring Brook Baptist Church, Hunlock Creek, with Rev. Dan Brubak- er, officiating. Interment, Oakdale Ceme- tery, Hunlock Creek. Memorial donations may be made to the Roaring Brook Baptist Church Building Fund, 332 Pritchard Road, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621. JOHN FEHER Owned auto body shop John Ronald Feher, 66, of Lake Catalpa Road, Dallas, died Sept. 11, 2004, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Born in Dunmore on Nov. 7, 1937, he was a son of the late John Feher and the late Mary (Malos) Juba Feher. He attend- ed Dallas High School. Mr. Fe- her had served for three years in the U.S. Army before being honorably discharged in 1959. Prior to his retirement, he was the owner and operator of Fe- her's Auto Body, Hunlock Creek. Mr. Feher was a man who loved his children and grandchildren. Surviving are his wife of 42 years, the former Eileen Blech- er; sons, John and his wife Pat- ti, of Lake Silkworth; Robert and his wife Tammy, of Kun- kle;, William and his wife Heather, of Sweet Valley; daughter, Mary Kaplowitz and her husband Stephen, of Kingston; grandchildren, Mol- lie, Aaron, Jennifer, Ashley, Robert, Nicholas, Alexandra, Joshua, Zachary and Amanda; brother, Edward Juba, Weeki Wache, Fla.; sisters, Margaret Hammond, Weeki Wache, Fla.; Dorothy Oliver, Weeki Wache, Fla. Interment, Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton. Need extra copies of this week’s Post? They are on sale at local newsstands through Saturday the American Revolution Jennie Patton, 90, of Noxen, died Sept. 12, 2004, at Carpen- ter Care, Tunkhannock. Born Dec. 8, 1913, in Plains Township, she was a daughter of the late John and Jennie (Howell) McMillan. She at- tended Plains schools. Mrs. Patton was employed by Na- tona Mills as a textile worker. She was a member of the Bow- man’s Creek Free Methodist Church, a lifetime member of the Bowman’s Creek Women’s Missionary Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Preceding her in death was her husband, Derwin H. Pat- ton; brothers, Jeddie, William, David McMillan; sister, Mar- garet Rudolph; one great- grandchild; and three great- great-grandchildren. Surviving are her sons, Der- win Patton Jr., Beaumont; Jack Patton, Beaumont; daughters, Alice Jane (A.J) Condon, Beaumont; Peggy Weiss, Nox- en; grandchildren, Jackie Pat- ton, Karen Patton, Beverly Pat- ton, Robert Patton, Alice Whit- ney, Mary Ann Wilson, David Patton, John Patton, Roberta Daniels, Bobby Condon, Joel Weiss, Renee Weiss; 18 great- grandchildren; and five great- great-grandchildren. Interment, Beaumont Ceme- tery, Beaumont. ELSIE KULMAN 80-year member of Order of the Eastern Star Elsie S. Kulman, 88, of Dal- las, died Sept. 7, 2004, at the Mercy Center, Dallas. Born in Metuchen, N.J., Nov. 16, 1915, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Magdeli- na (Google) Stahl. She was a graduate of Metuchen High School. She had been em- ployed by the Board of Educa- tion, Metuchen, N.J. She was a member of the Community Re- form Church, Whiting, N.J., and had attended First Presby- terian Church, Wilkes-Barre. She was a 60-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Mt. Zion Lodge. She was pre- ceded in death by her hus- band, Charles, in 1993; and by a daughter, Marcia. Surviving are daughter, Nan- cy Grabenstetter, Dallas; two grandchildren; two great- grandchildren; sister, Frances Lipp, Greenwood, Ind. Interment, Hillside Ceme- tery, Metuchen, N.J. Memorial donations may be made to the Mercy Center, PO. Box 370, Dallas, PA 18612. William W. Brackett, 90, of Dallas, died Sept. 3, 2004, at the Hospice Community Care in Wilkes-Barre. Born Nov. 21, 1913, in Greenwich, Conn., he was a son of the late artist Francis W. and Florence Emily Taylor Brackett. He was a graduate of W. Pittston High School and the National Farm School. Bill worked for 43 years at the Haz- ard-Okonite Wire & Cable Co., serving as director of process engineering when he retired in 1978. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Jean Daily Brackett; also by a son, Richard; and a brother, Harry. An accomplished woodwork- er, he fashioned many beauti- ful pieces for family and friends and the base for the al- tar cross at his church, First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes- Barre, where he served on the Session. He was also a member of Kingston Lodge 395, F&AM,; Caldwell Consistory; Irem Temple, AAONMS; and a for- mer member of the Irem Golf Association. Surviving are daughter, Di- ana Ramsdale, Sparta, N.J; four grandchildren; five great- grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Memorial donations may be made to the Back Mountain Memorial Library in Dallas; or the First Presbyterian Church in Wilkes-Barre. PEGGY SORBER Dallas woman Peggy J. Sorber, 81, of Trox- ell Switch Rd., Dallas, died September 13, 2004, at the Birchwood Nursing And Reha- bilitation Center, Nanticoke. She was born in Forty Fort, September 14, 1922, and was a daughter of the late Joseph and Anna Sutton LaFrance. Her husband, James A. Sor- ber, died in 1993. She was also preceded in death by 10 broth- ers and sisters. She is survived by a son, Douglas J. Sorber, Exeter; a daughter, Grace McMurtrie, Hunlock Creek; a granddaugh- ter, Leann McMurtrie; step- grandchildren, Wendy Stang and Tammy Mooney; and three step-great-grandchil- dren. Interment, Idetown Ceme- tery, Lehman Township. Memorial donations may be sent to the Roaring Brook Baptist Church, 328 Prichards Road, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621. Get 60 ads for only *48! 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