The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 13

LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1996 B-3 THE COURIER-NEWS OBITUARIES IT Rebecca P. Whitcomb, ex-Brownie troop leader William J. Kellner, retired Mobil supervisor Christine C. Keegan, retired office manager Alice LTownley, operator tor n.j. ben fiRRKN RROOK Aline T.

Tnum. VA golf costs not up to par for outpatients I ley, 81. died Tuesdav (June 11. 1996) 1 r- i I Center in Plainfield. Mrs.

lowniey was born Brook- Ivn and livori in Croon Rrnnt i for 46 years. V2 will be allowed to play for free. v'i Alvin Wilson of Plainfield said the $225 membership fee is too high for people like him, who live on a fixedt income. Wilson, 72, said golfing is his only- outside recreation, but he won't apply for a new membership. "It was good recreation we paid for," he said.

But John Burns, acting associate' director at Lyons, said the hospital -can no longer give outpatients a lower' membership. When the course was federally" funded, it allowed outpatients to pay a nominal fee. ti" Now that Bernards is managing the" course, money to operate the course'; has to come from membership he said. "1 Burns said Lyons will save about1' $75,000 a year, because they won't have to spend money to maintain thft grounds. He said the savings will be used to" support programs offered by the hos- pital.

"Veterans will all benefit by fact the revenue VA takes in will bem efit other programs," Burns said. He said if memberships for outpa tients were lower than $225, it woula cause fees for township residents and- others to increase. By KIMBERLY WOODS Courier-News Staff Writer BERNARDS Ernest Smalko used to play four holes of golf on the course at Lyons Veterans Affairs Medical Center to help the circulation in his legs. Smalko, who suffers from heart problems and poor circulation in his legs, said he won't be able to continue to play golf because the new $225 membership fee for outpatients is too high. "I think by charging $225, it's restricting and blocking out most veterans," the Plainfield resident said.

The Army veteran, who served in World War II, is one of several outpatients unhappy about the change in management of the Coakley Russo Memorial Golf Course at Lyons. Outpatients used to pay $5 for a year membership. Now under a new agreement, outpatients will pay a $225 membership fee. Lyons can't operate the nine-hole course because Congress said federal money can't be used to manage and maintain a golf course. Under the agreement, the course will be open from July to November.

A total of 700 memberships will be split between the township and Lyons. Memberships at Lyons will be available to employees and outpatients. In-patients Somerset County parties re-elect Florio, Scannell WESTFIELD Rebecca P. Whitcomb, 83, died May 29, 1996, at Ash-brook Nursing Home in Scotch Plains. Mrs.

Whitcomb was born in Plain-field and lived in Westfield for the past 22 years. She was a member of the Muhlenberg Auxiliary and volunteered for 35 years at the Nearly New Shop of Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield. She was a former Brownie troop leader and a member of the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church in Westfield. Surviving are her husband, Harvey P. Whitcomb; two sons, Edward P.

Whitcomb of Westfield and Bruce H. Whitcomb of Berkeley Heights; a daughter, Sandra Danitz of Columbus; six grandchildren; and five greatgrandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield. Arrangements were made by the Memorial Funeral Home in Fanwood.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Muhlenberg Auxiliary, Park Avenue and Randolph Road, Plainfield, N.J. 07061. Thomas S.Trevethan, veteran of World War 1 1 NORTH PLAINFIELD Thomas S. Trevethan, 79, died Wednesday (June 12, 1996) at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield. Mr.

Trevethan was born in Wilkes-Barre, and lived in North Plain-field for more than 50 years. He was a maintenance man for Air Products and Chemicals in Iselin for 39 years. He retired in 1986. He served in the air force during World War II. Mr.

Trevethan was a member of the Hydewood Park Baptist Church in North Plainfield. Surviving are his wife, Grace L. Thomas Trevethan; a son, Thomas L. Trevethan of Ann Arbor, a daughter, Kathy Kesler of Wood-stown; a brother, Robert Trevethan of Wilkes-Barre, two sisters, Faith McGuire of Plains, and Leona Fehlinger of Wilkes-Barre, and three grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m.

