Howard J. Moyer

The Lord welcomed Howard Jones Moyer, age 89, to his heavenly home on Sunday, August 31, following a brief hospital stay.

He was born on September 30, 1935, in North Coventry just a mile south of Pottstown. For the past nineteen years he resided at Sanatoga Ridge Community where he was very active in the leadership of the residents committee and the SRC Singers.

He was one of four sons born to George W. Moyer, Jr. and Kathryn (Shantz) Moyer.

He married Janet S. Hoffecker on July 18, 1958, at Valley Forge Memorial Chapel. Janet and Howard met in first grade and they attended elementary school, junior and senior high school together. They also ended up attending the same college. They were married for 64 years when Janet passed in 2022.

They were blessed with two children: Scott H. Moyer (wife Annette) and Brenda M. Rath (partner Dean Bauer). He is also survived by four grandchildren: Julia Moyer, Alex Moyer, Zachary Rath (companion Elizabeth Knowles) and Sean Rath as well as one great grandson Hayden Rath (son of Zachary and Elizabeth). Other survivors include his brother, Joseph Melvin Moyer (wife Carole Ann), Claire Hoffecker (married to Carl, now deceased), along with nephews, nieces, and many cousins.

Howard attended West Chester State Teachers' College, now West Chester University, where he received a Bachelor of Education degree. While at West Chester he was a Dean's List student and he received the Sensenig Mathematics award for excellence in mathematics, his major.

After graduation from college, he accepted a position as a mathematics instructor at West Pottsgrove High School and within a short time he became head of the mathematics department. He received three scholarships sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The first scholarship was for eight weeks during the summer at the University of New Hampshire, the second for 6 weeks during the summer at the University of Delaware and the third one was for a 12-month scholarship to Rutgers University where he earned a master's degree.

Later he was encouraged by peers at Pottsgrove to enter administration at Pottsgrove and attended Lehigh University to become certified in high school administration. He also attended Temple University for some graduate work.

After about 14 years he was sought by the Upper Perkiomen School District to become a high school administrator. However, after a couple of years there he chose to return to the classroom because his first love was teaching. He devoted a total of 37.5 years to teaching and administration.

He was a devout Christian and was an active member of Peace in Zion U.C.C., Zieglerville, PA for many years before becoming a member of St. John's U.C.C., Gibraltar, PA where he remained a member until his death. At both churches he served diligently in many capacities ranging from teaching Sunday School, serving on Consistory, singing in the choir and serving on search committees when the churches were seeking a new pastor. He was an Elder at St. John's.

His interests included cooking, baking, gardening, music, and reading his Bible each day. He was a loving, protective, and proud husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

In addition to being preceded in death by his wife, parents and grandparents, he was predeceased by his sister Marian Bilger (married to Frederic, deceased), his brother Wayne (married to Ruth, deceased), a brother George Kenneth (died shortly after birth) and a brother-in-law Carl Hoffecker (married to Claire Hoffecker).

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at St. John's U.C.C., 57 St. John's Road, Gibraltar on Saturday, September 13. Visitation with the family will be at 10:00 am and the service will be at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be private in Bethel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Spring City.

Walbert Funeral Home & Crematory, Fleetwood, is honored to be caring for Howard and his family. Messages of comfort and sympathy can be offered at www.WalbertFuneralHome.com.