Recent  Obituaries

Alice Louise Keil Beattys lived her 100 years as a woman of faith who went to meet her Lord and Savior, Saturday, October 18^th, 2025.

Alice Louise was born and raised in the Hudson section of Plains and lived her entire life in her homestead.  She was a proud graduate of Plains High School Class of 1942, and also of the Wyoming Seminary Business School.  She worked as a secretary at Penn Drug until giving birth to her first child. She would continue being a caring and loving mother to all five children.

She loved to do crafts, was an avid reader, and a fan of Penn State Football and Women’s Volleyball. Most of all she loved her family and her circles of friends.  She played pinochle with the same friends for over 60 years, met with her high school friends every month for lunch, and spent countless hours with her church friends doing anything and everything. She lived a fulfilling life.

In addition to her parents Philippina and Henry Keil, she was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Charles Beattys; her older brothers, Philip, Carl, Harry, William and Frank Keil; and her oldest daughter, Susan Maines.

Surviving are her children, Joan (Mark) Werzinski; Karen (Ron) Figel; Mark Beattys; and Charlene (Keith) Moules; and her seven grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, October 22^nd at noon at Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, Inc., 140 N. Main St. Shavertown.  Rev. Peter Kuritz will serve as officiant. Interment will follow at Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Dallas. Friends may call from 11am until time of service.   

The family would like to thank and acknowledge Alice’s caregiver, Susan Nutche, for all of her help and support. 

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 190 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

Her prayers of peace and tranquility have finally been answered. 

Harry A. Sweppenheiser III, 54, of Monroe Township, passed away Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of Harry A. Sweppenheiser Jr. of Monroe Township and the late Dorothea Lyons.

Harry was a graduate of Dallas Area High School, Class of 1989. He was employed for many years at the Coca-Cola plant in Pittston before joining Mountain Stream Construction, where he worked until his accident.

He loved the great outdoors—especially spending time “up the mountain” referring to South Mountain and at the family property in Forkston. An avid hunter, Harry was also a devoted father and proud family man.

Firefighting was a lifelong passion. He began his service with Trucksville Fire and Rescue Association, where he became a life member; went on to serve as Fire Chief of Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Company for nine years; and later joined the Kunkle Volunteer Fire Department. He was known for his dedication, deep knowledge of the fire service, and even his ability to recognize every local department by its tones.

Harry was also a loyal sports fan who cheered on his favorite teams—the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, and Penn State Nittany Lions.

In addition to his mother, Harry was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Harry A. Sr. and Bette (Race) Sweppenheiser, and maternal grandparents William J. and Emily (Casterline) Lyons.

Surviving are his sons, Allen Sweppenheiser and wife Brynn of Sweet Valley; Erik Sweppenheiser of Monroe Township; and Kyle Sweppenheiser and girlfriend Brooke of Sweet Valley; his father, Harry A. Sweppenheiser Jr., of Monroe Township; sisters, Sharyn (Sweppenheiser) Davis and husband Christopher of Monroe Township; and Emily Mathers and fiancé Jim of Trucksville; step-father, Daniel Mathers; nieces and nephews, Jeff Davis and wife Madison, Michael Davis and wife Lindsay, Sarah Davis and fiancé Ryan, and Gracie and Kaycie Kimsey; and his beloved grandson, Matthew Sweppenheiser, along with his beloved extended family.

During Harry’s time at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, our family was blessed by the extraordinary compassion, dedication, and skill of the entire care team. We are eternally grateful to the surgeons, doctors, nurses, and staff who cared for Harry with such unwavering kindness, dignity, and love. Their tireless efforts, steady encouragement, and genuine humanity carried us through the hardest of days. We will forever remember their compassion and professionalism—they are truly the best, and their care will always remain in our hearts.

Memorial donations may be made to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, 51 North 39th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Attention: PAC 4 and Julie Seman or we ask to please donate to a local fire department of your choice.

Friends may call on Friday, October 31, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, Inc., 140 N. Main Street, Shavertown.



A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 1. Please meet at Franklin Fire Hall, 329 Orange Road, Dallas, at 10:30 a.m. for a firefighter funeral procession to Memorial Shrine Cemetery, Franklin Township, where a graveside service to be held at 11:15 a.m.

ROBERT GEORGE SMITH

Robert George Smith, 62, of Centermoreland, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, October 19, 2025 at Allied Services Hospice, Meade Street in Wilkes-Barre.

Robert was born in Kingston on August 22,1963. He was the son of the late William A. and Ruth Jean (White) Smith.

Robert graduated from Tunkhannock Area High School with the class of 1981 and was a National Honor Society inductee. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he excelled at various technical schools. He was admired by his fellow service members for his expertise, devotion to duty and dedication to the mission of the USAF. He always looked back fondly at his many years of distinguished service and numbered it as one of the accomplishments about which he was most proud.

Upon leaving active duty, Robert continued his service for nearly two decades in the USAF Reserves while establishing himself in his civilian life as a skilled electrician. He was a member of IBEW Local 163 for many years and was well respected by his employers and co-workers.

For many years, Robert was an active member of Northmoreland Fire Department where he enjoyed teaching CPR and EVO classes, assisting with the bi-annual Sportsman’s dinner, and serving as a firefighter, fire officer, and EMT. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He got the most enjoyment spending time on the “Hill” where family and friends joined together for camping, food and creating memories. Of the many titles he earned in life, Robert was most proud of “Dad”, “Granddad” and “Uncle Bob.”

Robert was preceded in death by his parents as well as siblings Ruth Jean Bolesta, William “Bill” Smith, and Mary Anne Warner.

Surviving are his loving wife of 37 years, Linda Marie Smith (Ashworth); sons, Robert George, Jr and wife, Kelly, Harvey’s Lake; Dylan Tyler and fiancée, Holly, Centermoreland; grandchildren, Larry, Quinto, Hayden, Keane and Landen; nieces, Cheryl Jayne and family, Brandon, Mason and Maura, Sweet Valley; Lori Bolesta, Plymouth; Krystal Smith, Centermoreland and her daughters Kelli and Gabriella; and Serena Ashworth, McLeansville NC.

Close friends and family are arranging a private service dedicated to his memory. “Bob” will be laid to rest on the family property at one of his favorite spots on the “Smith Family Hill”, a private, wooded camping retreat he helped to build, so he can enjoy the sunset every night and watch the property grow with each generation.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to American Heart Association.



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