01/16 OBITUARIES, pt. 1

From the Jan. 16 edition of the Register-News

By:
James E. Chapman

   BORDENTOWN — James E. Chapman, 73, of Bordentown, died Jan. 12 in the Rancocas Woods Hospital in Burlington.
   Born in Bordentown, he was a lifelong area resident.
   Mr. Chapman was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and a retired ticket clerk from Amtrack. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Chapter 570 of Bordentown.
   Son of the late William and Margaret Cochran Chapman, he is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Gibberson Chapman, a brother, Joseph Chapman of Louisiana; a sister, Blanche Robbins of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
   A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Jan. 16at 11:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church.
   Burial will be in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery in Arneytown.
   Calling hours will be Jan. 12 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the Hartmann Funeral Home of Bordentown, 40 Crosswicks St.
   Contributions can be made to either Hope Hose Humane Fire Company 1, Willow and Burlington Streets, Bordentown, NJ 08505 or St. Mary’s Church, 45 Crosswicks St., Bordentown, NJ 08505.
Jean Elizabeth Colton

   BORDENTOWN — Jean Elizabeth Colton, 77, died Jan. 9.
   Born in Trenton, Mrs. Colton was a Hamilton area resident for most of her life before moving to Bordentown 10 years ago.
   She was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Bordentown.
   Mrs. Colton was a volunteer at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton.
   She was an avid gardener and enjoyed spending time with her family.
   Daughter of the late George and Frances Walsh and sister of the late Alice Dobinson, Harry Walsh and William Pitman, she is survived by her husband, Joseph D. Colton; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Jean and Maurice Sprague of Houlton, Maine, JoAnn and Hank Hillman of Hamilton and Susan Colton of Bordentown; two sons and a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law, George and Cynthia Colton and John Colton and his partner, David Norris, all of Solebury, Pa.; a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Jane Cope of Hamilton; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Thomas and Rose Colton of Hamilton; eleven grandchildren and their spouses, Keith and Maura Hillman of West Windsor, Christine and Donald O’Donnell of Houlton, Maine, Sherry and Leigh MacDonald of Dover, N.H., Tracey and Sean Reardon of Portland, Maine, Philip Sprague of Marco Island, Fla., Randy Sprague of Dover, N.H., Brant Hillman of Hamilton, Michael Sprague of Houlton, Maine, Tristan Colton of Solebury, Pa., Bryce Hillman of Hamilton and Calum Colton of Solebury, Pa.; six great-grandchildren, Vanessa and Tessa O’Donnell of Houlton, Maine; Corey, Kelsey and Kylie Hillman of West Windsor and Cassandra MacDonald of Dover, N.H. and several nieces and nephews.
   Funeral services will be held 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 at the Saul Colonial Home, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 45 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown.
   Interment will follow at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown.
Arthur E. Billingham

   MANSFIELD — Arthur E. Billingham, 80, died Jan. 11 at the Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis, Trenton.
   Born in Trenton, Mr. Billingham was a Trenton area resident all his life before moving to Columbus in 1995.
   He was the owner and operator of Billingham Excavating, Inc. in Hamilton Square for 40 years.
   Mr. Billingham was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Hamilton Square.
   He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the LST Group #487, Amphibious Landing Group and a member of the American Association of Retired Persons.
   He was the son of the late Arthur Wesley and Amy Matthias Wagner Billingham; brother of the late Audrey B. Buck and grandfather of the late Brian W. Stoop.
   He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Phillips Billingham; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Audrey E. and Robert A. Vernon of Hamilton Square, Susan J. Stoop of Mercerville, Robin Lynn and Raymond F. Clark of Chesterfield and Beth Ann and Thomas J. Haydanek of Mountainside; seven grandchildren: Kim Donlevie of Doylestown, Pa., Robert Arthur Vernon of Hamilton Square; Heather S. Callighan of, Mercerville; Kevin and Megan Clark of Chesterfield and Thomas J. and Michael J. Haydanek of Mountainside; and two great-grandchildren, Jennifer H. Stoop and Julia E. Donlevie.
   Funeral services were held at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection with the Rev. Russell Gromest, pastor, officiating.
   Interment followed in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton Township.
   Contributions may be made in Mr. Billingham’s memory to the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Memorial Fund, 4315 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690.
Albert J. Procassini Jr.

   MANSFIELD — Albert J. Procassini Jr., 67, of the Four Season’s at Mapleton section of Columbus, died Jan. 12 at home.
   Born in Newark, he resided in Bordentown Township prior to moving to Columbus three years ago.
   He was a self-employed building contractor retiring in 1999 and he was currently employed as an assistant building inspector for Upper Freehold Township.
   He was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Bordentown, the B.P.O.E. Lodge #2085 of Bordentown and the architectural committee at Four Season’s at Mapleton.
   He was the son of the late Angiolina and Albert Procassini, Sr. and brother of the late Andrew Procassini.
   He is survived by his wife, Donnie H. Procassini of Columbus; a son and daughter-in-law, Albert L. and Beth Procassini, Portland, Oregon; a daughter, Brenda L. Walsh of Princeton; a sister, Jennie McBride of Hillsborough; two grandsons, David and Michael Procassini of Oregon; and many nieces and nephews.
   A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Bordentown. The Rev. Michael Burns, rector, officiated.
   Private entombment was in St. Bernard Mausoleum at the convenience of the family.
   Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to either The Cancer Institute of NJ at Hamilton, 5 Hamilton Health Pl., Hamilton, NJ 08690 or to Caring Hospice Services, 102 Gaither Dr., Suite 2, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054.
John J. Roe