Saturday at the Hydewood Park Baptist Church in North Plainfield. Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Memorial Funeral Home in Fanwood. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mission Fund of the Hydewood Park Baptist Church, 100 Norwood North Plainfield, N.J. 07060.

Pauline Ulshafer, playground aide SOMERVILLE Pauline Ulshafer, 68, died Wednesday (June 12, 1996) at the Somerset Medical Center. Born in Pottstown, Mrs. Ulshafer lived in Somerville since 1947. She was a playground aide for the Somerville Board of Education for 15 years, retiring in 1990. She was a member of the United Reformed Church in Somerville.

A son, Gregory A. Ulshafer, died in 1977. Surviving are her husband, Nelson S. Ulshafer two sons, Nelson S. Ulshafer Jr.

of Bridgewater and Douglas T. Ulshafer of Somerville; a daughter, Lisa Ann Fedak of New Hampton; five brothers, Alex and William Migala of Stowe, Joseph Migala of Pottstown, Paul Mi-gala of Boyertown, and Mickey Migala of Rutherfordton, N.C.; three sisters, Jane Clark of Perkiomenville, Anna Craig of Limerick, and Rose Faust of Pottstown, three grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. Services are noon Saturday at the United Reformed Church in Somerville. Visiting hours are 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Friday at the Speer-Van Arsdale Funeral Home in Somerville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of the United Reformed Church or the Somerville Rescue Squad, Park Avenue, Somerville, N.J. 08876. George Daneluk with "good candidates." "All of our Democrats live and lieve in the Democratic working for the people and being ad-vocates for the rights and opportuni- ties of the people," she told the orga-, nization. Scannell replaced William Ian- none, who died Feb.

1 before serving 'y, out his full term as party Florio and Scannell will serve twov year terms. i Republicans named June Wilson of Bernards and Michael Pappas of Rocky Hill as vice chairs, Jeanne'- 1 McPartland of Hillsborough as trea-r I surer and Bill Crosby of North PlainJ 1 1 field as secretary. Democrats appointed Paul Cino of Bridgewater as vice chair, Mary Lou Butler of Bridgewater as Ann Palfy of Manville as and Skip Hansen of North Plainfield i as corresponding secretary. Both parties held elections at reor-. ganization meetings as required byf state statute.

I Of the 138,472 voters registered in'J" the county, about 37,000 are Republic cans and about 20,000 are Democrats. By VALERIE KELLOGG Courier-News Staff Writer Somerset County voters have reelected chairmen of each of their parties. GOP Chairman Dale Florio and Acting Democratic Chairwoman Marie Scannell ran unopposed at meetings held Tuesday night. Florio, in a statement to the organization, looked back on the accomplishments the party made during his previous term. "We signed a pledge to avoid negative campaigning with the Democratic Party in Somerset," he said.

"This is the first of its kind in the state and has been praised by both Democratic and Republican leaders while receiving strong editorial support in many daily newspapers." Florio of Montgomery credited the Young Republican Committee with recruiting a "spawning ground" for new leadership. Scannell of South Bound Brook pointed out the party's success at gaining seats throughout the county Christine Ciccone Keegan, 89, formerly of South Plainfield and Dunellen, died June 6, 1996, at the Villa Plaza Nursing Center in Santa Ana, Calif. Born in Jersey City, Mrs. Keegan lived in South Plainfield and Dunellen before moving to Costa Mesa, 10 years ago. She was the office manager for Standard Linen Co.

in Jersey City for 52 years, retiring in 1974. She then worked at Young's Nursing in Middlesex for 11 years. Mrs. Keegan was a member of St. John's Roman Catholic Church in Dunellen.

