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Bro. Robert Bodycomb, a Life Member of George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531, passed away on November 23, 2016. Bro. Robert was residing in Florida at the time.

Brother Ronald B. Grant, Sr., 71, of Watsontown, died Sunday, August 28, 2016 at Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg.

Born February 14, 1945 in Boston, Mass., he was a son of the late John and Gloria (Nelson) Grant.

Ronald was a 1963 graduate from Dallas High School.  He served honorably in the United States Navy.  Early in life, he worked as an independent salesman selling Mac Tools.  He had currently been working as a Diesel Mechanic for Watsontown Trucking, for more than 30 years.

Ronald was a member of the Clyde F. Mowrer American Legion Post 323, Watsontown, and the George M. Dallas Masonic Lodge 531, Dallas.  He was an avid hunter and belonged to the Tent Hunting Cabin, Bradford County.  Ronald also enjoyed fishing, especially his trips to Alaska.

Surviving are one son, Ronald B. Grant, Jr. and his companion, Kayce Colombe, of Danville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kathryn and Michael Steele, of Watsontown and Melissa and Kevin Swartz, of Milton; one brother and sister-in-law, John and Tina Grant, of Jersey Shore; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Gloria and Arthur Zimmerman, of York and Susan and William Klaips, of Dallas; four grandchildren, Dylan and Connor Steele, Brett Swartz and Angel DeGraw; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Cronrath-Grenoble Funeral Home, 308 Main St., Watsontown, where a funeral service will be held at 6 p.m. with the Rev. James R. Dries of the First Baptist Church, Milton, officiating.

Burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family.

Bro. James T. Kozemchak, Jr., 72, of Harvey’s Lake, PA passed away, Friday, February 26, 2016 in Dallas, PA.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, PA on August 26, 1943, he was the son of the late James and Ann Wasnick Kozemchak of Dallas, PA. Jim was a graduate of Dallas High School, Dallas, PA and Lincoln College Prep, Philadelphia, PA, attended Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA and received a Bachelor’s Degree from Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA. He was a Navy Veteran serving during the Berlin Crisis, Cuban Crisis, Haitian Crisis and Vietnam War.

After graduation from Wilkes University, he worked for Exxon in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Stroudsburg as a dealer salesman. In 1969 he purchased Paramount Photography Studio in Plymouth, PA, and in 1972 he purchased Ace Hoffman Studio in Wilkes-Barre, PA, which he and his former wife, Patricia, ran successfully for 35 years. He was a well-known photographer and had photographed many Presidents and dignitaries throughout his career. Jim also started a laundromat and a convenience store. He published a magazine, The Guide to Northeastern Pennsylvania, and a magazine on the Hurricane Agnes Flood of 1972 with his brother and father. He also owned a real estate company consisting of over 60 apartments.

Jim’s memberships included: Dallas Kiwanis Club, Elk Club, George M. Dallas, Lodge #531 F&AM, Dallas, PA, Caldwell Consistory at Bloomsburg, PA, Irem Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S., Dallas, PA, where he was their official photographer, Harvey’s Lake American Legion, Secretary for Northeastern Professional Photographers Society, The Professional Photographers of America and corporate board member of the State Police Troop “P” Camp Cadet.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman who loved to ski, hunt, hike, work on his military vehicle collection and travel the world. He was described as an ambitious, dedicated and funny character! Jim had many friends who enjoyed his company, jokes and stories. Jim’s greatest joys were his two daughters and their families and his beloved dog, “Blue,” who accompanied him everywhere.

He is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Paster, and her husband, Bradley, and their children, Caroline, Katherine and Jacob James, of Westwood, MA, and by his daughter, Wendy Matesanz, and her husband, Jonathan, and their children, Alexa and Corey James, of Freeville, NY. He is also survived by his brother, David Kozemchak, and his wife, Joy, of Dallas, PA, and by his nieces and nephew. He was preceded in death by a sister,Elaine Kozemchak Roberts.

Bro. George William Pyle Sr., 89, of Dallas, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2015, at Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Dunmore.

Born in Somerset County, a son of the late Harvey and Lucille Rhoades Pyle, he was a graduate of Somerset High School and Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in vocational agriculture. George was a director at West Side Vocational Technical School from its inception until 1988.

George was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving in World War II and retiring as a lieutenant commander in 1986. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Dallas, and The Back Mountain Men’s Ecumenical Group (BMMEG).

He was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence Pyle; sisters, Marion Huffman and Elizabeth Eisler.

Surviving are his wife, the former Carole Protzeller, at home; daughter, Gretchen Slater, Bel Aire, Maryland, Chrisan Pyle-Holton, Tampa, Florida; son, George (Kurt) Pyle, Dallas; four grandchildren.

Bro. Ernest Wolfe, 91, of Dallas, passed March 30, at The Meadows Nursing Center in Dallas. Known to most as Ernie, and to many as “Mr. Bones,” he was happiest playing his bones for many different functions, including his great-grandchildren’s music classes, in church, for the Irem String Band. He became a member of George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 F&AM, in 2004, and later the Irem Shriners where he played as part of the string band.

Interment was held in Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Dallas.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Wolfe.

Bro. Glenn R. Stroh, 83, of Shavertown, passed away March 10, 2013. Bro. Stroh was a graduate of Kingston Township High School, Class of 1947 and worked as a pipe-fitter and welder at Air Products and Chemicals, Hanover Township, prior to his retirement. He was a life member of the George M. Dallas Masonic Lodge 531, becoming a member in 1958.

Lodge 531 conducted Masonic Funeral Services at Snowdon Funeral Home Inc., Shavertown.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Stroh.

 

Bro. Byron Grieves, 79, of Dallas, passed Thursday, February 14, 2013. Brother Grieves worked as a printer with Payne Printery, Dallas, before his retirement. He became a member of George M. Dallas Lodge No. 531 F&AM in 1981 and served as a Tyler. He was also a member of Caldwell Consistory, Bloomsburg; Irem Temple Shrine, Dallas; and the Dallas Fire Co. Byron also was a member of Dallas United Methodist Church.

Masonic Funeral Services were conducted by Lodge 531 at Disque Funeral Home in Dallas. Interment was held in Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Dallas.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Grieves.

Edward P. Casterline, 84, of Exeter, passed away Sunday, December 30, 2012, in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, surrounded by his family. Brother Casterline was a self-employed trucking contractor and owner, along with his son, of Casterline Trucking Co. He was made a Master Mason at George M. Dallas Lodge 531 in 1993.

Interment was held in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Schooley Avenue, Exeter.

Please join us in prayer and remembrance of Brother Casterline.