Sture Olaf Ekstrand

Sture Olaf Ekstrand, 93, formerly of Wyomissing, Berks County, and Luther Crest Retirement Community, South Whitehall Township, died, Friday, December 19, 2003, in the Lutheran Home, Topton, where he resided. He was the husband of the late Sabina (Cregier) Ekstrand.

Born in New York City, he was a son of the late Samuel and Marie (Olsen) Ekstrand. A 1935 graduate of Cooper Union College, New York City, with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering, he worked for Bell Telephone Laboratories, Reading, for 49 years before retiring as director of the semiconductor device and electron tube laboratory in 1975. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Topton. A Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, he was named Engineer of the Year in 1983 by the Reading Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers. He was director of the Reading-Berks Chamber of Commerce, 1972-75, and chairman of the advisory board of Penn State University, Berks Campus, 1974-75. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and president of its retiree’s chapter.

He is survived by Daughters, Dr. Gail of Lititz, Lancaster County, Mariann Shirk of West Chester, Chester County; 2 Granddaughters.

Memorial Service are Saturday, January 3, 2003, 2:00 PM from Grace Lutheran Church, on the campus of The Lutheran Home at Topton, One South Home Avenue, Topton. Interment, private at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours.

The family requests contributions be made to The Lutheran Home at Topton, 1 South Home Avenue, Topton, PA 19562. Arrangements are by the Ludwick Funeral Home, Topton, PA.