Bette M. (Donecker) Miller, 87, of Ephrata, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011 at Ephrata Manor.

She was born in Elizabethtown to the late C. Paul and Violet L. (Garman) Donecker and was the wife of the late H. John Miller, who passed away in 1990.

Bette was a member of Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ, Lincoln. She was also a member of the Ephrata Woman’s Club, Eicher Arts Center and Indian Museum, Ephrata Area Social Services, Ephrata Hospital Board of Directors, Playhouse in the Park and Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley. She volunteered at the Ephrata Community Hospital.

Bette worked at the former Highland Shoe Company in Akron. In 1949, she helped to start the family business, then known as C. Paul Donecker Club Plan and General Merchandise. The business grew to be known as Doneckers Inc., a store for clothing for the family, home furnishings, restaurants, Artworks and lodging. Bette served many roles from bookkeeper to her final position as vice president. She retired in December of 1988.

By: ANDY FASNACHT Review Editor afasnacht.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

A community termed "affordable housing for residents 55 and over" is being planned for two buildings of the former Artworks complex on North State Street in Ephrata.

Artworks complex owner William Donecker told The Review Tuesday that he intends to present the proposed project to Ephrata Borough Council at its work session next Tuesday evening, Sept. 6.

"We have already met with the zoning officer, but not council," Donecker said last night.

Donecker said the developer is Enterprise of Baltimore.

"This is their first venture in Pennsylvania," and their first into an historic register building," he said, adding that the company has built 157,000 of these apartments.

The project, planned for a 2013 completion, calls for the use of two four-floor buildings that will contain 40 units — including 38 one bedroom and two, two-bedroom apartments. He said the exterior of the Artworks buildings would not be changed.

"They also plan to use the office of the (former Fleet-Air) shoe factory for a community building," he said, stating that they plan to allow meetings there, and put in exercise equipment.

This classic photo, believed to be from 1954, shows Marian Summers holding her nephew Tim Sweigart in the community pool, which was then called the American Legion pool. Notice the gazebo on left at the site of the current filtration area. (Photo courtesy of Ephrata Recreation Center)This classic photo, believed to be from 1954, shows Marian Summers holding her nephew Tim Sweigart in the community pool, which was then called the American Legion pool. Notice the gazebo on left at the site of the current filtration area. (Photo courtesy of Ephrata Recreation Center)

Enjoy the final days of summer at the old Ephrata Community Pool where everyone pays $1 admission through the Labor Day weekend (Sept. 2 through Sept. 5). Help us celebrate the final days of the season and the final days of the pool as we know it before the new renovation.

As the Ephrata Community Pool closes its gates on Labor Day, it will complete its 80th year of operation, making it the oldest continuously operated swimming pool in Lancaster County.

By: ANGELA KEITH Review Staff akeith.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

The small river which formed across the road before the bridge on Royer Road in Ephrata Township inspired this passer-by to slip and slide across Sunday after Hurricane Irene left its mark on the area. (Photo by Stan Hall)The small river which formed across the road before the bridge on Royer Road in Ephrata Township inspired this passer-by to slip and slide across Sunday after Hurricane Irene left its mark on the area. (Photo by Stan Hall)

Though there is contention over whether Hurricane Irene’s damage was as bad as expected, most Ephrata residents do agree on one thing — they are grateful for the hard work of those who assisted in minimizing destruction during the weekend storm.

Tim Zimmerman, superintendent of Ephrata Borough’s electric division, anticipated significant damage but was pleasantly surprised.

"We didn’t have more than 934 power outages at once," he said. "And most of those were only for a few hours."

Zimmerman attributes this low number of power outages to the borough’s "aggressive" maintenance and tree-trimming programs, which help to reduce the number of power outages that occur because of dead tree branches being ripped off and blown into lines.

Doris A. Zimmerman, 79, of Ephrata, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011 at her residence.

Born in Clay Township, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Ellen (Martin) Fox and was the wife of John R. Zimmerman. The couple celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on June 14.

She was an active member of Indiantown Mennonite Church, Ephrata. Doris worked as a rural mail carrier for Ephrata Post Office from Nov. 1977 to July 1995.

In addition to her husband, Doris is survived by two daughters: Nancy, wife of Ray Buckwalter, of Ephrata; and Judy, wife of Steve Kauffman, of Manheim; a son: Ron, husband of Judy (Bucher) Zimmerman, of Lititz; grandchildren: Nathan, Rachel, Joel, Ryan, Brad, Mitchel, Tonya and Jake; seven great-grandchildren; six sisters: Vera, wife of Paul Good, of Manheim; Ellen, wife of Mahlon Eberly, of Denver; Sarah, wife of Walter Augusburger, of Reinholds; Ruth Fellabaum, of Ephrata; Marian, wife of James Gaffney, of Stevens; and Carol, wife of Charles Evans, of Ephrata; three brothers: Galen Fox, of Ephrata; John, husband of Kathy, of Halifax; and Daniel, husband of Diane, of Ephrata.

She was preceded in death by a sister: Violet.

Hettie M. Sensenig, 76, of Ephrata, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011 at her home after a lengthy illness. She was under the care of Hospice.

Born in Earl Township, she was the daughter of the late Daniel W. Martin and Mary B. Martin. She was the wife of Ivan Z. Sensenig, who died April 20, 2004.

