Obituaries

James Roy "Jim" Ludwick, F.D., 72, retired Kutztown and Topton, PA funeral home owner, of Greenwich Township, Berks County, died Friday, January 16, 2026, in Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Salisbury Township. He was the long-time companion of Eileen M. "E.J." Gleason.Born on May 9, 1953, in Fountain Hill, PA, James was a son…

Mildred M. (Mertz) Seidel, 91, of Maxatawny Township, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 16, 2026 in Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, Salisbury Township, PA, with her family by her side. She was the widow of Gerald S. Seidel, who died on August 3, 2013, whom she married April 20, 1963.Born in Maxatawny Township,…

Richard S. ("Duke","Dick") Rohrbach, 90, of Bally, died peacefully in his home on Thursday, January 15, 2026, with his loving wife by his side. He was the husband of Brenda A. (Helbert) Rohrbach. They were married on June 22, 1968. Born in the home in which he died, Richard was a son of the late…

Carl P. Heffner, 90, of Allentown, and formerly of Lower Macungie Township, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in Cedar Crest Post Acute Facility, Allentown. He was the widower of Joan R. (Conrad) Heffner, who died May 8, 2022, and whom he married on September 29, 1954.Born in Longswamp Township, Berks County, Carl was…

Francis J. "Frank" Toth, 92, of Spring Hill, FL, formerly of Port Richey, FL, passed away in the early morning hours on Friday, January 9, 2026 in his daughter's residence. Born in Philadelphia, PA, Francis was a son of the late John A. Toth, Sr., and Elizabeth (Gall) Toth. He was a talented baker working…

Catherine I. "Cass" (Zweizig) Bieber, 97, of Kutztown, died Monday, January 5, 2026, peacefully while under hospice care in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. She was the widow of Russell C. Bieber who died May 6, 1971; and was the companion of the late Cleon Boyer, who died March 29, 2000. Born in Perry Township,…

Lawrence D. "Larry" Werst, 84, former Mayor of Topton, PA, died peacefully on Saturday, January 3, 2026 in Allentown, PA. Born on August 15, 1941 in Topton, PA, Larry was a son of the late Raymond P. Werst, Jr. and Mamie A. (Teter) Werst.Larry was a 1959 graduate of Brandywine Heights High School, Topton, where…

Eleanore V. Bleiler, 94, a resident of Buehrle Center, Topton, and formerly of Mertztown, passed away on Friday, January 2, 2026. She was the widow of Woodrow W. Bleiler, who died on November 18, 2017. Born in Allentown, Eleanore was a daughter of the late Stanley and Lilly (Laudenslager) Wertman. She was a member of…

Brenda L. (Dietrich) Gardner, 78, formerly of Topton, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 2, 2026 in Easton, PA. She was the widow of Ronald Gardner who died in 1989.Born in Reading, PA, Brenda was a daughter of the late Ira G. and Lillian M. (Kutz) Dietrich and was a member of Mt. Zion…

Joan E. (Murphy) Newman, 94, of Mertztown, PA, and formerly of Pottsville, PA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025 in her residence. She was the widow of Leslie J. Newman, whom she was married to for 44 years prior to his passing in 2000.Born in the village of Cumbola, Blythe Township, Schuylkill County,…