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Bro. Elton “Red” Brace – Life Member

Elton “Red” Brace, 86, of Dallas, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 28, 2017, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Dallas, he was the son of the late Bert and Gladys Dymond Brace and was a graduate of Westmoreland High School.

Red retired as sales manager with Die-A-Matic Inc. and also worked manufacturing and other sales jobs.

Red had served his country honorably with the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

He was a member of Shavertown United Methodist Church, the Back Mountain Men’s Ecumenical Group, a life member of George M. Dallas Masonic Lodge 531 F&AM, Bloomsburg Consistory, Irem Shrine, Legion of Honor at Irem and Republican committeeman in Franklin Twp., and Daddow Isaacs American Legion Post 672, Dallas.

He was the consummate gentleman, a devoted family man, a special friend to all who knew him, and always approached life with wit and a smile.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life and his best friend, his wife, the former Janice L. Houser; brothers, Kenneth and his wife, Emily, and James and his wife, Kaye Brace; sisters, Beulah and her husband, Donald Corey, Alice and her husband, Earl Brown and Louise and her husband, George Hess; and his companion, Pauline Roth.

Surviving are his daughters, Ruth Visintainer and her husband, Louis, and Karen Hodle and her husband, Richard; son, Bert Brace and his wife, Holly; along with the apples of his eye, his grandchildren, Benjamin Brace and Taylor Hodle, sister, Barbara and her husband, Henry Evans; and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation for the constant phone calls, visits, cards and prayers from all of his friends and extended family.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Shavertown United Methodist Church.

Friends may call at Richard H. Disque Funeral Home Inc., 2940 Memorial Highway, Dallas, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

Interment will be in Fern Knoll Burial Park, Dallas, with military honors.

George M. Dallas Masonic Lodge 531 and Daddow Isaacs Post 672 American Legion will conduct services Thursday evening.

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Bro. Frederick F. Murray – Life Member

SHAVERTOWN — Frederick Fuller Murray, 87, of Shavertown, passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2017.

Fred, the son of Esther (Cease) Murray and Joseph Kingsbury Murray, was born on Aug. 23, 1929. He was preceded by his wife, Kathleen (Eubank) Murray.

Born in Jackson Township, Fred was an avid hunter at an early age. At 9 years old, he shot two muskrats, rode his bicycle to Nanticoke, sold the pelts and bought a shirt, pants and shoes. He joined DeMolay International at 16 , became a Shriner at 23 and joined the Irem Temple Country Club. He worked for Senator T. Newell Wood’s horse farm as a teenager. At 18, he joined the U.S. Air Force to repair aircraft engines. Fred later became a flight engineer working for Capital Airlines and Pan American. In 1960, he went to work for American Airlines in New York where he flew 727s, 707s, DC10s, etc., and later 747s on international routes, until retiring in 1994. His name is on a plaque in the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum.

Fred loved history; read many books on politics, World War II and the like.

Fred was an avid fisherman and hunter his whole life, fishing oceans and streams alike. He enjoyed bagging his trophy moose, elk as well as deer and other wild game. He fished for swordfish, salmon and hundreds of striped bass and blue. Much of his fishing time was spent at Moriches Inlet on Long Island and Nantucket Island, Mass. Fred was also an avid trap shooter for more than 40 years, shooting more than 455,000 clay birds with great success and winning many trophies. He is mentioned in trap magazines and books.

He lived on his grandparents’ farm where he was born and where a barn was erected in 1888, which Fred entered into the Luzerne County Historical Society.

He was also preceded by his siblings, Elda Lomax, of Lexington, N.C., Naomi Bartolacci, of Atlanta, Ga., and Leland Murray, of Shavertown.

He is survived by his daughters, Stacy Murray, of Shavertown, and Lisa Murray, of Dallas; son, Nick Murray and his wife, Maria, of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Chris Murray and his wife, Rachel, of Houston, Texas; Stephanie (Murray) Murphy and her husband, Jon; and one great-grandson, Connor Murphy.

A celebration of Fred’s life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 19, 2017, at Leggio’s Restaurant in Dallas.

The family requests that flowers be omitted; donations can be made to one of their favorite charities in Fred’s memory.

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Bro. Alfred A. Fiorello

Brother Alfred A. Fiorello, 74, of Dallas, went to be with the Lord, peacefully at home, on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

Born in Jersey City, N.J., to Joseph and Serafina Fiorello, Al lived most of his adult life in Scarsdale, N.Y.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Teresa; his children, Gloria, Joseph and Jonathan and their respective spouses, Greg, Karen and Kimberly; and eight grandchildren, Bethany (fiancee Christopher), Joseph Jr., Ana, Lydia, Lee, Maud, Dagny and Faith. Al was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and he always had a warm smile for everyone.