She was a member of the Costa Mesa Senior Citizens. Her first husband, Fred Ciccone, died in 1976. Her second husband, Stanley Keegan, died in 1974. Surviving are two daughters, Bergen of South Plainfield and Diane Kulminski of Costa Mesa, three sisters, Antoinette Te-sauro of Hilton Head, S.C., Sue Ber-nava of Delray Beach, and Terry Haag of Pierre, S.D.; six grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren. Arrangements were by the James W.

Conroy Funeral Home in South Plainfield. Memorial contributions may be made to the Costa Mesa Senior Citizens Center, 695 W. 19th Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627. This obituary is being reprinted to correct information originally provided to The Courier-News.

Wilma Macko Varmuza, ex-Girl Scout leader WARREN Wilma Macko Varmuza, 71, died Tuesday (June 11, 1996) at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield. Born in Mahanoy City, Mrs. Varmuza lived in Dunellen for many years before moving to Warren 23 years ago. She was a machine operator for many years at Leonard's Precision Tool Co. in Dunellen.

Mrs. Varmuza was a member of Our Lady of the Mount Roman Catholic Church in Warren. She was a member of the Polish Falcons Nest 281 in Dunellen and was a former Girl Scout leader in the borough. Surviving are her husband, Stephen M. Varmuza a stepson, Stephen Jr.

of Kettering, Ohio; a stepdaughter, Barbara Ann Harkins of Long Island, N.Y.; two brothers, Martin Macko and Russell Macko, both of Mahanoy City, and two sisters, Susan Stires of Ohio and Anna Yurochek of Yonkers, N.Y. Services are private. Arrangements are by The Mundy Funeral Home of Dunellen. Elmer C. Beacht, retired supervisor HILLSBOROUGH Elmer C.

Beacht, 88, of the Belle Mead section of the township, died Wednesday (June 12, 1996) at the Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. Born in Brunswick, Mr. Beacht lived in Mercerville, Lawren-ceville and Somerville before moving to Hillsborough in 1940. He was a supervisor for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Inspection Stations, notably Somerville, for 32 years, retiring in 1970. Mr.

Beacht was in the Marine Corps from 1925 to 1929, serving in the Philippines and China. He was a charter member of Hillsborough Fire Co. No. 2 and the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church. Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Carolyn Everett Beacht; a son, Thomas of Branchville; two daughters, Judith Prugh of Bound Brook and Joan Coven of Williamsburg, six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church. Visitation is 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Hillsborough Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 770 Route 206, Belle Mead, N.J. 08502. Robert Ellis Vietnam War veteran ELIZABETH Robert Ellis 57, died Tuesday (June 11, 1996) at Lyons Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bernards. He was born in Vicksburg, Miss. He lived in Newark before moving to Elizabeth four years ago.

Mr. Ellis served in the Army in the Vietnam War. He was a corrections officer for the Essex County Youth Service. He was a substitute teacher for both the Newark and Roselle school systems. Mr.

Ellis was a member of the St. Mathews African Methodist Episcopal Church in Orange. Surviving are a son, Michael Ellis of Elizabeth; his father, Robert Ellis Sr. of Chicago; three brothers, Walter Smith of Florence and James Smith and James Fowler both of Vicksburg, and a devoted friend Delores Smith of Piscataway. Services will be 10 a.m.

Saturday at St. Mathews Church in Orange. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the church. Arrangements are by Judkins Colonial Home of Plainfield.

SOMERSET (Franklin) William J. Kellner, 70, died Monday (June 10, 1996) at home. Mr. Kellner was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and lived in Somerset for 40 years. He was a supervisor for Mobil Chemical in Metuchen for 40 years.

He retired in 1986. Mr. Kellner served in the Marine Corps during World War II. He was a member of St. Mary's Leisure Club in Bound Brook, the Senior Citizens Club in Somerset, Franklin, Middlesex and Bound Brook and the Bound Brook Elks Lodge 1388.

