Obituaries

Rita M. Toney, 88, Life-long Nature and Animal Lover

Rita M. Toney, 88, of South Whitehall Township, died December 12, 2013.

Rita M. Toney, 88, of South Whitehall Township, died December 12, 2013, in St. Luke’s Hospital, Allentown. She was the wife of the late Joseph Toney.

Born in Ohio, she was a daughter of the late Allen and Katie Kemmerling. She was raised in the Topton, Pa., area. She retired from the Housekeeping Department of the former Allentown Hospital, where she worked for 13 years. She was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Cedar Crest congregation.

A life-long nature and animal lover, Rita could name all the trees and wildflowers in the woods and could identify birds by their songs. She enjoyed woodworking, long hikes and beach vacations with family members. She also wrote beautiful award-winning poetry.

Survivors
Children, Bonnie (Jim), JoAnn (Bill), Irene (Dave), and Joseph (Dorothy); six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; siblings, Joyce, Carol and Thomas; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a grandson and four siblings.

Services
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 21, at 2 p.m. in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 4733 Shankweiler Road, Orefield. A calling hour will precede the service. Arrangements, Stephens Funeral Home, Inc., Allentown. Please share on-line condolences at www.stephensfuneral.com.

Contributions
In her memory to the Kingdom Hall (18069) or to Lehigh County Humane Society, 640 Dixon Street, Allentown, Pa. 18103.


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