OBITUARIES 11/01

From the Nov. 1 edition of the Register-News

By:
Elizabeth Grouser

   MANSFIELD — Elizabeth Grouser, 93, of Columbus died Oct. 24 at Mount Holly Care Center in Lumberton.
   Born in Trenton, she resided there prior to moving to Columbus in 1975.
   She was a former member of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Trenton.
   Daughter of the late Steven and Elizabeth Butcher, wife of the late Frank Grouser, and mother-in-law of the late William Anderson, she is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Richard F. and Patricia Grouser, Sr. of Columbus, Goodner G. Grouser of Jacobstown, Frank F. and Judy Grouser of Browns Mills; three daughters and two sons-in-law Gloria May and Richard Randall of Las Vegas, Nevada, Fran and Dominic Capasso of Hamilton and Louise Anderson of Jacobstown; 17 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
   Funeral services were held at the Huber-Moore Funeral Home, Bordentown. Pastor John Grove of the Columbus Baptist Church officiated.
   Graveside services were conducted at Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton.
Elizabeth M. Wilson

   FLORENCE — Elizabeth M. Hamilton Wilson, 75, died Oct. 25 at home.
   Born in Florence, she was a lifelong resident.
   She was a member of Florence United Methodist Church, the Women’s Society for Christian Service of the church and a homemaker.
   She was an avid collector of various types of mementos.
   She is survived by her husband, Thomas W. Wilson; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Donald Cochran and Judy and Gino James of Florence; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Doris and Leonard Skeenes, Mildred and Les Reamer and Carol Lee; and a brother and sister-in-law, Leon and Beatrice Hamilton, all of Florence; three grandchildren, David Cochran and fiancee Heather McKendry, Colleen Cochran and fiance Chanon Eckert and Bryan James and friend Christine Clayton; a great-granddaughter, Brianna James; and nieces and nephews.
   The funeral was held at Dennison Funeral Home, Florence, with the Rev. John Orr officiating.
Burial was in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
   Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053.
Beatrice Shack-

Francis

   MANSFIELD — Beatrice Shack-Francis, 69, died Oct. 25 at home.
   Born in Trenton, she was a longtime area resident before moving to Columbus.
   She attended Trenton public schools and received a bachelor’s degree from Central State College, Wilberforce, Ohio, and a master’s degree from Rider College.
   She began working with the American Red Cross in 1957 and served in Japan.
   She was a physical education teacher with Hamilton public schools before transferring to the Trenton school district to teach and be a guidance counselor at Trenton Central High School.
   She was a member of Mount Zion AME Church, Trenton, more than 50 years and served as a stewardess before recently becoming a member of Mount Zion AME Church of Bordentown.
   She was a member of KHUFU Court 118 Order of the Eastern Star, Zipporah Chapter 11 and was an honorary past Imperial Commmandress, golden circle and past loyal Ruler.
   Daughter of the late George and Luella Shack and sister of the late Arthur and George Shack Jr., she is survived by her husband, Clarence Francis Jr.; a sister, Lucille Shack of Columbus; a stepson and his wife, Ricardo and Traline Bacon of Mount Laurel; a niece, Maxine Shack of Burlington; a nephew, Darryl Shack of Columbus; two brothers-in-law; five sisters-in-law; and other relatives and friends.
   The funeral was held at Mount Zion AME Church, 135 Perry St., Trenton, with the Rev. J. Stanley Justice, pastor, officiating.
   Burial was in Bordentown Cemetery.
   Arrangements were by Campbell Funeral Chapel, Trenton.
Eugene J.

Nowalinski

   UPPER FREEHOLD — Eugene J. "Geno" Nowalinski, 74, died Oct. 28 at home. Born in Morrisville, Pa., he lived in the Bordentown area for 35 years before moving to Cream Ridge two years ago.
   He retired from U.S. Steel in Fairless Hills, Pa., and worked for the National Auto Dealers Exchange in Columbus.
   He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 570, Bordentown, and was a Navy veteran, serving on the destroyer USS Hunter Marshall during World War II.
   Son of the late John and Lillian Rapciewicz Nowalinski and brother of the late Joseph, he is survived by his wife of 40 years, Elizabeth Theer Nowalinski; two daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Thomas Robinson of Egg Harbor and Kathleen and William "Bud" Forman of Chesterfield; a son, David of Franklin, Tenn.; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Stella Daniele of East Orange, Florence and Dennis Tagney of Mercerville and Lillian and Donald Stilwell of Washington Crossing, Pa.; and three brothers and sisters-in-law, Adam and Jeanette Nowalinski of Lawrence, Walter and Joyce Nowalinski of Florida and Leon Nowalinski of Bordentown.
   Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Bordentown, with the Rev. Joseph Farrell officiating.
   Burial will be in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3076 Princeton Pike, Lawrence, NJ 08648.
Cora Conn Brown