He was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church in South Bound Brook. His wife, Evelyn Kellner, died in 1992. Surviving are two sons, James Kellner of Great Meadows and William Kellner of Lehighton, two daughters, Maureen Rivenbark of Bound Brook and Karen Moriau of Warren; a sister, Anne Sypowicz of Port Washington, N.Y.; and eight grandchildren. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Conroy Funeral Home in Bound Brook.

Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. This obituary is being rerun to correct errors in Wednesday's editions. Leo R. Michael, supervisor for 46 years DUNELLEN Leo R.

Michael, 80, died Monday (June 10, 1996) at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. Born in North Plainfield, he was a lifelong resident of Dunellen. Mr. Michael was a supervisor of production scheduling at National Starch in Plainfield for 46 years, retiring in 1983. He was a member of St.

John's Church in Dunellen and was a head usher for 30 years. Surviving are his wife, Dorothy Penrose Michael; a daughter, Gwen Trowbridge of Dunellen; a brother, Edward Michael of Piscataway; a sister, Josephine Quinn of Plainfield; and two grandchildren. A Mass will be offered at 9 a.m. today at St. John's Church.

This obituary is being rerun to correct errors in Tuesday's editions. Josephine Stewart Agolia, retired clerical worker PISCATAWAY Josephine Stewart Agolia, 85, died Wednesday (June 12, 1996) at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison. Born on Long Island, N.Y., Mrs. Agolia was raised in Staten Island, N.Y., and later lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn before moving to Piscataway in 1980.

She was a clerical worker for La-falle Industries in New York City for 30 years, retiring in 1980. She was a member of the United Auto Workers-AFL-CIO District 65 of New York City. Mrs. Agolia was a member of the Holy Spirit Fellowship in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater. Two brothers, George and John Stewart, and a sister, Veronica Stewart, preceded her in death.

Surviving are three daughters, Mary Ellen Agolia and Julie Agolia Murray, both of Alamogordo, N.M., and Victoria Sallust of Piscataway; a sister, Anne Hogan of Brooklyn, N.Y.; seven grandchildren; and five greatgrandchildren. Services are 8 p.m. Friday at the McCriskin Home for Funerals in South Plainfield. Visiting hours are 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Friday at the funeral home. Gerald J. Hough, ex-Spanish teacher BRIDGEWATER Gerald J. Hough, 71, died Tuesday (June 11, 1996) at Morristown Memorial Hospital. Born in New York City, Mr.

Hough lived in Staten Island, N.Y., before moving to Bridgewater 33 years ago. He was a Spanish teacher in the Bridgewater-Raritan school district from 1962 to 1979, teaching at Bridgewater-Raritan High School West and Eisenhower Middle School. Mr. Hough was a 1949 graduate of Drew University and did graduate work at New York University. Surviving are his wife, Patricia Mostrog Hough; a son, Gerald J.

Jr. of San Antonio, Texas; a daughter, Lynda M. Hough of Skillman; a brother, George Hough of Staten Island, N.Y.; and two sisters, Alice Todd of Staten Island, N.Y., and Patricia Kemether of Milford, Pa. Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at the Layton Funeral Home in Bedmin-ster.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 70 Grove Somerville, N.J. 08876. David OsburnDe Roze, Bound Brook dry cleaner BOUND BROOK David Osburn De Roze, 33, died May 31, 1996, after being hit by a train on the Lehigh Valley tracks in Bound Brook. Mr. De Roze was born in Paterson and lived in Bound Brook.

He was a dry cleaner at Angelo's Dry Cleaning in Bound Brook. Surviving is a daughter, Carla Misir of Middlesex. Services will be private. Arrangements were by the Tag-gart-Chamberlain Funeral Home in Bound Brook. She was an operator for N.J.

Bell in Plainfield for 20 years. She retired in 1970. Mrs. Townley was a member of the Ivy Twig Auxiliary of Raritan Valley Hospital. Surviving are her husband, Charles Townley; a son, Craig Townley of Summit; a daughter, Gayle Ballard of Piscataway; three brothers, Kenneth lisle of Middlesex, John Lisle of Naples, and Arthur Lisle of McAlis-ter, a sister, Rhoda Ferraro of Holidaysburg, and three grandchildren.

