Town Topics

Barbara Geils

Barbara Geils, 90, of Monmouth Junction, died December 28 in Franklin Care Center.

Born in Viss, Hungary, she immigrated to the United States with her family in 1922, obtaining U.S. citizenship as a young adult. She had been a resident of Monmouth Junction since 1948.

She retired in 1978 as a seamstress.

She was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church of Princeton and a former Sunday School teacher and choir member. She was also a member of the South Brunswick Senior Citizens.

The wife of the late Henry Geils, to whom she was married for more than 60 years, she is survived by a son, Donald of Belle Mead; a daughter, Helen Geils of Ellsworth, Maine; a sister, Theresa Scurato of Monmouth Junction; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

The funeral service was January 3 at Messiah Lutheran Church, Nassau Street. Burial was in Oaklawn Cemetery, Monmouth Junction.

Arrangements were by the M.J. Murphy Funeral Home, Monmouth Junction.

Robert C. Hosford

Robert C. Hosford, 85, of Princeton, died December 30 at the University Medical Center at Princeton. A civic and environmental activist, he lived in Princeton for 32 years.

Born in Butler, Pa., he was a 1938 graduate of Western High School in Washington, D.C., where he was a member of the debating team. He studied liberal arts at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Virginia, and earned a diploma at Babson Institute in Wellesley, Mass.

He began his career as a journalist as a news clerk for The New York Times, later becoming a reporter for the Jersey Journal in Jersey City and United Press in New York City. He then traveled extensively in Western Europe, living in Rome, Zurich, and Paris. Upon returning to the United States, he served as an editor of magazines at McGraw-Hill and Bill Brothers in New York. He subsequently worked as a free-lance technical writer for domestic and foreign organizations in New York and New Jersey. He was a member of the Newspaper Guild of America and the Dramatists Guild.

An avid reader, his interests ranged from music and foreign languages to world politics and ancient civilizations. In recent years he enjoyed his daily visits to Small World Coffee and the Princeton Public Library.

Son of the late Charles F. Hosford, Jr. and Jean Christy Hosford, he was also predeceased by a brother, Charles F. Hosford III, and a sister, Jean Hosford Keeley. He is survived by his wife, Julia; four children by his first marriage, Lisa Suydam of Stockton, Hope Gorman of Hillsborough, Christopher Hosford of Madison, Miss., and Jon Hosford of Ashburn, Va.; two step-children, Christine Kent of Princeton and Matthew Kent of Kingston; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Arrangements are under the direction of Alloway Funeral Home, Merchantville. Burial in Princeton Cemetery will be private.

Wilhelma Korch

Wilhelma Korch, of Princeton, died December 26 at the University Medical Center at Princeton.

Born in Bayonne, she lived there for many years before moving to Princeton in 1988.

A librarian, she retired from the Bayonne Public Library in 1979 after 35 years of service. She also loved to paint.

She was predeceased by her husband, George, and four siblings. She is survived by a daughter, Georgette Boeselager of Princeton; and a sister, Irene Sokolowski of Florida.

The funeral service was December 30 at Kimble Funeral Home. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, N.J.

Memorial contributions may be made to S.A.V.E., 900 Herrontown Road, Princeton 08540.

James R. Leuper

James R. Leuper, 51, of Skillman, died January 3 at home.

Born in Jersey City, he lived in the Princeton area most of his life.

He was a graduate of St. Paul' s School in Princeton and Notre Dame High School.

An avid outdoorsman, he loved nature and sports. He practiced as a Shamanic healer and mentor.

Predeceased by his mother, Mary E. Leuper, he is survived by his wife of 23 years, Patricia A. Pagano; his father, Fred Leuper Sr. of Rocky Hill; and four siblings, Fred Leuper Jr. of the Poconos, Beth Gray of Toronto, Canada, Chris Leuper of Freehold, and Justin Leuper of Rocky Hill.

A memorial Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 6, at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, 376 Burnt Hill Road, Skillman.

A period of visitation will be held this evening, January 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Avenue.

George Morton

George Morton, 55, a Princeton resident for the past five years, died December 30 at home, following a six-month battle with cancer.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, he immigrated to California in 1976 where he worked for Kaiser Permanente. In 1999, he moved to New Jersey, where he worked as quality control manager for All Type Medical Transcription of North Brunswick. He was a nationally recognized expert, consultant, author, and speaker on medical transcription. In addition to founding his own company, Medical Language Development, he wrote the career guide How to Become a Medical Transcriptionist: A Career for the 21st Century.

He is survived by his wife, Teresa Castaldi; a daughter, Fiona Morton of San Diego; his parents, Baroness Elisabeth vonKirchbach Morton and George Russell Morton of Bournemouth, England; and a sister, Jacki Morton of Dunbar, Scotland.

A memorial service was held January 4 at The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home. Burial was at Holy Cross Burial Park in South Brunswick.

Parvin R. Stryker

Parvin R. "Pud" Stryker, 84, of Wellsboro, Pa., formerly of Skillman, died December 31 at the Green Home in Wellsboro. He was the son of Parvin R. Stryker Sr. and Elizabeth Bellis Stryker.

A veteran of World War II, he served with the 4th Marine Division in the Mariana Islands, including Iwo Jima.

He was a member of the 46th graduating class of the New Jersey State Police Academy and a New Jersey state trooper, retiring after more than 22 years of service. He was also a former member and later assistant scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop No. 46 of Blawenburg.

Following his retirement as a state trooper, he moved with his wife to the Wellsboro area, where they lived for the past 30 years.

He was a member of the Middle Ridge United Methodist Church of Wellsboro, a member and former secretary of Ossea Lodge No. 317 F. & A.M. of Wellsboro, and a member of the Coudersport Consistory.

He loved the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing, and volunteered many hours at Leonard Harrison State Park. He was also an avid coin collector.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Elizabeth "Tootie" Adams; two sons, Ray A. Welkin of Olympia, Wash., and Rodney B. Stryker of Florence, Ore.; a daughter, Nina L. Stryker of Princeton; and four grandsons.

A memorial service was held on January 3 at the Middle Ridge United Methodist Church with the Reverend Kermit Shrawder, pastor, officiating. Burial, in Blawenburg, will be at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Middle Ridge United Methodist Church, 97 Ingerich Road, Wellsboro, Pa. 16901; or to the Salvation Army; or to Ossea Lodge No. 317, Wellsboro, Pa. 16901. Arrangements were under the direction of the Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home, Wellsboro.