A homemaker, she was a member of Martindale Old Order Mennonite Church, Groffdale Conference.

She is survived by six sons: Allen M., husband of Mary M. (Burkholder) Sensenig, of Dundee, N.Y.; Daniel M. Sensenig, of Ephrata, with whom she resided; Reuben M., husband of Elsie M. (Hurst) Sensenig, of Platteville, Wis.; Eli M., husband of Martha B. (Nolt) Sensenig, of Owen, Wis.; Earl M., husband of Amy S. (Zimmerman) Sensenig, of Ephrata; and Elvin M., husband of Susan W. (Martin) Sensenig, of Ephrata.

Susie Gehr Slabach Miller, 98, a resident of Fairmount Homes in Ephrata, formerly of Oregon and Manheim Township, passed away Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011.

Susie was born in Ephrata Township on Feb. 4, 1913 to John Gehr and Annie Miller Gehr and was the middle child of 14 children.

She married Robert E. Slabach, and was married to him for 43 years until his death in 1974. She was married to Charles Miller from 1986 until his death in 1989.

Susie was a member of the Oregon Community Methodist Church and was organist there for 50 years. She taught Sunday school in earlier years and was a member of the women’s missionary group. She was also a member of the Young at Heart Club of Brownstown. In earlier years she was a seamstress and enjoyed embroidery work into her 92nd year.

Susie is survived by one daughter: Virginia S. Wolf, wife of Charles T. Wolf, of Lancaster; three granddaughters: Diane, wife of Geary Barnes, of Chicago, Ill.; Susan, wife of Daniel Bielawa, of Lancaster; and Amy, wife of Rolf Gubler, of Luray, Va.; one brother: George Gehr, of Ephrata; and one sister: Kathryn Weaver, of Strasburg.

Lavern R. Mohn, 89, formerly of Akron and Stevens, died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, in Ephrata Community Hospital.

Born in Shillington, Berks County, a son of the late John K. and Lillie E. (Pfautz) Mohn, he was the husband of E. Marguerite (Ansel) Mohn, Akron, for 64 years on March 29.

Lavern was a 1939 East Cocalico Vocational High School graduate and a World War II Army veteran serving in France and Germany, receiving five bronze stars. A talented, self-employed carpenter and craftsman most of his life, he was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Congregational Church. He enjoyed his church family, local travel and "Word Circle" and "Fill in the Blank" word puzzles.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son: Rev. Dr. Sidney L. Mohn, of Chicago, Ill.

Preceding him in death were a son: Douglas Lynn; a daughter: Cynthia Ann; and brothers: John P., Galen E., Melvin R. and Clair R. Mohn.

Funeral services were held on Aug. 31 at Good Funeral Home & Cremation Centre, Reamstown, with burial in Fairview Cemetery Annex, Denver.

David W. Mohler, 70, of Ephrata, passed away unexpectedly Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Ephrata.

He was born in Denver, to the late Galen K. and Viola (Weaver) Mohler and was the husband of Mildred S. (Weaver) Mohler, with whom he shared 48 years of marriage.

David was an active member of Gehman’s Mennonite Church, Adamstown, where he served as a deacon for 27 years, and was active in many other ways at the church. He also served on the Board of Freedom Gate Prison Ministries. David worked for New Holland Church Furniture for 18 years until his retirement in 2008. Since then, he did part-time maintenance work for Hocking Printing, Ephrata. He loved the outdoors, spending time with his family, visiting his cabin in Tioga County and was a skilled woodworker.

In addition to his wife, David is survived by a son: Kenneth R., husband of Melanie (Gochnauer) Mohler, of Ephrata; two daughters: Lucille, wife of Terry L. Hollinger, of Richland; and Janelle K., wife of Dwane Reitz, of Lancaster; seven grandchildren; a brother: Dr. J. Harold, husband of Doris (Shenk) Mohler, of Ronks; brother-in-law: Elias Groff, of Holtwood; four sisters: Emma, wife of Richard Valentine, of Lewisville, Texas; Rachel Ramos, of New Holland; Verna, wife of Glenn Colliver, of Lansdale; and Esther Kennel, of New Holland; and two sister-in-laws: Fern Mohler, of Elverson; and Marilyn Mohler, of Kirkwood.

William E. "Mac" McDaniel, 85, of Ephrata, passed away Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 at his residence.

He was born in Wilmington, N.C., to the late Arthur and Mary (Harmon) McDaniel and was the husband of Verna (Alleman) McDaniel. The couple celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary this past Dec. 24.

He was a WW II veteran, serving from 1944 to 1946 in the U.S. Army. William was a member of Life Spring Fellowship Church, Lititz. He enjoyed fishing, golfing and was an avid Phillies fan. A former Bethlehem Steel employee, Mac worked there for 30 and a half years and continued working for another 13 and a half years at the Schoeneck Quarry until retirement.

In addition to his wife, Mac is survived by a son: Russell M., husband of Nadine (Armstrong) McDaniel, of Lancaster; a loving niece: Beverly Crawford, of Millersburg; two granddaughters: Seranda, wife of Mark Buckwalter; and Ashley, wife of Lloyd Herr; and a grandson: Travis McDaniel.

He was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services were held on Aug. 31 at the Life Spring Fellowship Church, Lititz, with Pastor Dennis Loose officiating. Interment took place in the Mellingers Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster. Military honors were accorded by the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard.