Person Page - 797

     Grace Ethel Umholtz was born in 1907.¹ She was the daughter of William P. Umholtz and Catherine M. Thomas.¹ Grace Ethel Umholtz married Elwood D. Romberger.¹ Grace Ethel Umholtz died in 1979.¹

     Elwood D. Romberger was born in 1906.¹ He married Grace Ethel Umholtz, daughter of William P. Umholtz and Catherine M. Thomas.¹ Elwood D. Romberger died in 1981.¹

     Edwin Hartman was born on 7 December 1881.¹ He was the son of Joseph Hartman and Catharine Smeltz.² Edwin Hartman was born on 17 December 1881, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.^3,2 He married Jennie Louise Welker on 17 December 1904, Simeon Lutheran Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.² Edwin Hartman died on 26 July 1945, Dauphin County, PA, at age 63.^4,2 He died on 26 July 1945, at age 63.¹ He was buried on 31 July 1945, at Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.^5,2
Newspaper obituary:
EDWIN HARTMAN
Edwin Hartman, age 63 years, died last Thursday at his home in Gratz.
Mr. Hartman was a son of Joseph and Catherine (Smeltz) Hartman, and was a native of Lykens Township. He was a member of Simeon's Lutheran Church, Gratz.
Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Jennie Weiker Hartman, one son, Ray Hartman, of Gratz and his mother, Mrs. Catherine Hartman. Other survivors are four grandchildren, four brothers and two sisters, Frank Hartman, of Detroit, Michigan; John Hartman, Hegins; Mrs. Clara Folk, Elizabethville; Clayton Hartman, Hegins; Benjamin Hartman, Pine Grove, and Miss Mabel Hartman, Pottsville.
Funeral services were held from the residence at 1 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Rev. W. Z. Artz, pastor of the Lykens Valley Lutheran Parish officiated, and interment was made in the Gratz Cemetery.
Elizabethville Echo (Elizabethville, Pennsylvania), 02 Aug 1945, Thu, Page 1.⁵

     Jennie Louise Welker was born on 11 August 1883, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.^2,3 She married Edwin Hartman, son of Joseph Hartman and Catharine Smeltz, on 17 December 1904, Simeon Lutheran Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.³ Jennie Louise Welker died on 7 February 1952, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA, at age 68.^4,3
Newspaper obituary:
Jennie L Hartman, 68, Dies In Home At Gratz
Mrs. Jennie Louise Hartman, 68 widow of Edwin Hartman, died Thursday at her home in Gratz following a lingering illness.
A native of Gratz, she was the daughter of the late George A. Welker and Adeline Welker. She was a member of the Simeons Reformed Church at Gratz. Her husband preceded her in death six years ago.
Survivors include a son, Ray E. Hartman, Gratz; four grandchildren, Richard, Shirley, Edward and Raymond Hartman, all of Gratz; five sisters, Mrs. Francis Sheib, Pillow; Mrs. Flossie Bowers, Elizabethville R. D; Mrs. Norman Sitlinger, Gratz; Mrs. Ira Masser, Fisherville, and Mrs. Annie Hess, Elizabethville. Three brothers, Charles Welker, Berrys-burg; John Welker, Lykens R. D., and Edward Welker, Steelton, also survive.
Funeral services will be held on Monday at 2 p. m. from the late residence in Gratz, with Rev. Earl R. Marks officiating. Burial will be made in the Gratz Union cemetery. Friends will be received at the home Sunday evening from 7 to 9 o'clock.
The Daily Item (Sunbury, Pennsylvania), 09 Feb 1952, Sat, Page 3.⁵
She was buried on 11 February 1952, at Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.^4,3,5

     Eddie Alexander Hartman was born on 10 February 1926, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.^1,2 He was the son of Raymond Edward Hartman and Tillie Sedora Klinger.¹ Eddie Alexander Hartman was baptized on 21 March 1926, Simeon Lutheran Church, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.³ He married Margaret Edith Bixler, daughter of Daniel Edward Bixler and Edith Irene Shade.¹ Eddie Alexander Hartman died on 24 May 2004, Community Hospital, Sunbury, Northumberland County, PA, at age 78.²
Newspaper obituary:
Eddie A. Hartman
Eddie A. Hartman, 78, of Market Street, Gratz, died Monday at Sunbury Community Hospital.
Born in Gratz, Feb. 10, 1926, he was a son of the late Ray and Tillie Klinger Hartman.
He retired as a truck driver from M&G Convoy. He was a former Gratz borough councilman.
He was a member of Simeon United Lutheran Church, Gratz, Gratz Fire Company and Gratz Old Timers and a social member of Lykens Township Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Margaret Bixler, on May 2, 2001; a son, Randy.
Surviving are four daughters, Vickie R. Welker, Mechanicsburg, Suzette C. Leitzel, Harrisburg, Jan L. Olmos, Valley View, and Ann M. Dunkelberger, Elizabethville; two brothers, Richard and Raymond, both of Gratz; two granddaughters; three grandsons; three great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Simeon United Lutheran Church The Rev. Barry Ridge will officiate. Interment will be in Gratz Union Cemetery. James A. Reed Funeral Home, Pillow, is in charge of arrangements.
Republican and Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania), 26 May 2004, Wed, Page 20.²
He was buried on 29 May 2004, at Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.²

