Person Page - 1970

     Kenneth Richard Erdman was born on 17 July 1932, Ashland, Schuylkill County, PA.¹ He was the son of William Walter Erdman and Mabel Minnie Wolfgang.¹ Kenneth Richard Erdman married Doris M. Bixler, daughter of Calvin L. Bixler and Blanche I. Specht, circa 1953.² Kenneth Richard Erdman died on 30 March 2019, Messiah Village, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, PA, at age 86.¹
Funeral home obituary:
Obituary for Kenneth R. Erdman
Kenneth R. Erdman, age 86, of Valley View, passed away peacefully late Saturday night March 30, 2019 surrounded by his family at Messiah Village, Mechanicsburg, PA.
He was born on July 17, 1932 in Ashland, PA, a son of the late William and Mabel Wolfgang Erdman.
Ken was a graduate of Hegins Township High School-Class of 1950.
In high school, Ken was the starting catcher on the baseball team. The team went 55-2 over the course of 3 seasons. Kenny never bragged about his abilities as a catcher, but often mentioned the speed and strength of the pitchers he caught for. Never leaving the house without a Phillies cap on, his love for baseball never faded.
Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.
He and his wife, the former Doris M. Bixler had celebrated 62 years of marriage, until her passing in September 2015.
He spent many years working in the coal mines, as well as working at Penn Dye in Pine Grove and TRW in Harrisburg.
Ken was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church, Hegins.
In addition to his parents and wife Doris, he was preceded in death by brothers Clair, Eugene, Guy, Jay, Leo, and Ray; sisters Helen Reinoehl, and Tillie Rockwell.
Ken is survived by son, Jimmy R. Erdman and wife Rose, Tower City; daughter, Dianne E. Strite and husband Tom, Reston, VA; grandson, Andrew J. Strite and wife Abby, TX; granddaughter, Amanda K. Strite, MD; 2 great grandchildren, Dominick and Teagan Strite; sister, Lila Derck, Dalmatia, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at St. John's United Methodist Church in Hegins, on Friday, April 5, 2019 at 11:00 AM with Rev. W. Keith Rockwell officiating. A catered lunch will follow.
A viewing will be held 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Friday at the Church.
Burial will be made in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville PA 17003.
Memorial contributions can be made to the church.
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, Pennsylvania is in charge of arrangements.¹
He was buried at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Lebanon County, PA.¹

     Dorothy L. Bateman was born on 14 April 1929, Wiconisco, Dauphin County, PA.¹ She married John Clair Erdman, son of William Walter Erdman and Mabel Minnie Wolfgang.¹ Dorothy L. Bateman died on 24 June 2004, Polyclinic Hospital, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA, at age 75.^1,2
Newspaper obituary:
Dorothy L. Erdman
Dorothy L. Erdman, 75, of Gratz, died Thursday at Polyclinic Hospital, Harrisburg.
Born in Wiconisco, she was a daughter of the late Hayden and Helen Houtz Bateman.
She was a member of Good Shepherd Evangelical Congregational Church, Gratz.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clair J.
Surviving are a son, David H. Erdman, Halifax; two daughters, Donna L. Meyers, Millersburg, and Lori A. Campbell, Elizabethville; two sisters, Marion Baddorf and Mildred Row, both of Wiconisco.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Good Shepherd Evangelical Congregational Church. The Rev. Randall L. Sizemore will officiate. There will be no viewing. Interment will be in Calvary United Methodist Cemetery, Wiconisco. John R. Shultz Funeral Home, Lykens, is in charge of arrangements.
Republican and Herald (Pottsville, Pennsylvania), 26 Jun 2004, Sat, Page 14.²
She was buried at Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery, Wiconisco, Dauphin County, PA.¹

     Doris M. Bixler was born on 25 April 1934, Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, PA.¹ She was the daughter of Calvin L. Bixler and Blanche I. Specht.¹ Doris M. Bixler married Kenneth Richard Erdman, son of William Walter Erdman and Mabel Minnie Wolfgang, circa 1953.¹ Doris M. Bixler died on 13 September 2015, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Montour County, PA, at age 81.¹
Online oituary:
Doris M. Erdman, age 81, of Valley View, passed away Sunday at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. She was born on Wednesday, April 25, 1934, in Hegins Twp, a daughter of the late Calvin Bixler and the late Blanche Specht Bixler.
She was a 1952 graduate of the former Hegins Twp High School.
She was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church, Hegins; where over the years she was a Sunday School Teacher, choir member, Sunday School pianist, and a member of the ladies trio the Valentines.
Doris was a soloist for many weddings and special occasions. She loved reading, gardening, and baking for her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by two brothers Earl Bixler and Calvin Bixler.
She is survived by her husband Kenneth R Erdman, to whom she was married for 62 years.
Buffington Reed Funeral Home, Valley View.¹
She was buried at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Lebanon County, PA.¹