Obituaries

                Emma Dittman, 97, of the Frederick Mennonite Community, and formerly of Pennsburg, died June 25, 2010.

                Born in Detroit, Michigan, she was a daughter of the late Gottlieb and Eva (Karow) Dittman.

Emma was a pharmacy clerk for the former Chrismer’s Pharmacy, Pennsburg, for over 30 years, and was a member of the New Hanover Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her daughter, Martha Vuchak, of Whitehall; a brother, O. Walter Dittman, of Boyertown; sisters: Helene Mueller, of North Tonawanda, New York, and Florine Heilemann, of Frederick; three grandsons: Richard Kline, of Macungie, Myles Kehs, of Allentown and Randy Kehs, of New Tripoli, and seven great-grandchildren.  She was pre-deceased by siblings, William Dittman and Amelia Heintz.

Services will be on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pennsburg.  Friends may call from 10:00-11:00 a.m.  To offer on-line condolences, please visit www.falkfuneralhomes.com.

Ethel M. Saul, 99, of the Phoebe Home, Richlandtown, and formerly of Red Hill, died June 28, 2010.  She was the widow of Robert C. Saul.

Born in Fruitville, she was a daughter of the late William and Emma (Erb) Beard.

She was a waitress for the former Moorehead’s Catering in Trappe for 20 years, retiring in 1973.  She was a member of Pennsburg United Church of Christ.  She was a past president and past secretary of the Golden Agers, Pennsburg, and a past member of the R.S.V.P. and the Upper Perkiomen Senior Citizens Center.

Surviving is a son, Rex Saul, of Collegeville; a sister, Fern Hauck, of Red Hill; a brother, Bernard Beard, of Palm; and two grandsons, Chris and Philip.  She was pre-deceased by brothers, Vincent and Galen Beard.

Services will be on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pennsburg.  Friends may call from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to the Memorial Fund of Pennsburg UCC, 775 Main Street, Pennsburg, PA 18073.  To offer on-line condolences, please visit www.falkfuneralhomes.com.

William “Sonny” James Zepp, 71, of Victoria, Texas, formerly of East Greenville, died June 20, 2010 at home.

Born in Pennsburg, he was the son of the late William P. Zepp and Florance B. (Schlicher) Zepp.

“Sonny” was a loving father. He was a longtime fire fighter and member in good standing of the East Greenville Fire Company. He was a truck driver for many years. He moved to Texas in 2003, where he was a grounds keeper in his community, and was befriended and loved by all.

Surviving are a daughter, Rhonda L. (Zepp) Bilger, her husband, Gary A. Bilger; a son,  Warren W. Zepp; ex-wife Shirley Costa; siblings, Lorraine (Zepp) Rothrock, Bryan Zepp and  Jim Zepp; two grandsons,  Ian Sherman and Quinn Bilger.  He was predeceased by Charles “Chick” Zepp and Caroline “Cap” Zepp.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

                Alton R. Bauman, age 94, died on June 29, 2010 in Norristown.  He was born on December 28, 1915 in East Greenville to the late John K. Bauman and Elsie Renninger Bauman.

Alton lived most of his life in East Greenville, where he owned Bauman Cleaners with his brother, Ernest.  He was a devoted husband of the late Catherine Hoover and later of Grace Rader.  Alton was the father of David (married to Linda Martin), Carol (married to Charles Hagan) and Penny (married to Jon Schaffer) and was “Pop-pop” to six grandchildren:  Beth Hagan Haltmeier, Greg Hagan, Karin Bauman Cross, Michael Bauman, Kaitlyn Schaffer and Isaak Schaffer.  He was “Great-Grandpop” to three great-grandchildren:  Garrett Haltmeier, Maura Haltmeier and Robert Haltmeier.  Three of Alton’s siblings survive him:  Ernest, Mary Fox and June Custer;  and four siblings predeceased him: Violet, Paul, Clarence and Robert. 

 Alton graduated from East Greenville High School in 1933.  After working at several jobs in the local area, Alton and his brother, Ernest, opened their dry cleaning business on Main Street in East Greenville in 1938.  On July 19, 1941 he married Catherine Hoover and they began their married life in an apartment above the business.  In 1942 he entered the army to serve in WWII and was stationed in northern India for two years.  He returned home to his wife and three-year-old son in 1946.  He and his brother continued to operate the dry cleaning business until it was sold in 1987.

Alton was a lifelong member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pennsburg and regularly sang in the choir’s bass section.  He served on the church council for many years and was involved in the life of the church along with his family.  He passed his love of music on to his children, and he sang with the Upper Perkiomen Community Choir for several years.  Alton was an active member of the business community, serving on the borough council and the Upper Perkiomen Industrial Development Corp from its inception.

Throughout his life Alton participated in active sports, from football, basketball and baseball in high school with his brothers, to golf in his later years.  He was an avid tennis player for over 30 years, winning many trophies and playing competitively with men half his age.  Town and Country recognized Alton as one of the pioneers of the sport of tennis in the Upper Perkiomen Valley.  In his later years, he also enjoyed traveling to various parts of the US and Europe.

Alton was a kind and generous man, always gracious and considerate, a true gentleman.  He lived his life with integrity and faithfulness to his commitments.  He will be missed.

Services will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Main Street, Pennsburg at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday July 3, 2010.  The family will receive friends and relatives from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Interment is in the St. Mark’s Cemetery following the service.  A luncheon will be served for family and friends in the church basement following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the choir fund at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pennsburg.  Arrangements are by Mann-Slonaker Funeral Home, East Greenville. Please visit www.mannslonakerfuneralhome.com to share your memories and offer online condolences to the family.

                Katherine D. Brode passed away on June 22, 2010 at Normandy Farms Estates in Blue Bell.

                Kate (Kay) was the wonderful and caring mother of Barbara B. Henry of Sacramento, California, Jeffrey R. Brode (Eileen), of Blue Bell, Christy A. Frederick of Perkiomenville, and son-in-law F. Richard Urwiler of Mertztown, who was so supportive for many years; loving grandmother of Jennifer, Leith, Elizabeth (Henry), Jeffrey (Nicole), Leigh (Craig), and Carlie (Paul) and to David (Martha Ann), Nancy (Henry) and Amy (Parker); great-grandmother of Miles, Madeline, Charley, Jeff Charlotte and Caroline.

                Kate (Kay) will be remembered for her enjoyment of music and reading, and for her exceptional artistic talent that yielded paintings and sculpture which serve as her legacy and are admired and appreciated by family and friends. The busy years raising four children (with many pets) while living in Sumneytown, also included many friends who found her home to be welcoming and inviting with wonderful meals prepared for all to enjoy.

                The family wishes to thank the many caregivers at Normandy Farms Estates and the exceptional support of the ACTS Hospice team.

                In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Kate’s memory be made to the charity of your choice or to the Trustees of he University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Cancer Center, Eileen Brode Fund, 3535 Market Street, #750, Philadelphia, PA 19404.