I Services are at 8 p.m. Friday at Green Brook Baptist Church. Visiting hours are from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church.

Arrangements were made by the Middlesex Funeral Home in Middlesex. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Mark Barber, services Mark Barber, 48, died May 27, 1996, at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. 1 A Mass will be offered at noon June 26 at St. Joseph Chapel in Bound Brook.

Beatrice E. Coyle, homemaker, gardener MIDDLESEX Beatrice E. Jeanes Coyle, 84, died Tuesday (June 11, 1996) at her daughter's home in Middlesex. Born in Allentown, she formerly lived in Piscataway and Dunellen. Mrs.

Coyle was a homemaker. She was a member of Tri-county and Piscataway Senior Citizens. She was an avid gardener. Mrs. Coyle was preceded in death by her husband, Edward G.

Coyle and a son, Donald "Oz" Zdradzins-ki. Surviving are a daughter, Linda Magretto of Middlesex; two brothers, Harold R. Jeanes of Allentown, and Paul Clark of Newfoundland, two sisters, Blanche Bennett of Blairstown and Arlene Boyer of Sho-kan, N.Y.; and a grandson. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Stephens Funeral Home in Allentown, Pa.

Visiting hours will be 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Nathan A. Walker, veteran of World War II WESTFIELD Nathan A. 76, died Tuesday (June 11, 1996) at Overlook Hospital in Summit.

Mr. Walker was born in Marling-ton, W.Va., and lived in Scotch Plains before moving to Westfield 15 years ago. He worked for the Handler Manufacturing Co. in Westfield for four years. Before that he worked for Corvette Furniture in Watchung.

He retired in 1980. Mr. Walker was a musician. He played guitar for the Embracables, a rock 'n roll band in Clark, in the 1960s. He served in the Army during World War II.

Mr. Walker was a member of the House of Prayer in Plainfield. Surviving are his wife, Willie Mae Broome Walker; a son, Kenneth Lacey of North Plainfield; two stepdaughters, Cynthia Broome of West-field and Lois Ruff of Akron, Ohio; a brother, James Walker of Marling-ton, W.Va.; a sister, Virginia Walker of Marlington, W.Va.; two grandchildren and one great grandchild. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Higgins Home for Funerals in Plainfield.

Visitation is from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. FUNERAL NOTICE WALKER Nathan of Westfield on June 11, 1996. Husband of Willie Mae Walker, father of Kenneth Lacey, stepfather of Cynthia Broome and Lois Ruff, brother of James arid Virginia Walker, grandfather of Loretta Lacey and Brian Broome, great-grandfather of Andrew Lacey. Also surviving are a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral services June 14 at 10:00 AM at Higgins for Funerals, 209 W. 8th Plainfield. Interment private. Visiting Fri. 9-10 AM.

CARD OF THANKS The Holiday family thanks each and every one for all the kind and thoughtful express-; ions of sympathy extended to us in the death of our beloved brother, George 'Doc' Holiday May 10, 1996. Special thanks to Paster Nichols and the Mt. Olive Baptist Church family, Bound Brook High School Board of Education, Uudkins Colonial Home, and The Somerset Hospital Staff. The Holiday Family MONUMENTS LL MANNING SON DISPLAY YARD 409 W. Front Plainfield 756-0706 725-1631 SCHOOL: Graduation time Continued from Page B-1 "Hopefully, we'll get across the message to anyone who's thinking about quitting school that they'll get their head screwed on straight and stay in," he said.

Over the years, Haurey has held various jobs. He has washed cars, cut lawns, worked as a landscaper and a roofer and in construction. All the while, he wanted a better future foe himself. "I was not only interested in bettering myself financially, but I also felt that something was missing in my life to make me feel complete," he said. Haurey has worked toward his diploma over the last 11 years and quit once to please a boss who believed his studies were conflicting with work.

