Obituaries for Perry County for the weeks preceding August 31.
LINDA R. STRAWSER
Linda R. Strawser, of Newport passed away Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at Penn State Holy Spirit Hospital.
She was born Sept. 2, 1950, to the late Arthur S. and Martha L. ( Frey) Strawser. She attended Newport schools and graduated in 1968.
She was employed by various garment industries for several years. She retired from an insurance office in Newport. After retirement, she worked/volunteered at the Perry County Council of Arts. She loved her work and made many new friends. One special friend became her “boyfriend,” Russ Hulslander, who survives her.
Also surviving are a brother, Corb Strawser (Gloria); a sister, Loretta Strawser; two nieces, Dawn Foster (Rick) and Kelley Krepps (Ben); two stepnieces, Darla Bixler (Tom) and Deb Bohn (Norm); a stepnephew, George Smith (Susan); many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews; and several cousins. Extended family includes Mary Ann Simoncelli, Stephanie Maurer (Tom), Christine Wilson (Chris) and Caitlin Wilson. Also, her furry nephew, “Mo.”
She was preceded in death by a nephew, John Strawser, and “Ed.”
She loved reading, lottery tickets and was known to take an occasional trip to a casino. She enjoyed her breakfast friends at Bitting’s restaurant. She enjoyed going to church and was a member of St. John’s U.C.C., Markelsville, and was on the church council. She was a former Girl Scout leader and a former member of the Millerstown Fire Company auxiliary. For several years, she participated in a bowling league. She was a devoted sister and a loyal friend to many.
A memorial service, with pastor G. Wayne Clapier officiating, will be held at 11 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 1, in her church, 7007 Creek Road, Newport, with a brief time of greeting before the service. A light lunch will be served at the church following the service. Interment will be at 11 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 15 in Hunters Valley Cemetery.
David Myers Funeral Home, Newport, is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to her church, 7007 Creek Road, Newport 17074, Perry County Literacy Council or Newport Ambulance Association.
GORDON H. ARTHUR
Gordon H. Arthur, 73, of Loysville, lost his courageous battle with cancer on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.
He was born Jan. 18, 1951, in Jamestown, N.Y., to the late Harold C. and Margaret E. (Lindquist) Arthur.
After graduating from high school, he continued his education at Lebanon Valley College, earning a bachelor of science in psychology. Later, he returned to school to earn a degree in information technology. He retired in 2010 after nearly 30 years of service with Turbon International, Inc. as an information technology specialist.
In his free time, he enjoyed golfing, spending time with family, and doting on his cats and dogs. A man of few words, he was an unfailingly generous person. He also enjoyed scenic country drives, warm weather, and cared for nothing more than his family.
Surviving are two daughters, Lindsay Fry (Zachary) of Boiling Springs and Megan Arthur of Carlisle; a granddaughter, Presley; a brother, Ronald Arthur (Mary) of West Chester; and a cousin, David Arthur (Sally) of North Carolina.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 34 years, Delsi P. (Buczek) Arthur, who succumbed to her courageous battle with cancer in April 2022.
Memorial contributions may be made to Nickel-Lochstampfor Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 910, Loysville 17047, to offset funeral expenses.
SHIRLEY A. ROWE
Shirley Anne Rowe, 90, of Marysville passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024, at her home in Rye Twp.
She was born Sunday, July 8, 1934, to Harry O. and Emily S. (Simonton) Metz.
In addition to being a homemaker, loving wife and devoted mother, she retired from the former Electronic Data Systems, Camp Hill, where she worked in the data library. Following retirement, she worked for Dollar General store, Marysville.
She was the widow of Kenneth A. Rowe, who died Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006.
Surviving are four children, Kenneth A. Rowe of Marysville, Stephen L. Rowe, married to Terri, of Duncannon, Debra A. Vandling, married to Terry McGarry, of Camp Hill and Gregory A. Rowe, married to Donna, of Duncannon; a brother, Harry Metz, married to Nora, of McAlisterville; seven grandchildren; and extended family and caring friends.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, Daniel Rowe, and six siblings.
Burial was in Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Marysville.
Michael J. Shalonis Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Marysville, handled arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Homeland at Home Hospice, 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 270, Harrisburg 17110, www.homelandathome.org.
MARTHA J. WITMER
Martha J. Witmer, 87, of Newport passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 14, 2024.
She was born Jan. 14, 1937, to John and Lillie (Haines) Kapp. She was a Thursday’s child with far to go per the traditional nursery rhyme. But in reality, she was the consummate homebody who ventured outside of Perry County only on rare occasions, most recently for visits to the hospital, where she frequently informed care-givers of her desire to be discharged and returned to her home as quickly as possible.
After growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, she attended Newport High School, where she fell in love with William G. Witmer, a star lineman on the football team, who she married and with whom she shared more than five decades of her life until his passing in 2004. She also was preceded in death by their oldest child, Dean Anthony Witmer, who died tragically in a plane crash in 1989.
For many decades, she sold newspapers, magazines, penny candy, soda and other sundries from the store portion of her home on the southeast corner of the square in Newport, where she resided since 1961. She also provided babysitting services for her grandchildren and other young children in Newport. She enjoyed reading, working on jigsaw puzzles, crocheting, gardening, and having meals and spending time with her children and their families. She was a member of Hope Eternal United Methodist Church, Newport.
Surviving are three daughters, Teresa Kossayian of San Jose, Calif., Anita Witmer and her husband William Roman of Newport, and Tina House of Newport; five grandchildren, Robert Kossayian and his wife Victoria (Wong) of San Jose, Renee (House) Harris and her husband Eric of Liverpool, and Luke, Jake and Nick Roman of Newport; five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Morales Kossayian, Samantha and Michele Kossayian, and Chase and Ethan Harris; and a brother, John Kapp of Newport, who John Kapp Jr. kindly brought to visit her in her home on the afternoon of her passing.
A service was held Aug. 24 in Hunters Valley Messiah Church. Inurnment was in the church cemetery
David Myers Funeral Home, Newport, handled arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject).org/).
ANTHONY CONRAD
Anthony “Toad” Conrad, 67, passed away on August 19, 2024, at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, PA.
Anthony was born on Monday, March 11, 1957, in Carlisle, PA.,to the late Raymond and Thelma (Shaffer) Conrad.
Anthony is survived by his wife Karon Conrad of Shermans Dale, PA, children: Raquel (husband Brent) Rothermel, Nickole (companion Mike Hoffman) and Anthony (wife Leslie) Conrad, brother Ray Conrad, sisters: Connie (companion Joe) Shellenberger, Cecile Eppley, Marie Kuykendall and Shelby Martin, a boatload of grandchildren, one great grandchild and other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Jessie, Rod and Jeff.
A viewing will be held on Thursday August 29, 2024, from 12:00-2:00 P.M. at Hoffman Funeral and Cremation 2020 W. Trindle Road Carlisle, PA 17013. Online condolences may be expressed at www.Hoffmanfh.com.
TYLER J. WONDERS
Tyler J. Wonders of Landisburg died unexpectedly and too young in his home on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024.
He was born April 14, 2003, in Harrisburg.
Surviving are his parents, Andrew J. and Rachel M. (Trayer) Wonders of Landisburg; fiancée, Jewel L. Berry of Newport; two siblings, Austin J. Wonders (Haley) of Carlisle and Kaitlyn M. Wonders (John) of Shermans Dale; paternal grandparents, Larry J. and Janice M. (Miller) Wonders of Dillsburg; maternal aunt, Pearl E. Yost of Etters; paternal aunts, Angela M. Horan and Alicia A. Arnold, both of Dillsburg; seven cousins, Sophia, Gabriella, Olivia, Garrett, Aiden, Hailie and Kerissa; and many nieces and nephews.
He graduated in 2021 from West Perry High School. He was very athletic and was renowned for his wrestling and football sportsmanship. While in high school, he attended vocational-technical school, studying auto mechanics. After high school, he served in the Navy in military aviation. Upon return to civilian life, he worked as a cell tower technician with STS Communications, which provides tower services for all the major carriers in the telecommunication industry.
His family and friends described him as an “adrenaline junkie.” He loved the outdoors, action, and any motorized vehicle with wheels. He was passionate about hunting and fishing — once fishing 16 hours straight. Kayaking was one of his favorite pastimes, as well as mountain biking and riding 4-wheelers and dirt bikes.
A service was held Aug. 26 in Perry Mennonite Reception Center, Elliottsburg, with pastor Rafe S. Sanderson officiating.
Nickel-Lochstampfor Family Funeral Home, Loysville, handled arrangements.
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