2 Sunday, March 4, 2007 OBITUARIES THE POST PAGES MERL H. BIGELOW Owned Merl’s Garage in Shavertown for over 49 years Merl H. Bigelow, 81, of Sha- vertown, passed away at home Monday Feb. 26, 2007. He was born in Bowman’s Creek and was the son of the late Harry C. and Mary Eva (Lutes) Bigelow. Merl attended Beaumont High School. Mr. Bigelow served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater of Oper- ation. He fought at the battle of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Is- lands, where he was wounded and was awarded the Purple Heart for his wound he re- ceived. Merl was the owner and op- erator of Merl’s Garage in Sha- vertown for over 49 years. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoying hunting with his son d playing golf. He especially bved his grandchildren’s many activities. | He was a member of the Ge- orge M. Dallas Lodge No. 531; Scottish Rite Valley of Blooms- burg; Irem Temple A.A ON.M.S.; former member of the Arab Patrol; Irem Golf Association; American Legion Post 672, Dallas, South Moun- tain Land Association; and The Long Point Gun Club, Noxen. He was also a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Dal- las. He is preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by his brother, Charles Bigelow. He survived by his wife of 62 years, Norma Myers Bigelow; son Merl C. (Butch) and his wife, Carole, of Evans Falls; daughter Jan and her husband, Dr. Bruce Goeringer, Dallas; granddaughter Holly Beth Bi- gelow and her husband, Mat- thias Oliver, Vera Cruz, Pa.; granddaughter Megan C. Bige- low Zimmer and her husband, Mark, Greenwood, Ind.; grand- sons Eric A. Goeringer, Brian M. Goeringer, Adam M. Goer- inger, all of Dallas; his brother, Wilbur C., Ann Arbor, Mich.; and sister Lois Devine, Barne- gat Light, N.J. Memorial donations may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Eastern PA Chap- ter, 225 City Line Ave. Suite 104, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004. JANIS JONES Ardent advocate for the environment Janis Platter Jones, of Dal- las, passed away at home on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007 after a long illness. Born on Jan. 25, 1938, in Ta- coma, Wash., she married at- torney Merton E. Jones, Forty Fort, in 1957. She moved to Forty Fort shortly thereafter. After Merton's death in 1984, she moved to Victorville, Cal- if., where she remained for al- most 10 years. She later lived in Prankion, ., and returned to the Wyom- iog Valley in 2004. She was an ardent advocate for the envi- ronment and social justice, supporting many affiliated or- ganizations for years. A truly generous individual, she devot- ed her life to caring for others, and was widely considered to BiLo Oil Co. Call around for prices — fon make us your last Per oil price in our Gallon area by MINIMUM 125 GALLONS CALL TOLL FREE A beat any advertised home heating (1-888-289-2456) 24 HOUR HOT LINE 1-888-BUY-BILO be “everyone’s favorite moth- er.” She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Merton E. Jones; infant son, Christoph- er; mother, Virginia Tennant; and father, Gilmore Platter. Janis is survived by son, Morgan Jones and his wife, Margi, Bagdad, Ky.; daughter, Rebecca Mooney and her hus- band, Kevin, Dallas; son, Mat- thew Jones and his wife, Tracy, and their son, Riley, Portland, Ore.; stepmother, Lois Platter; sister, Diane Winkelman, of California; nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins. Expressions of sympathy should be made to the Hun- tington’s Disease Society of America. IRENE GRABOSKI Worked at Sands Casino in Atlantic City Irene Katherine Graboski, 78, of Dallas, passed away Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospi- tal. Born in Kingston, she was a daughter of the late Reese and Ethel Merel Jones. She resided in Larksville be- fore moving to Dallas. Mrs. Graboski was employ- ed by the Sands Casino in At- lantic City, N.J. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel; daugh- ters, Linda and Cheryl; and a granddaughter, Lori Ordway. Surviving are sons, Daniel Jr., Luzerne; David, Shaver- town; and Charles, Lamar, Ark.; daughters, Diane Hen- dershott, Harveys Lake; and Kim Graboski, Shavertown; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren. Interment, Denison Cemete- ry, Swoyersville. FLORENCE ‘TIL’ WEAVER Worked at Commonwealth Telephone Co. for 48 years Florence I. “Til” Weaver, 100, of Schoolhouse Road, Center Moreland, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007 at her home. A life resident of Center Mo- reland, she was the daughter of the late Jacob C. and Ida Brunges Weaver. She attended the Greencas- tle school in Northmoreland Township. Before retiring she was em- ployed as a clerk by Common- wealth Telephone Co. for 48 years. She was a member of Center Moreland United Methodist Church and its United Metho- dist Women. She served a church finan- cial secretary for 45 years. She was preceded in death by sisters Ruth Schoonover, Mary LaBar, Ethel Jackson Keller, Nora Erb, Henrietta Zack; brother Jacob C. Weaver Jr. Surviving are nieces and ne- phews. Interment, Marsh Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Center More- land United Methodist Church 1244 SR 292, Tunkhannock, PA 18657. RICHARD MATTIE Member of St. Therese’s Church, Shavertown Richard Mattie, of Shaver- town, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, at the Meadows Nursing Center where he had been a guest. Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of the late John and Mary Marko Mattie. He was a member of St. Therese’s Church, Shaver- town. 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Amaze yourself” WILKES-BARRE Dies paved on fire visit ervolinuend, EE amo cal program Not valid with any sibs offer, curves.com Valid only at participating locations DA Cvs Hisseationst INTRODUCING YOUR NEWEST CONNECTION TO WORLD-CLASS CARE MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST ARTHUR MEYER, MD A board-certified medical oncologist serving the Wyoming Valley and surrounding area for more than 25 years, Dr. Meyer is welcoming both current and new patients to the Geisinger Fox Chase cancer program at The Henry Cancer Center. The Henry Cancer Center offers convenient appointments and on-site lab and treatment services. Dr. Meyer will care for you with the service and compassion you deserve. Now that's peace of mind. For more information or to make an appointment, call 820.6150. He was a member of the American Legion Post 644, Swoyersville. He was preceded in death by brothers John and George. Sur- viving are his wife, the former Alice Gordon; brothers Robert and Albert, both of Swoyers- ville; Michael, Forty Fort; and Joseph, Kunkle; sisters Rose- marie Mattie, Philadelphia; and Arlene Lepo, Maryland. Interment, Chapel Lawn Cemetery, Dallas. RUSSELL L. THOMAS Trustee at Dallas United Methodist Church Russell L. Thomas, 91, a resi- dent of Greenbriar, Dallas, passed away Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007 at his residence. Born in Laurel Run, June 12, 1915, he was the son of the late Joseph and Abi (Fassett) Tho- mas. He was a graduate of James M. Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre, and had attend- ed Bucknell Business College. He had served in Europe during World War II with the United States Army, having held the rank of Master Ser- geant. Mr. Thomas had been em- ployed by the Glen Alden Coal Company and later served on the staff of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus. He was a member of the Dal- las United Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee, as well as on the Administration Board. He was also a member of the Irem Temple A.A.ON.M.S, the Scranton Consistory, Lodge 442, F.& A.M. and the American Legion, Dallas. He was preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers. Surviving are his wife of over 50 years, the former Bette Stubbs; several nieces and ne- phews. Interment, Mt. Greenwood Cemetery, Trucksville. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Asso- ciation, 71 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701. ALMA BOROFSKI Member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Alma Kapic Borofski, 90, formerly of Hunlock Creek, the Honey Pot section of Nanticoke and Lake Silk- worth, passed away Thurs- day, Feb 22, 2007 at Guardi- an Elder Care Center, Shea- town section of Newport Township. She was born in Nanticoke on Sep. 13, 1916. She was the daughter of the late John and Lillian Washiewicz Kapic. She was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Lake Silkworth, Lehman Township. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank, in 1993; son, Edwin, in 1976; and sister, Lillian Kowalski, in 1999. Surviving are a daughter, Ann Marie Havey and her husband George, Honey Pot section of Nanticoke; three grandchildren, Michael, Ge- orgeann and Ann Marie; four great-grandchildren; sister, Edwina Niezgoda, Hunlock Creek; several nieces and ne- phews. Interment, parish cemete- ry, Lehman Township. Alma’s family would like to thank the staff and admin- istration of the Guardian El- der Care Center and Hos- pice Community Care for their care dnd dedication to her during her five-year stay. MORE OBITUARIES See page 9. WEEKENDER NEPA'S ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT visit us online at EVERY WEEK EVERY WEDNESDAY EVERYWHERE GEISINGER FOX CHASE THE HENRY CANCER CENTER |000 East Mountain Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Grah it every Wednesday 174,415 READERS STRONG REDEFINING BOUNDARIES “2004 SCARBOROUGH RESEARCH
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