George S Balthaser

George S. “Stew” Balthaser, 88, formerly of Hamburg and Mertztown, PA, died Tuesday, February 24, 2004, in the Lutheran Home at Topton, where he had been a resident since January 11, 2002. He was the husband of the late Pearl A. (Shoemaker) Balthaser who died on June 1, 2001.

Born in Hamburg, PA, he was a son of the late Benjamin S. and the late Minnie V. (Zettlemoyer) Balthaser. He was a postal worker/supervisor for the US Post Office, Hamburg, from 1945 until his retirement in 1978. Prior to that he was employed at the former Allen Sherman Hoff Machine Shop, Hamburg, for 3 years; at Windsor Broom Works, Hamburg, for 2 years; and, at the former James S. Balthaser Furniture Store, Reading, for 12 years. After his retirement he worked at the DeLong and Trexler Furniture Store, Topton, until 1991. He was a lifetime member of the Vaux Lodge #406, F. & A. M., Hamburg; a 32 ^nd Degree Mason in the Reading Consistory; a Shriner in the Rajah Temple, Reading; a lifetime member of the American Legion, Hamburg, a member of the Hamburg VFW; and, he was a member of the Hamburg Fire Company, Hamburg. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Mertztown. He was an Army veteran of WWII.

He is survived by three Nieces.

Funeral services are Saturday, February 28, 2004 at 10:30 AM from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 50 Luther Drive, Mertztown. Interment with Military Honors in Longswamp Union Cemetery, Mertztown. Friends may call Saturday from 9:30 AM until time of services in the church.

The family requests contributions be made to the Memorial Fund of the Church, PO Box 117, Mertztown, 19539 or the Memorial Garden of the Lutheran Home at Topton, 1 South Home Avenue, Topton, 19562. Arrangements are by the Ludwick Funeral Home, Topton, PA.