Richard Theodore Bergman

Richard “Curly” Theodore Bergman of Newmanstown passed away at the age of 88 on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 in the Reading Hospital after a long illness. He was the husband of Mary Lou (Reed) Bergman, to whom he was married for 68 years.

Born in Kleinfeltersville on May 13, 1927, he was the son of the late Lester Bergman, Sr., and Florence (Keener) Bergman. Richard graduated from Newmanstown High School in 1945, and later was an officer in the Millcreek Township Alumni Association, planning events such as the Jack Frost Frolic Parade. Richard served for four years in the US Navy as a medic, primarily on the hospital ship The USS Repose, at the end of World War II. He, like a lot of others at that time, enlisted and left for the war in their senior year but still earned and received their diplomas.

He worked for Textile Machine Works and then Arrow International until his retirement in 1992 and was a member of the United Steelworkers Union, serving as Safety Chairman for many years. Richard spent many summers with his family at the beach in Delaware and enjoyed fishing in the Indian River Bay. He looked forward to the Army/Navy football game each year and he was a dedicated fan of the Cleveland Indians and loved to attend games. He was a member of the Millcreek Lutheran Church and in the past had served on the church council, he was also a member of the Newmanstown Athletic Club and rarely missed a Sunday.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by their four children: Gregory, husband of Deborah; Greta McMullan, wife of Kenneth; Greer Zellers, wife of Reed Zellers; and Gary. Additionally he is survived by his sister, Emma Breidigam and two brothers, Frank and Lester; by seven grandchildren: Jenny Wolgemuth, Laura Bomgardner, Michelle Heimbach, Norissa Bergman, Wade Beamesderfer, Evelyn Trostle, and Lindsay Bergman-Debes; fourteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

A memorial service will be held at Millcreek Lutheran Church, 221 N. Sheridan Road, Newmanstown, PA, on Tuesday, December 29 at 2 p.m. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Millcreek Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 399, Newmanstown, PA 17073. Clauser Funeral Home, Inc. of Schaefferstown, PA is handling his arrangements. www.clauserfh.com