Person Page - 269

     William Ford Leitzel was born on 21 April 1918, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA.² He was the son of Moses Richard Leitzel and Lillian Alice Romberger. William Ford Leitzel married Hilda Faye Kessler, daughter of Charles Edwin Kessler and Almeda Mabel Paul, on 13 April 1940.¹ William Ford Leitzel died on 22 March 1996, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA, at age 77.^3,1
Newspaper obituary:
W. Ford Leitzel
W. Ford Leitzel, 77, of Klingerstown, died Friday evening at his home. He was in failing health for seven weeks.
Born in Kilngerstown, April 21, 1918, he was a son of the late Richard Letzel and Lillian Romberger LeitzeL He was a graduate of Hubley Township High School and Peirce School of Business, Philadelphia.
He founded the Lewisburg Farmer's Market and operated it until retiring in 1981. He and a brother, Paul, previously operated Crossroads Sale and Market, Gratz.
He was a member of St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Klingerstown; Klingerstown Fire Company, Herndon Lodge 702, F&AM, Herndon, of which he was a member more than 50 years; Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Millersburg; Scottish Rite Consistory, Harrisburg; Shrine Club of Zembo Temple, Harrisburg. He was a 32nd Degree Mason.
Surviving are his wife, the former Hilda F. Kessler, to whom he would have been married 56 years .April 13; a daughter, Bonnie A. Miller, Salt Lake City, Utah; a son, Thomas C. Leitzel, Lemont; two brothers, Paul, Gratz, and Roy, Richland; two granddaughters; two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St Michael's Lutheran Church, Klingerstown. The Rev. Peter Nordby will officiate. Interment will be in St. Michael's Lutheran Cemetery, Klingerstown. Stephen R. Rothermel Funeral Home, RD1 Klingerstown, is in charge of arrangements.
Pottsville Republican (Pottsville, PA), 23 Mar 1996, Sat, Page 2.²
He was buried at St. Michael's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA.^3,2,4

     Hilda Faye Kessler was born on 29 October 1920, Erdman, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.^2,1 She was the daughter of Charles Edwin Kessler and Almeda Mabel Paul. Hilda Faye Kessler was baptized on 12 December 1920, Zion (Klinger's) Church, Erdman, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.¹ She married William Ford Leitzel, son of Moses Richard Leitzel and Lillian Alice Romberger, on 13 April 1940.² Hilda Faye Kessler died on 5 December 1999, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, UT, at age 79.^3,2,4 She was buried at St. Michael's Church Cemetery, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA.^4,3,5
Newspaper obituary:
Hilda F. Leitzel
Hilda Faye Leitzel, 79, formerly of Klingerstown, died Dec. 5 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Born at Erdman, Oct. 29, 1920, she was a daughter of the late Charles and Meda Kessler. She had lived at Crosslands Retirement Community in Sandy, Utah, for the past one and a half years and the last two months with her daughter in Salt Lake City.
She and her husband, W. Ford Leitzel, owned and operated the Lewisburg Farmers Market until they retired in 1981.
She was a member of St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Klingerstown and its choir and Sunshine class. She was also a member of the Eastern Star Lodge, Lykens, and the Idella Rebekah Lodge 58, Dornsife, where she served as a past noble grand and was awarded the Decoration of Chivalry Award for community support.
She was preceded in death by her husband, W. Ford, on March 22, 1996; two brothers, Ralph and Marlin Kessler.
Surviving are a son, Thomas C., Escondido, Calif., formerly of Lemont; a daughter, Bonnie A. Miller, Salt Lake City, Utah; two granddaughters; two great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from St. Michael's Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Joel Petruschke officiating. Idella Rebekah Lodge 58 will hold services at 10:15 a.m. in the church. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family in St. Michael's Lutheran Church Cemetery, Klingerstown. Stephen R. Rothermel Funeral Home, RR1 Klingerstown, is in charge of arrangements.
Republican and Herald (Pottsville, PA), 25 Jan 2000, Tue, Page 3.³

     Charles Edwin Kessler was born on 15 March 1892, Dauphin County, PA.¹ He was the son of Charles Henry Kessler and Mary Elizabeth Erdman.¹ Charles Edwin Kessler was baptized on 10 April 1892, Zion (Klinger's) Church, Erdman, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.² He married Almeda Mabel Paul, daughter of Daniel S. Paul and Amelia Jane Schwalm, on 14 September 1912, Zion (Klinger's) Church, Erdman, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.³ Charles Edwin Kessler died on 5 March 1942, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA, at age 49.^4,5 He was buried on 9 March 1942, at Zion (Klinger's) Church Cemetery, Erdman, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.^6,4
Newspaper obituary:
CHARLES E. KESSLER
Charles Edwin Kessler, of Erdman, died March 5th, at the age of 49 years.
He was a son of Charles and Mary (Erdman) Kessler, and was a native of Lykens Township. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Erdman.
Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Meda Paul Kessler, two sons and one daughter, Marlin, at home; Ralph Kessler and Hilda, Mrs. Ford Leitzel. both of Erdman. Other survivors are two grandchildren, six brothers and one sister, Mrs. Ellen Umholtz, Oscar, Moses, Sinary, Harry, Luther, and Ezra Kessler, all of Erdinan.
Funeral services were held from the residence Monday morning with further services in Klinger's Lutheran Church. Rev. Dr. D. I. Sultzbach, pastor of the Sacramento Lutheran Parish, officiated, and interment was made in the cemetery adjoining the church.
Elizabethville Echo, March 12, 1942, Page 1.⁵

     Almeda Mabel Paul was born on 29 December 1895, Upper Mahantongo Township, Schuylkill County, PA.^4,5 She was the daughter of Daniel S. Paul and Amelia Jane Schwalm.³ Almeda Mabel Paul was baptized on 21 March 1896, Salem Lutheran Church, Rough and Ready, Schuylkill County, PA.² She married Charles Edwin Kessler, son of Charles Henry Kessler and Mary Elizabeth Erdman, on 14 September 1912, Zion (Klinger's) Church, Erdman, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.⁶ Almeda Mabel Paul died on 5 November 1963, Elizabethville, Dauphin County, PA, at age 67.⁷
Newspaper obituary:
Mrs. Meda Kessler
Mrs. Meda Kessler, 67, of Lykens, RD, died at Kepler Convalescent Home, Elizabethville, Tuesday.
She was a daughter of the late Henry [?] and Amelia Schwalm Paul was born in Upper Mahantongo Twp., Dec. 29, 1895.
Mrs. Kessler was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Erdman.
Her husband, Charles E. Kessler, died a number of years ago.
Surviving are one son, Ralph, in Lvkens, RD; one daughter, Mrs. Ford Leitzel, Klingerstown; four four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren; one brother John Paul of Orwin.
Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon from Zion Lutheran Church, Erdman, with Rev. J. Wilson Harner officiating. Interment will be in the adjoinng cemetery. Reed Funeral Home, Pillow, is in charge.
Pottsville Republican (Pottsville, PA), 06 Nov 1963, Wed, Page 26.⁸
She was buried on 8 November 1963, at Zion (Klinger's) Lutheran Church Cemetery, Erdman, Dauphin County, PA.^4,9,5