After graduating from Woodbridge High School, N.J., Al served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany. When he returned home, he started his own business as an electrical contractor. He operated Fiorello Electric for nearly 40 years. Before retirement, Al was an electrical inspector in Princeton, N.J. Al was a member of the Christian Apostolic Church of Hilldale and a Freemason, Lodge 531, F&AM

Al sought always to put the Lord first in his life, every day and until his last moments. His greatest wish was for his family to do the same. He will be deeply missed.

The family will receive friends 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 6, 2017, at the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home Inc., 140 N. Main St., Shavertown. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Christian Apostolic Church of Hilldale, 757 N. Main St., Plains Township. Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carverton.

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Bro. John R. O’Malia

Brother John R. O’Malia, 69, of Shavertown, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at Celtic Hospice Inpatient Unit at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late John R. and Delphia (Spratt) O’Malia Sr., and was a graduate of Wyoming Seminary and Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was a member of the golf team at Wyoming Seminary and Syracuse University and was co-captain of the football team at Wyoming Seminary. He had a passion for history and baseball. John was an airline pilot for 44 years and had flown for Bombardier Flex Jets for two years. He had also flown for Mesa Airlines, Phoenix, Ariz., for eight years as a captain. He was a member of AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association). John was an avid golfer. John had also worked as a truck driver for 23 years. He was a member of Living Hope Bible Church, Plains Township.

John was preceded in death by sons, David Allan and Brian John O’Malia.

Surviving are his wife, the former Susan Davis; son, Kevin John O’Malia and his spouse, Tommy, of Lansdale; brothers, Michael James and Gerald Martin O’Malia.

Funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 1, 2017, at The Richard H. Disque Funeral Home Inc., 2940 Memorial Highway, Dallas, with the Rev. Mark DeSilva, pastor, Living Hope Bible Church, officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Wyoming.

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Bro. Edwin J. Urbanski P.M. – Life Member

Brother Edwin “Tuffy” Urbanski, 80, of Dupont, passed away Wednesday, March 22, at the Mountain View Care Center, Scranton.

Born in Dupont on Dec. 31, 1936, he was the son of the late Leo and Helen Kaspriskie Urbanski. Edwin was a member of Holy Mother of Sorrows Parish Church, Dupont. He attended Houston City Elementary School, Avoca, and attended Pittston Twp. High School. After high school, Edwin joined the Navy and served during the Korean War. Upon returning from the Navy, he attended the National School of Meat Cutting, Toledo, Ohio. Edwin was also a student of the Dale Carnegie Course and finished the program at the top of his class. Edwin was employed locally as a meat cutter for over 25 years by A&P Supermarket and he retired from Stop and Shop Markets, New Jersey.

He was a member of the St. John’s Masonic Lodge, Pittston, and currently a member of the George M. Dallas Masonic Lodge 531, Dallas, Pa., for 55 years, also a member of the Irem Temple, Dallas. Edwin enjoyed gardening. He also loved to dance in polka style and square dancing. Edwin was a loving father, grandfather, brother and friend, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant child; and his brother, Stanley Urbanski.

Edwin is survived by his children, Kimberly and her husband, Daniel Ruda, of Avoca; Susan Urbanski, of Avoca; and Timothy Urbanski and his wife, Kimberly, of Melbourne, Fla.; grandchildren, Sara Urbanski, Michael and Amy Ruda and Jolene Ianniccari. Also surviving are his siblings, Regina Bahaley, of Duryea; Juanita Baransky, of Nazareth; Carol Bondurich, of Pittston Twp.; and Albert Urbanski, of Pittston Twp.; his ex-spouse, Antoinette Davis, of Duryea; and many nieces and nephews.

Edwin’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Mountain View Care Center for their kindness and care that they gave to Edwin while he was a resident.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 27, at 8:30 a.m. from Kiesinger Funeral Services Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 at Holy Mother of Sorrows Church, Wyoming Avenue, Dupont, with Father Walter Placek officiating. Friends may call Sunday, March 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. Interment will be held at the parish cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.

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Bro. William H. Calkins, Jr. – Life Member

Brother William Henry Calkins, age 89, of Sweet Valley, formerly of Oak Hill, Idetown, passed away Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Meadows Nursing Center, Dallas.

Mr. Calkins was born in Shavertown on June 21, 1927, and was the son of the late William H. and Beulah Smith Calkins.

William served in the U.S. Navy and retired from Air Products in Hanover Township, after 30 years of service.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, the former Pauline Ehret; son, Steward J. Calkins and his wife, Elizabeth, of Noxen; daughter, Pamela Uttaro and her husband, Michael, of The Villages, Fla.; sister, Bettie Gordon Shilanski, of Shickshinny; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

At William’s request, there will be no funeral service or calling hours.