   MORRISVILLE, Pa. — Cora Copeland Conn Brown, 87, died Oct. 28 at Statesman Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Levittown.
   Born in Jackson, N.C., she lived in Princeton for 20 years before moving to Morrsiville four years ago.
   She retired as a tax examiner from the IRS in Newark after 21 years.
   She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
   Wife of the late Asher H. Conn Sr. and Terry J. Brown and mother of the late Asher H. Conn Jr., she is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Joyce R. and Allen Adkins of Emlenton, Pa., and Brenda C. and Robert Brown Sr. of Morrisville, Pa.; a son and daughter-in-law, Richard S. and Gloria Conn of Bordentown; two sisters, Alice Daniels and Joyce Sherman, both of East Orange; 11 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
   The funeral will be 11 a.m. on Nov. 1 at J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel, 41 West Trenton Ave., with Bishop David Rowlins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints officiating.
   Burial will be in Princeton Cemetery.
   Calling hours will be 9 a.m. until service Nov. 1 at the funeral home.
Jerry E. Conners

   HAMILTON — Jerry E. Conners, 72, died Oct. 19 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton.
   Born in Bellaire, Ohio, he lived in Hamilton for 30 years.
   He retired from Heldor Industries in 1985.
   He retired as a master sergeant from the Air Force in 1969 after 21 years.
   During the Korean War, he served in Korea, Japan, the Philippines and French Indochina. He later served a second tour as an adviser to the Republic of Korea Air Force and served a year in the Arctic Circle.
   He received the Japanese Occupation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Republic of Korea Citation, two Air Force Outstanding Unit Citations and a Small Arms Expert Award.
   He was a qualified flight engineer and, while in the Air Force, climbed to the top of Mount Fuji. In 1960 he went to the North Pole.
   He was a member of Limestone Lodge 214 F&AM Garfield Chapter 48, Royal Arch Masons Caribou and St. Aldemar Commandery 17 Knights Templar, all of Maine.
   He was a member of the Boat Owners Association of America, AARP, Masonic Lodge 270 and the Republican Club.
   He enjoyed writing to the editors of local newspapers.
   Son of the late James E. and Florence McCoy Conners, brother of the late James and George, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Janet Rimo Conners; a son and daughter-in-law, Jerry E. II and Antoinette Conners of Yardville; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Patricia and William Teehan of Cream Ridge, Carol Smith of Columbus, Debra and Andrew Baranowski of Bordentown and Joanne and Richard Brihn of Hamilton; a brother, Phillip of Mansfield, Ohio; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
   The funeral was held from Buklad-Yardville Memorial Chapel, 30 Yardville-Allentown Road, with Jeffrey Pierfry, Chaplain of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, officiating.
   Burial will be in Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent.
Iola Frost Hays

   TRENTON — Iola Frost Hays, 95, died Oct. 23 at Capital Health System at Mercer hospital.
   Born and educated in Enon, Ark., she was a longtime resident before moving to the Trenton area nine years ago.
   She was a homemaker and member of Galilee Baptist Church and its Senior Ministry, Circle Ruth Eldora Missionary Society and Senior Choir.
   She taught Sunday school at the church.
   Wife of the late Sylvester Davester Hays, mother of the late John H. Harris Sr., mother-in-law of the late Helen Clark Harris, daughter of the late George and Florence Frost, stepmother of the late Shady Hays and sister of the late Lawrence and George Frost, she is survived by six grandchildren and their spouses, the Rev. John H. Jr. and DeLois Harris of Bordentown, Jerry P. and Mary Harris, La Marl and Tammy Harris and Elders Lisa Helene and Daniel McMorris, all of Chicago, Maria and Carey Brown of Willingboro and the Rev. L. Gail Moore of Trenton; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Gertha Giles; and other relatives and friends.
   The funeral was held at Galilee Baptist Church with the Rev. James Allen, pastor of Vine Memorial Baptist Church, Philadelphia, officiating.
   A second service was held at First Baptist Church, El Dorado, Ark., with the Rev. E. L. Porchia officiating under the direction of Sims Mortuary.
   Burial was in Sweet Canaan Cemetery, Smackover, Ark.
Local arrangements were by Anderson Funeral Service.
Rose L. Castner

   FORT MYERS, Fla. — Rose L. Castner, 90, of Fort Myers and Bordentown died Oct. 23.
   Born in Roebling, she worked at Young’s Rubber Co., Trenton, for 33 years.
   She is survived by a daughter, Doris Burton of Fort Myers; a stepdaughter, Flossie Endre of Cherryfield, Maine; three granddaughters, Wanda L. Getz, Colleen Tinsley and Sherry Ward; a grandson, Rick McClaskey; three great-grandchildren, Kyle and Rena Tinsley and Brittney McClaskey; and nieces and nephews in New Jersey.
   Graveside services were held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bordentown.
   Memorial Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Nov. 1 at Christ Episcopal Church, 130 Prince St., Bordentown.
   Arrangements are by Hartmann Funeral Home of Bordentown.