Richard H. Wetzel

Richard H. (Dick) Wetzel Sr.

Richard H. Wetzel Sr (Dick)., 90, formerly of Ashland, passed away on Tuesday August 6th at Grandview Nursing Facility, Danville.

Born in Ashland, April 11th,1934, he was a son of the late Henry Wetzel and Mary (Magdeburg) Tophoney.

 He was a 1953 graduate of the former Ashland High School.

During his high school years, he was a member of the Ashland Black Diamond basketball team and was named a 1st team, North Schuylkill League Allstar from 1951-1953 and selected to the Associated Press All State squad. His achievements in basketball led to his induction into the Northern Anthracite Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 2009.

He was a masonry contractor by trade, most noted for the Wetzel trowels in many of the Ashland and surrounding areas sidewalks. He also held various other positions during his lifetime. One of his favorites was his time as a maintenance worker at the former Cardinal Brennan High School.

He was of the protestant faith and enjoyed spending his time reading and studying the scriptures.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers Ronald “Bones”, James “Jimmy Joe”, and Raymond Wetzel; sisters Rosella Tobias, Sue Ann Wagner, and Mary Agnes Zerbey.

Surviving, is his wife of 69 years, Dorothy (Bickel); children Richard H. (Lynn) Wetzel Jr, Ashland, Stephen (Cindy) Wetzel, Ashland, Christopher (Doreen) Wetzel, Newtown,  Melanie(James) Skotek Tresckow, Paula (Keith) Neidig, Aristes; grandchildren Brandon (Carrie) Wetzel, Tennessee, Richard E. Wetzel, Maryland, Kirsten (Jesse) Shadle, Hegins, Zachary (Tabitha) Neidig, Aristes, Jess (Miranda) Wetzel, Frackville, Morgan Skotek, Tresckow, Zander Neidig,  Aristes; great-grandchildren Emerson, Avonlea, Braelyn Wetzel, Tennessee, Crew Shadle, Hegins, and Zylis Neidig, Aristes; brothers Robert Wetzel, Henry (Evelyn) Wetzel ; sisters Carol (Guy) Mervine , Regina (Ronald)Akelaitis; nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Richard’s Life will be held at 11:30 AM, Saturday August 24, 2024, at the Richard W Fritz Funeral Home, 1323 Centre St., Ashland.  Officiating will be Pastor Jeremy Smallwood, of the Lavelle Church of the Nazarene.  Visitation will begin at 10 AM.  Interment will be at the Christ Church Cemetery, Fountain Springs.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the 1 by 1 Cat Rescue P O Box 272 Temple, PA 19560.Visit www.Fritzfuneralhome.com.

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