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Bro. John M. Robinson

Brother John Montanye Robinson Jr., 91, of Spring Mills, passed away on Feb. 25, 2017.

Born in Wilkes-Barre on Sept. 3, 1925, he was the son of Colonel John M. Robinson and Edith (Craig) Nicholson. He graduated from Mercersburg Academy and, after serving his country in the Navy aboard a minesweeper during World War II, graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He went on to design and build bridges for the B.G. Coon and Sordoni construction companies.

Robbie was active in his community as a Mason, a Shriner and a Rotarian. He loved music, dancing, his dogs and was a voracious reader. It was the hours he spent outside that brought him his greatest pleasure. Whether it was mowing his lawn, gardening, golfing, fly fishing or bird hunting, he found great solace in the natural world. He was fortunate to have wintered in Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas, where he developed deep friendships that he cherished. He attributed his long life to the consumption of gin and donuts.

Robbie is survived by his six children, Marcy Robinson, of Barrington, N.H., Amy Robinson, of Hammondsport, N.Y., Jane Brey, of Ambler, Marjorie Foltzer, of Lewisburg, John Robinson, of Dallas, Leigh Anthony, of Larksville, Pa.; three stepchildren, Caren S. Aikens, of Boalsburg, Charles T. Aikens III, of Bellefonte, Randolph G. Aikens, of Boalsburg. He is survived also by 12 grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

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Bro. Perry L. Patton

Brother Perry L. Patton, 66, of Monroe Township, passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

Mr. Patton was born in Wilkes-Barre on Dec. 10, 1950 and was the son of the late Harvey and Leah Race Patton.

The family owned and operated their farm, which was truly a passion he loved. He was born a farmer at heart, and worked on the family farm as a child alongside his mother and father until his father’s retirement. Perry continued to own and live there even after his father’s retirement. He also worked hard as a relief postal mail carrier, creating new campsites at Frances Slocum State Park, Profera’s and retired after 18 years of service as an operator for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation until his retirement.

Perry’s greatest gift of all, was the way he made everyone smile. He loved people, children and animals. His generosity, wit and humor made him an unforgettable person to everyone.

Perry was a wonderful loving husband to his wife of 46 years, Marlene, and proud father of daughter, Angela Yorina and her husband, Carl; and son, Chad Patton and his wife, Diana; adoring grandfather of Kaylee and Cara Yorina and Alex and Madison Patton, who were his greatest joy; sisters, Charlotte Hopfer, Beverly Weiss and her husband, John; and Delores Swantek and her husband, Alan; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Perry was preceded in death by brother-in-law, David Hopfer.

Funeral service will be private and there will be no calling hours.

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Bro. Gary W. Miller – Life Member

Brother Gary William Miller, 71, of Shavertown, passed away Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at home.

Mr. Miller was born in Kingston on June 20, 1945 and was the son of the late William and Veldra Cragle Miller.

Gary graduated from Northwest High School in 1964 and owned and operated GW Miller Hauling and Excavating. He was a member of Irem Temple, George M. Dallas Lodge 531, Sons of American Legion and the Caldwell Consistory, Bloomsburg.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Johanna Laskowski and sister, Audrey Gregory.

Gary is survived by his wife, the former Mary Rogan; daughter, Johanna Lois Ann Miller, San Francisco, Calif.; sister, Lois Borchick, Benton; numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

There will be no funeral services or calling hours.

Arrangements are by Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home Inc., Routes 29 and 118, Pikes Creek.

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Bro. Edward Forster

Bro. Edward Forster, 76, of Dallas, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born in Kingston, he was the son of the late Isaac and Marie Kyle Forster and was a graduate of Plains High School.

He was an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 163 union.

Edward was a veteran and a member of Daddow Isaacs Post 672 American Legion, Dallas, George M. Dallas Lodge 531, F&AM, Valley of Bloomsburg and Irem Shrine.

Edward was preceded in death by his wife, the former Sandra George, in January of this year, and brothers, Isaac and Dave Forster.

Surviving are his daughters, Wendy DeLuca, Washington state; and Amber Seals and her husband, Chris, Wilmore, Ky.; sons, Edward Forster and his wife, Heather, Kunkle; and Jason Forster and his wife, Kristen, Shickshinny; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Richard H. Disque Funeral Home, 2940 Memorial Highway, Dallas, with the Rev. David Martin, pastor, Cross Creek Community Church, Dallas, officiating. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

Donations in Edward’s memory may be made to the , c/o 3551 W. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19940. Please write the word “Donation” on the envelope.

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