Stewart Thomas "Dewey" Esser Jr.

Stewart Thomas "Dewey" Esser Jr., 86, of Reading, died in St. Joseph Medical Center on Friday, June 5, 2015. He was the loving husband of Jeanette E. (Davis) Esser. Born in Reading on January 21, 1929, Dewey was a son of the late Stewart T. Sr. and Florence (Foreman) Esser.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1949 and served as a Patrol Man in Panama before reenlisting in the Army National Guard and continuing his service until 1953. Dewey was a crane operator for Reading Railroad and continued service with the company when it then became Conrail Railroad. He also worked in the pit at the Fairgrounds Race Track and he was a referee and umpire for the youth baseball league. Dewey was a good bowler and was an avid golfer. He worked in retirement as a ranger and a starter at Willow Hollow Golf Course.

In addition to his wife, Jeanette, Dewey is survived by three sons: Norman S. Esser of Millsboro, DE; Lawrence D. Esser of Reading; and Bradley J. Esser and his wife, Elisa, of Temple; two daughters, Brenda J. Painter of Mt. Penn and Barbie J. Vogel and her husband, Todd, of Exeter Twp.; nine grandchildren: Natalie, Kristi, Nicole, Drew, Mandi, Kyle, Kalah, Katie and Jarod; and three great-grandchildren, Faith, Zoe and Emma. Also surviving are two brothers, Gerald Esser and his wife, Maggie; and Edward Esser and his wife, Geraldine; and three sisters: Pearl Souder and her husband, Jacob; Karen Wheeler; and Judith Conrad. Dewey is predeceased by a son, Brian J. Esser and a brother, Leonard Esser.

Services for Dewey will be Friday, June 12, 2015 at 12 p.m. in Auman's Inc. Funeral Home, 390 W. Neversink Rd., Reiffton, PA 19606. Family and friends will be received in the funeral home on Friday from 11 to noon. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton. In lieu of flowers, online memorial contributions may be made at www.WoundedWarriorProject.org or at their mailing address, Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. Online condolences may be sent to www.aumansinc.com