   FLORENCE — John J. Roe, 85, of Florence, died Jan. 6 at Virtua-Memorial Hospital in Mt. Holly.
   Born in Florence, he was a lifelong resident.
   Mr. Roe was a disabled veteran but had worked in his younger years for the R. D. Wood Pipe Foundry in Florence.
   He was a World War II Army veteran and had enlisted three separate times between 1940 to 1955.
   He was a Pearl Harbor Survivor and received the Purple Heart.
   He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for distinguished meritorious service in ground combat during World War II in the European-African-Middle Eastern and Asiatic Pacific theaters of operations.
   He also was recipient of the American Defense Service Medal with the bronze Star and many other commendations.
   Mr. Roe was a 62-year member of the Florence American Legion Post 194 and a member of St. Clare’s Church in Florence.
   He also was an accomplished painter
   Son of the late John and Margaret Keating Roe and brother of the late Irene Cooper, Margaret "Sis" Roe and Thomas Roe, he is survived by his sister, Mary Sandor of Florence; a sister-in-law, Ruth Roe, of Florence; nieces and nephews, James and Joan Sandor, Richard and Linda Roe, Kathleen Pyle, Cynthia and James Capritti, Virginia Cooper and David and Michele Cooper and their families.
   The funeral was held from the Dennison Funeral Home, Florence.
   Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Claire’s Church, Florence, with The Rev. Felix Venza, pastor, officiating.
   Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Florence.
   Contributions in his memory may be sent to St. Claire’s Church Improvement Fund.
Richard James Toth

   FLORENCE — Richard James Toth, 70, died Jan. 8 at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County.
   Born in Trenton, he was a Hamilton resident for most of his life before moving to Florence Township.
   Mr. Toth was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean Conflict.
   He retired as a supervisor at A.E. Staley, Morrisville, Pa., with 18 years of service and he was currently working part-time at Princeton Labeling & Pkg. Co., Robbinsville, for the past seven years.
   He was a member of the VFW of Roebling.
   Son of the late James and Mary Ferko Toth, he is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joan Ford Toth; three daughters, Donna and her husband, Henry Ongaro, of Richmond, Va., Pattie and her husband, George Politakis, of Florence, Mary Grieb and her boyfriend, Matt Brozena, of Hamilton; seven grandchildren: Gina, Russell, Helena, Jessica, Michael, Allison and Daniel; one great-granddaughter, Abrianna; a fishing buddy and special friend, Carlos Feliciano of Willingboro and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
   The funeral was held at the Gruerio Funeral Home, Trenton.
   Funeral Mass was celebrated at Holy Angels Church, Hamilton.
   Burial was at the convenience of the family.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Sunshine Foundation, Mercer County Chapter, P.O. Box 55130, Trenton, NJ 08638.
Thomas John Crawford

   FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Thomas John Crawford, 42 of Fort Pierce died Jan. 8 at his home.
   Born in Trenton, he had resided most of his life in Bordentown.
   He was a graduate of Bordentown Regional High School and had retired from the United States Navy with more than 20 years of service.
   He is survived by three sons, Chad of Indianapolis, Ind.; Patrick of Silver Spring, Md.; and Tanner of Joplin, Mo.; his mother and step-father, Frances and William Brown of Bordentown; his father and step-mother, John and Margaret Crawford of Fort Pierce; a sister, Debra Scanlon of Franklin, Tenn.; two brothers, Michael of Burlington and Robert of Ft. Myers, Fla.; a grandson and several nieces and nephews.
   A memorial service was held from the Huber-Moore Funeral Home, Bordentown.
   Interment was at the convenience of the family.
   Memorials may be made to Alcoholics Anonymous, 5090 Central Highway, Pennsauken NJ 08109.
John A. Evans

   PALM COAST, Fla. — John A. Evans, 81 of Palm Coast, Fla. died Dec. 28 in Volusia County, Fla.
   Mr. Evans was born in Roebling and was a resident of Palm Coast since 1984 and formerly resided in Mansfield Township.
   He retired in 1983 from the State of New Jersey as a right-of-way negotiator.
   He was the Mansfield Township Municipal Clerk for 25 years and was a staff manager for Prudential Insurance Co. for many years before working for the state.
   He was a member and founding father of Holy Dormition Byzantine Catholic Church, Ormand, Fla. and was a former member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Roebling.
   He was a life member of American Legion Post #39, Roebling, member and past post commander, 1989-1990, of VFW #8696 Palm Coast, AARP, Bordentown Elks, volunteer for Department of Elder Affairs, Shine Program, established the Man-to-Man Prostate Cancer group in Flagler Colo., served on the board of directors for the American Cancer Society, Volusia and Flagler Counties and was a member and past president of the former Polish American Club, Yardville.
   He was an Army World War II veteran, serving with the 6th Armored Div. in Western Europe and European African Middle Eastern Theater.
   He earned the Bronze Battle Star and was Honorably Discharged with a disability. He also enjoyed traveling, fishing, boating and hunting.
   He was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Mary Furda Evan; his wife of 49 years, Florence Kowatch Evans; brother, Mike; sisters (twin sister) Elizabeth, Mary, Anna and Dorothy.
   Mr. Evans is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Ronald J. Sr. and Helen Evans of Warm Mineral Springs, Fla.; a daughter and son-in-law, Eileen and Edward Ingram, with whom he resided; two grandchildren, Ronald J. Evans Jr. and Alexis Evans; a sister-in-law, Julia Veres of Roebling; and several nieces and nephews.
   Funeral liturgy and burial were held in Florida.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Post #8696, 47 N. Old Kings Rd., Palm Coast, FL 32137 or the American Cancer Society, Flagler County Unit, P. O. Box 356, Bunnell, FL 32110.