Birthdays

Birthdays

Thursday, April 11, 2013

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS Irene Zimmerman says she has lived a contented life in her 100 years.

Irene Zimmerman celebrated her 100th birthday on April 7. She says she has lived a contented life and attributes her long life to God.

"He has a plan for me. I read my Bible every day," she says.

Irene adds that she has followed a healthy lifestyle and has been lucky enough to have very little illness.

One of six children, Irene was born in Tharptown, Pa. She had five brothers. Her first job was in a dress factory until she married her husband, Roy Zimmerman in 1931. They lived in Shamokin and had four children.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Helene Bechtel celebrates 100 years

Helene (Klein) Bechtel was born on April 1, 1913 in the small town of Mauch Chunk. She has lived all 100 of her years in the town now known as Jim Thorpe; growing up on Center Street, just a few blocks from where she currently lives with her son, the Rev. James Bechtel.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Ruth Elliston marks 96th birthday

Ruth Elliston, a resident of The Village at Palmerton, celebrated her 96th birthday on March 8.

Ruth is an active lady. She attends exercise classes, plays bingo and Scrabble.

She also Wii bowls and is part of the Gardening Gang. Ruth enjoys repotting plants and giving them away to friends. She likes to be out and about but the time spent in her room is active as well, with crocheting and reading.

Ruth has three children: Belva lives in Shermansdale, Pa., Mary is in Malvern, Pa. and George is close by, in Palmerton.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Marguerite Kralik celebrates 88 years

Marguerite Kralik, a resident of The Village at Palmerton, celebrated her 88th birthday on March 19.

Maggie, as she's known to her friends, is a long time Palmertonian. She is one of 12 children.

"I was number seven. I always had someone to play with and someone to take care of," she says.

When asked how she met her husband, she smiles.

"I knew Steve my whole life. He was a buddy to all of my brothers. He spent more time at our house than at his own.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Area man celebrating 95th birthday

Jim Kressler recently celebrated his 95th birthday. He was born March 17, 1918. As a boy, he grew up on a farm and worked in Bucks County.

In the 1930s he moved to the outskirts of Jim Thorpe, on top of Kattner's mountain. He married his brother's sister-in-law. It was amazing how two brothers fell in love and married two sisters.

Jim and Lucy Kressler lived at Behren's Dairy, where he worked. Jim was instrumental in helping transform the swamp into a spring fed lake known as Bear Creek Lakes.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Area woman celebrates 98th birthday

Carrie (Bley) Deebel, who was born March 22, 1915 in Ringtown, Pa., is celebrating her 98th birthday.

The daughter of the late Armin and Rebecca (Dietz) Bley, she attended the East Union Township Schools.

Carrie was married to Allen W. Deebel for 43 years, prior to his death in April of 1978.

She has two children, Jean (Deebel) Lorah, of Center Valley, Pa., and James Deebel of Lehighton. She also has 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

She has always enjoyed cooking, baking bread, quilting and loves to read.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Tamaqua woman celebrates 90 years

Mildred "Millie" Harahus of Tamaqua celebrated her 90th birthday on March 10. The former Mildred Marcin, she is the widow of George Harahus of Lansford.

During World War II, she was a nurses' aide at the former Coaldale State General Hospital. Her work career also included a 10-year stint at the former Atlas Powder Company, Reynolds, and demonstrating Coca Cola Products at various grocery stores.

She was last employed by Jamesway in Tamaqua.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Palmerton woman celebrates 89 years

Dorothy Abelovsky, a resident of The Village at Palmerton, celebrated her 89th birthday Feb. 16.

Born in Egypt, Pa., she later moved to Northampton. Dorothy was one of five children, and the only girl.

When she was 16, her brothers asked her to fill in on their baseball team as an outfielder, because they were "one man down." After the game, one of the fellows came up to her and said, "Hi Dorothy, I'm Joseph, and one day I am going to ask you to marry me." Dorothy said she gave him a look of horror.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Heritage Hill woman celebrates 96 years

Ailene Abbie Meyers Utz recently celebrated her 96th birthday. She was born Feb. 17, 1917 to Maud Jordon and John Kemp Meyers of Dayton, Ohio.

She met her husband David Williams Utz while they were students at Ohio Wesleyan University. They were married for more than 50 years, living in Dayton; Albany, N.Y.; Chicago; and Savannah, Ga.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Elsa Partel celebrates 93rd birthday

Elsa Partel, a resident of The Village at Palmerton, celebrated her 93rd birthday on Feb. 15.

Elsa is a longtime Palmerton resident coming from the close-knit neighbors on Columbia Avenue. She was born and raised in Palmerton.

When she was a teenager, her family moved to Lehigh Avenue. In summer she would ride her bicycle each day to Kunkle's Grove to meet friends and go swimming. Not knowing at the time that Gus Partel, her future husband, lived just five houses down the street and would watch her ride by.

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