Grace E. Fritz, 94, of Andreas, died Wednesday, February 5, 2020, in St. Luke’s Hospital, Coaldale.
She was the wife of the late Walter T. Fritz. She married the love of her life on July 24, 1948 and celebrated 67 years of marriage before his passing on January 22, 2016.
She taught school at Franconia Elementary School, Souderton, for two years and one year in Palmerton School District. She then took time off to raise her family.
She returned to teach for the Tamaqua School District at the West Penn Elementary School and retired in 1993.
Born in Andreas, she was the daughter of the late Claude and Jennie (Daubenspeck) Arner. She was a life member of St. Peter’s Church, West Penn.
For many years she taught Sunday School, enjoyed helping the “Kitchen Krew” and was a member of the church Retirees Group.
Grace was a 1942 graduate of Tamaqua High School and a 1945 graduate of Kutztown University with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education.
She enjoyed gardening and growing flowers.
Surviving are three sons, Dennis W., of Minneapolis, MN, Kevin D. and his wife, Dianne, of Schuylkill Haven, and Barry L. and his wife Kathy, of Cambridge WI; a daughter, Karen F. Reber, of Reading; four grandchildren, Toni L., wife of Jessie Smith, of Lusby, MD, Lauren Reber, of Denver, PA, Jeffrey Reber and his wife Johanna, of Reading, and Marcy, wife of Scott Krill, of New Tripoli; three step grandchildren, Debbie, wife of Robert Dawson, of Hampshire, England, Taylor Lisella, of Santa Barbara, CA, and Krysten, wife of Amar Arekapudi, of Dallas, TX; four great grandchildren, Hailey and Charleston Reber, twins, Sierra and Jayden Krill, five step great grandchildren, Milford, Hermine and Hugo Dawson, Madyson and Brady Arekapudi, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Howard, Oliver and Willard Arner, two sisters, Ferne Shellhamer and Violet Arner, and a son-in-law, Lawrence Reber.
Services will be held at 11am on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at the Hartman Funeral Home, 1791 West Penn Pike, Rte. 309, New Ringgold, with the Rev. Virginia M. Heimer officiating. Call 9:30-11am. Interment in St. Peter’s Church Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Church, West Penn, 184 St. Peters Rd, Tamaqua, PA 18252, or the West Penn Lions Club, 18 Teaberry Lane, New Ringgold, PA 17960.
Arrangements are being handled by the Hartman Funeral Home, 1791 West Penn Pike, Rte. 309, New Ringgold. Online condolences may be made at www.hartmanfuneralhomeinc.com.
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