     Margaret Edith Bixler was born on 12 June 1926, Valley View, Schuylkill County, PA.^2,1 She was the daughter of Daniel Edward Bixler and Edith Irene Shade.² Margaret Edith Bixler was baptized on 2 July 1926, St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, Valley View, Schuylkill County, PA.¹ She married Eddie Alexander Hartman, son of Raymond Edward Hartman and Tillie Sedora Klinger.³ Margaret Edith Bixler died on 2 May 2001, Mansion Nursing Home, Sunbury, Northumberland County, PA, at age 74.¹
Newspaper obituary:
Margaret E. Hartman
Margaret E. Hartman, 74, of Mansion Nursing Home, Sunbury, formerly of East Market Street, Gratz, died Wednesday at the nursing home.
Born in Valley View, June 12, 1926, she was a daughter of the late Daniel and Edith Shade Bixler. She was a 1944 graduate of Hegins Township High School.
She was a member of St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, Valley View.
Surviving are her husband, Eddie; four daughters, Vickie Welker, Mechanicsburg, Suzette Leitzel, Harrisburg, Jane Malick, Valley View, and Ann Dunkelberger, Elizabethville; two sisters, Violet Koppenhaver, Tower City, and Ruth Long, Roseville, Calif; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Simeon United Lutheran Church, Gratz. The Rev. Barry Ridge will officiate. Interment will be in Gratz Union Cemetery. James A. Reed Funeral Home, Pillow, is in charge of arrangements.
Republican and Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania), 03 May 2001, Thu, Page 3.²
She was buried on 5 May 2001, at Simeon United Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gratz, Dauphin County, PA.¹

     Larry Lee Welker Sr. was born on 12 March 1947, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA.² He was the son of Thomas R. Welker and Evelyn Marie Lebo.² Larry Lee Welker Sr. died on 3 July 2023, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, PA, at age 76.²
Funeral home obituary:
Larry Lee Welker, Sr.
March 12, 1947 ~ July 2, 2023 (age 76)
Larry Lee Welker, Sr., age 76, of Mechanicsburg, died suddenly and unexpectedly at home and with his loving wife by his side on Sunday, July 2, 2023. Larry was born on Wednesday, March 12, 1947, in Harrisburg to the late Thomas Welker and Evelyn Marie (Lebo) Welker.
Larry’s survivors include his wife of nearly 55 years, Vickie Rae (Hartman) Welker; his daughter, Tracie Welker of Camp Hill; his son, Larry Lee Welker, Jr. and his fiancé, Tonya Bordner, of Carlisle; his granddaughter, Shelby Welker of Mechanicsburg; and his precious cat, Callie.
All are welcome to join Larry’s family at his celebration of life open house and gathering of family and friends on Sunday, August 27, 2023, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Buhrig’s Gathering Place, 25 East Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, (717) 766-3421 (next to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory). Over 100 parking spaces are available; just look for the “Buhrig” parking signs in all of the parking lots. Cremation was private.
Larry enjoyed every minute of the 47 years that he worked at L. B. Smith Ford Lincoln in Lemoyne where he retired as sales manager. He loved the job and he especially loved the wonderful people he worked with. Larry was a life-long fan of Cincinnati Reds Baseball. He loved all things water and greatly enjoyed water skiing, jet skiing, and boating. As time passed, the bodies of water and the boat sizes kept getting bigger and bigger. Many happy hours were spend with family and friends on the Susquehanna River and Lake Raystown. Time with family was so important to Larry. He and his bride, Vickie, looked forward to their annual treks to Cancun and Williamsburg, VA. He deeply loved his children and granddaughter and he would do anything for them. He adored his wife and always treated her as a precious gift and he reveled in showering her with acts of service. Larry will be missed by many but none more than his family.
Contributions in celebration of Larry’s life can be made to the animal rescue of the donor’s choosing.
Larry’s family has entrusted his care to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421. Read Larry’s full obituary, view his memorial video, offer condolences and sympathy, share stories and memories, upload photographs and videos, light a candle and sign his official guest book by visiting Buhrig.com.²