Obituaries

JOHN BARATTA, 53, of Easton, Md., died May 17 at home after a battle with cancer. He was raised in the Robertsville section of Marlboro, but spent most of his adult life in Manalapan. He had been the owner-operator of John Baratta Auto Body, Freehold until four years ago when he retired to Virginia and then Maryland. A member of the National Rifle Association, Mr. Baratta was a lifelong sportsman whose avid pursuits included bow and rifle hunting as well as aviation. He was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the United States Ultralight Association, and as a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, he designed and constructed aircraft. He was predeceased by his parents, John P. and Ann Lanahan Baratta. Surviving are his wife, Ann-Marie McCoy-Baratta; first wife, Kathleen Brown Baratta, Freehold Township; and their sons, Jared Baratta and Jeremy Baratta, also Freehold Township, and Jason Baratta and his wife, Ricki, Howell; and a brother, Lyle Linaberry, East Stroudsburg, Pa. Interment was May 20 at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan. Donations in Mr. Baratta’s name to the Deer’s Head Rehabilitation Hospital, Salisbury, Md., care of Dr. Virginia Dulaney, 351 Deer’s Head Hospital Road, Salisbury, MD 21802 would be appreciated.

FRANCES V. BELASCO VOLPE, 72, of Manalapan died May 8 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Jersey City, she lived in Newark before moving to Manalapan 44 years ago. She was an administrative assistant for Prudential Insurance Co., Newark. She also worked as an administrator for Carver Nursing Home; as an office manager for Capscan Cable Co. in Freehold; and was recently employed by J&R Bus Co. in Freehold. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church in Englishtown. She was formerly a committeewoman for Manalapan. She was predeceased by her husband of 37 years, Anthony M., in 1994. Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn and Tom Cozzens of Howell and Lynda and Frank Mannino of Manalapan; a brother, Patrick A. Belasco Jr. of Philadelphia; and two grandchildren. Interment was in St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold.

MARGARET NEUMILLER, 90, of Toms River, formerly of Freehold, died May 9 at Bey Lea Nursing Home in Hoboken. She was predeceased by her first husband, George Kloepping, in 1957; her second husband, George Neumiller, in 1976; and her sister, Cecilia. Surviving are three sons, Paul Kloepping of Toms River, Peter Kloepping of Lakewood, and Edward Kloepping of Pennsville; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Interment was in St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, Lakewood.

MARY A. ROMAN McGUIRE, 77, of the Lincroft section of Middletown, died May 11 at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, following a lengthy illness. Born in Perth Amboy, she had lived in Freehold before moving to Lincroft. Mrs. McGuire was a civil service supervisor at Camp Kilmer, Monmouth County, during the 1950s, before her retirement. Prior to that, she worked at Prudential. She was a communicant of St. James Roman Catholic Church, Red Bank. She was predeceased by her husband, James F. McGuire, a U.S. Air Force officer, in 1979; and by five siblings. Mrs. McGuire is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Klaus Rittenbach of Freehold, and Katy McGuire and Gregg Szumowski of Lincroft; and three grandchildren. A Mass of Christian burial was offered at St. James Roman Catholic Church, Red Bank. Interment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.

RUTH L. CUNNINGHAM, 78, of Freehold died May 13 at home. She was born in Freehold and was a lifelong resident of the township. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Freehold, and was a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother. She was predeceased by her husband, Francis A., in 1986; and a sister, Lillian Malekovich, in 1985. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Robin Cunningham of Howell; a daughter, Jane Cunningham of Freehold; a brother, Michael Demchenko of Alaska; a brother-in-law, Charles Malekovich of Freehold; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Interment was in Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold.