Whitehall-Coplay Press

Daniel B. Benarcik Sr., 96, of Wilmington, Del., died Sept. 2, 2019, at home. He was the husband of Kitty Benarcik for 57 years.

Born in Cementon, he was a son of the late John and Theresa Benarcik.

He was a Whitehall High School graduate. He attended Penn State-Lehigh Valley, and the Citadel, Charleston, S.C.

He was a U.S. Army dispatcher during World War II for the Red Ball Express supply line to the Allied troops after D-Day. He was assigned to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration to help rebuild Europe after Germany’s surrender

Nevin R. George, 95, of Whitehall, died Aug. 26, 2019, at home. He was the husband of Eleanor L. (Rudolph) for 25 years and of the late Anna G. (Bachman) George.

Born in Albany Township, he was a son of the late Victor and Elsie (Hamm) George.

He was a production inspector for the former Western Electric, Allentown, for 23 years before he retired. In his youth, he worked on the family farm in Lynn Township.

He was a member of Ebenezer United Church of Christ, New Tripoli.

Mary Louise Wert, 87, of Whitehall, died Aug. 19, 2019, at Sacred Heart Assisted Living, Northampton. She was the wife of the late Grant J. Wert Jr.

Born in Northampton, she was a daughter of the late Burdell A. and Margaret M. (Wanisko) Templeton.

She was a cook for St. Luke’s Hospital for 10 years before she retired in 1997. Before that, she worked in various positions for 37 years at Arbogast & Bastian Meats, Allentown.

She was a member of St. John Fisher Catholic Church, Catasauqua, where she was a former choir member and a member of the Young at Heart group.

Joseph J. Molchany, 86, of Allentown, died Aug. 24, 2019, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of the late Ruth K. (Giangulano) Molchany.

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late James G. and Susan M. (Budihas) Molchany.

He was a 1952 graduate of Northampton High School.

He was in the U.S. Navy during the Korea era and earned the rank of SKG2.

He was employed by Essroc Cement Company for 27 years until he retired in 1995. Previously, he was employed by the Northampton-Bath Railroad and Western Electric Corporation.

Stephen J. Steirer Sr., 79, of Northampton, died Aug. 24, 2019, at home. He was the husband of Geraldine R. (Sommer) for 55 years.

Born in Northampton, he was a son of the late Stephen and Stella (Pelzman) Steirer.

He was in the U.S. Army.

He was a dispatcher at Matlack Trucking for 20 years. He was the proprietor of Log Cabin Hotel, Coplay, for 20 years.

He was a member of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church, Coplay.

He was a member of Hungarian Hall and Coplay Saengerbund.

Linda S. (Mulzet) Pramik, 70, of Emmaus, died Aug. 15, 2019, at home. She was the wife of Matthew Pramik for 38 years.

Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late John E. and Kathryn (Stephens) Mulzet of Fogelsville.

Once a cheerleader at Parkland High School and waitress at the former Shankweiler’s Hotel in Fogelsville, she then started a 40-year career in the payroll department at Schaefer Brewing Company (later Samuel Adams Brewery) on the plant’s opening day in Fogelsville in 1972.

Jean R. Catts, 86, of Whitehall, died Aug. 17, 2019, in Whitehall Manor, Whitehall.

Born in Stiles, she was the daughter of the late Roland E. and Stella I. (Betz) Zimmerman.

She is survived by two brothers, John G. Zimmerman and Charles R. and his wife Patricia Zimmerman, all of Whitehall; nieces; and nephews.

Services will be private.

Contributions may be made to the family to help to defray funeral expenses, c/o the funeral home, 327 Chestnut St., Coplay, 18037.

Arrangements were made by Brubaker Funeral Home Inc.

Gregory E. Besley, 73, of Northampton, died Aug. 25, 2019, at Holy Family Manor, Bethlehem. He was the husband of the late Joan M. (Marushak) Besley for 28 years.

Born in Cortland, N.Y., he was a son of the late Charles and Frances (May) Besley.

He was a senior project manager for D&K Construction, Middlesex, N.J., for 18 years until he retired earlier this year. Prior to that, he was the owner/operator of the former Brown & Matthews Inc., Clinton, N.J., where he had been an employee for many years.

Walter “Chuck” J. Frisch, 85, of Germansville, died Aug. 20, 2019, at Fellowship Terrace, Whitehall. He was the husband of the late Bette J. (Handwerk) Frisch.

Born in North Coplay, he was the son of the late Frank and Gisella (Haber) Frisch.

He was employed at the former Coplay Cement Company for 35 years before retiring in 1995.

He was a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Slatington, where he was a member of the Holy Name Society and served as Eucharistic minister.

Carol L. Geiger, 80, of Holly Springs, N.C., and formerly of Catasauqua, died July 29, 2019. She was the wife of the late William Geiger.

Born in Schoenersville, she was a daughter of the late Harry Woodring Sr. and Anna Alice (Schoenerberger) Knecht.

She was a 1956 graduate of Catasauqua High School.

She worked at Sears Department Store for many years.