Today, his struggle is over. "I'm damn proud of myself. It's been a long time coming and now I have nothing but a bright future ahead Adult schools in danger of closing due to funding of me." he said. Haurey thanks his mother, Flo, and1 his girlfriend, Christina Estok, for; prodding him to get his diploma. Het" also has Phillip Kasper, a childhood friend's dad and neighbor, for being' his inspiration.

Haurey said he Kasper went to night school to get a -degree from Rutgers University, while balancing family and job sponsibilities. "That always stuck in the back ok' my mind for the last 16 years," he said. At tonight's ceremony in North Plainfield, Superintendent Manly-? Birnbaum, Sen. Jack Ewing, R-Ber- nardsville, Assemblyman Alan-Augustine, R-New Providence, and' three graduates are scheduled td speak. i In Plainfield, Superintendent Larry Leverett and other graduates will give remarks during commencement vive," she said, noting that financial crunches are putting pressures on school districts statewide.

For example, Beris said Plainfield schools stand to lose $2.5 million in funding now that the state has removed its special-needs status, a move that will be felt by the adult schools. A spokesman for the state Department of Education characterized statements about schools closing as nothing more than "scare tactics to get people worried about their future and their schools closing." "That kind of talk is really not a productive way to encourage dialogue on this important issue," said department spokesman Peter Peretz-man. "We certainly do not believe our program will lead to the closing of any adult schools." So far, the state is prepared to divvy up $25 million for adult and county vocational schools, Peretzman said. There are plans to determine how much it costs to run each adult school. Beginning with the 1998-99 school year, Peretzman said state aid will be handed out based on those estimates.

The department's proposal affects funding for 57 adults schools in New Jersey. Last year, 12,000 New Jersey-ans returned to adult schools for their high school diplomas, 4 college math professor PISCATAWAY George Daneluk 66, a full professor of mathematics at Jersey City State College, died Sunday (June 9, 1996) at his home. Born in Frontier, Dr. Daneluk lived in Sacramento, before moving to Piscataway in 1962. He was a professor at Jersey City State for more thn 30 years, and was also chairman of its Graduate School of Computer Science.

Dr. Daneluk was an alumnus of Rutgers University and earned a doctorate in computer science from Jersey City State in 1983. He was a member of the American Federation of Teachers. Dr. Daneluk served in the Air Force.

He was a member of the Democratic Society of Middlesex County, the American Mathematics Society of Jersey City and the New Jersey chapter of the Mark Twain Society. Surviving are four daughters, Julia Faye Corrollo of Hamsfork, Janet Agnes Daneluk of Magnolia, Jennifer Ann Daneluk of Portland, and Georganne Dyke of Piscataway; two brothers, James Daneluk of Kemmerer, and Jerry Daneluk of Seattle, and a granddaughter. Memorial services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Dr. Daneluk's residence.

Memorial contributions may be made to Jersey City State College, co Mathematics Kennedy Jersey City, N.J. 07305. By WIL S. SHAMLIN Courier-News Staff Writer Today's commencement exercises at North Plainfield Community Adult School and the Plainfield Adult Learning Center could be one of their last. Principals of those two adult high schools are relieved that state Education Commissioner Leo Klagholz has thrown out a proposal to fund adult education programs with grants, which tend to be unreliable sources of aid.

But school administrators aren't putting much stock in the alternative, either. The commissioner has revised his state-aid plan to provide funding for adult schools in the same way as English-language and special education classes as part of categorical state aid. "They did write us back into the plan for which we are grateful. However, there's still a cloud hanging over us because they still haven't come up with a per-pupil amount," said Carole Beris, principal of the Plainfield Adult Learning Center. "Our concern is that when the cost per-pupil amount is announced it will not be enough to cover the cost of running a program.

If the amount isn't enough, adult schools wijnot sur.