     Mary Hazel Romberger was born on 21 January 1899, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA.^1,2,3,4,5 Some sources record that Mary Hazel Romberger was born on 31 January 1899, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA.⁶ She was baptized on 30 April 1899, St. Michael's Church, Klingerstown, Upper Mahantango Township, Schuylkill County, PA.^2,5 She married Irwin Wilson Deibert on 30 December 1915.^7,8,6 At the time of the 1920 Census, Mary and her husband Irwin were living in the western part of Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, PA, where Irwin was a carpenter for a coal company. Their household included 3 daughters, Helen, Fay, and Catherine.⁷ In 1930, Mary and Irwin were living in Upper Mahantongo Township, Schuylkill County, PA, where Irwin was working as a carpenter at a coal breaker. They had been married about 13 years and their household included 5 children.⁸ Mary Hazel Romberger died on 23 July 1977, at age 78.^9,3,2
Newspaper obituary:
Mary Deibert
KLINGERSTOWN -- Mrs. Mary (Romberger) Deibert, 78, of Klingerstown, died Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Sunbury Community Hospital where she had been a patient for two weeks.
She was born in Klingerstown on Jan. 31, 1899, and was the daughter of William and Catherine (Wiest) Romberger. Mrs. Deibert was a lifelong resident of Klingerstown.
She was married Dec. 30, 1915, to Irwin Deibert, who survives her. Mrs. Deibert was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Lykens, R.D., and was a member of the Rainbow Class at that church.
Other survivors are four daughters, Mrs. Lawrence (Helen) Byerly, Lock Haven, R.D., Mrs. Marlin (Mabella) Shade, of Gratz, and Mrs. Clair (Lillian) Erdman, of Mechanicsburg; seven grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Treas, Klingerstown, and Mrs. Gertrude Shaffer, Millersburg.
Lawrence E. Rothermel Funeral Home, Klingerstown R.D., has charge of arrangements.
The News-Item (Shamokin, PA), 25 Jul 1977, Mon, Page 8.⁶
She was buried on 26 July 1977, at Zion (Klinger's) Church, Erdman, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA.^10,6,11

     Irwin Wilson Deibert was buried at Zion (Klinger's) Church, Erdman, Lykens Township, Dauphin County, PA. Irwin Wilson Deibert is also referred to as Irvin in some sources.¹ He was born on 1 August 1897, Hubley Township, Schuylkill County, PA.² He married Mary Hazel Romberger on 30 December 1915.^1,3,4 At the time of the 1920 Census, Irwin and Mary were living in the western part of Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, PA, where Irwin was a carpenter for a coal company. Their household included 3 daughters, Helen, Fay, and Catherine.¹ In 1930, Irwin and Mary were living in Upper Mahantongo Township, Schuylkill County, PA, where Irwin was working as a carpenter at a coal breaker. They had been married about 13 years and their household included 5 children.³ Irwin Wilson Deibert died in 1982.⁵

     Lawrence Woodrow Byerly was born on 9 January 1913, Herndon, Jackson Township, Northumberland County, PA.^1,2 He was the son of Isaac Theodore Byerly and Tamie Ubella Erdman. Lawrence Woodrow Byerly married Helen Amelia Deibert, daughter of Irwin Wilson Deibert and Mary Hazel Romberger, on 21 April 1935, Lutheran Parsonage, Herndon, Northumberland County, PA.^3,4,5 Some sources suggest that Lawrence Woodrow Byerly was married on 7 April 1935.⁶ He was buried on 5 April 1988, at Zion (Klinger's) Lutheran Church Cemetery, Erdman, Dauphin County, PA.^7,6 He died on 30 April 1988, Leesburg, Kale County, FL, at age 75.^8,9
Newspaper obituary:
Lawrence W. Byerly
Lawrence W. Byerly, 75, of Leesburg, Fla., and Market Street, Gratz, died Saturday in Leesburg Regional Medical Center, shortly after being admitted.
He was born in the Herndon area, Jan. 9, 1913, a son of the late Isaac and Tamie Erdman Byerly. He was a 1930 graduate of Herndon High School.
He was a retired design manager for Piper Aircraft Co., Lock Haven, and formerly resided in Lock Haven. When he retired in 1978 he moved to Gratz.
He was a World War II Army veteran.
Mr. Byerly was a, member of Simeon's Lutheran Church, Gratz, Herndon Lodge 702, F&AM, and Leesburg High 12 Club.
Surviving are his wife, the former Helen Deiberl, whom he married on April 7, 1935; a son; Dennis, Brackney area, and Elaine Cole, Tavers, Fla; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Gladys Lebo, Trevorton; a brother, Melvin, Vienna, Va.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Simeon's Lutheran Church, Gratz. The Rev. Barry Ridge will officiate. Interment will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Erdman. There will be no calling hours Wednesday evening. Stephen R. Rothermel Funeral Home, Klingerstown, is in charge of arrangements.
Pottsville Republican (Pottsville, Pennsylvania), 02 May 1988, Mon, Page 2.⁶