Obituaries

Robert P. “Bob” Wolf Sr.

Mr. Wolf, 54, of Oceanport, died Jan. 8 at home. Born in Long Branch, he resided in Eatontown 20 years, prior to moving to Oceanport 12 years ago. He was an auto body mechanic at Royal Collision, Freehold. Prior to that, he owned A & B Auto Body, Eatontown, for several years. He was a member of Benevolent Protective Order of Elks No. 2402, Eatontown and named 2003 Elk of the Year. He enjoyed stock car racing, and was a 1981 Turkey Derby winner at Wall Stadium. He was predeceased by his wife, Wendy H. Wolf in 2004. He is survived by his parents, Marie Tomaino Wolf and Fred Wolf Jr. of West Long Branch; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Robert P. Wolf, and Joseph C. and Tracy Wolf, all of Eatontown; a daughter and son-in-law, Jamie M. and Alex Raposo of Long Branch; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Fred and Barbara Wolf III of Eatontown, and Edward Wolf of Farmingdale; and four grandchildren. A funeral service will be Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. at Braun Funeral Home, Eatontown. Interment will follow at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport. Memorial donations may be made to Elks National Foundation, 2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago IL 60614-1889.

Joseph D. Copeland

Mr. Copeland, 81, of Freehold, died Dec. 15 at home. He was born in Woodbridge and moved to Freehold in his early teens. Before his retirement, Mr. Copeland was district manager for Dixson Marketing. Afterward, he worked in the family-owned West Coast Video business in Middletown for 16 years. He served on the Freehold Borough Board of Education for 19 years and was a Freehold Borough councilman for 12 years. Mr. Copeland was a 45-year member and past president of the Monmouth Hose Company of the Freehold Fire Department, where he was a member of the Board of Representatives. He was a member of American Legion Monmouth Post No. 54, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4374, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 1454, all of Freehold, and was active in the Freehold Little League. Mr. Copeland was currently serving on the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority, the Freehold Borough Housing Authority, and the Freehold Borough Planning Board. He also was a member of the Cream Puffs at the Cream Ridge Golf Club, Upper Freehold Township. He was a graduate of Freehold High School and Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa. Mr. Copeland was predeceased by three sisters, Elizabeth Septor, S. Jane Prall and Lela Lamson. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joan Gardell Copeland; and two sons, J.D. Copeland III of Freehold and Jeffrey Copeland of Howell. Interment took place at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township, under the direction of the Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold. Memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 1600 Route 22 East, Union 07083; or the Freehold Fire Department Memorial Fund, 49 W. Main St., Freehold 07728.

William Jensen Mason Sr.

Mr. Mason, 86, of Hazlet, died Jan. 1 at Care One, Holmdel. Born in Keyport, he resided in Hazlet the past 52 years, He was a custodian at Raritan Valley School System, Matawan. Prior to that, he was employed at Inter Chemical, Elizabeth, for more than 35 years. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of St. John’s Methodist Church, Hazlet. He was an exempt fireman, and chief engineer at Hazlet Fire Company No. 1. He enjoyed gardening, and time with his family. He was predeceased by his wife, Gladys Elizabeth Mason in 1998. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, William J. and Barbara Mason Jr. of Howell; a daughter and son-in-law, Gladys E. and Charles Hoagland of Whiting; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. Interment was at Green Grove Cemetery, Keyport. Arrangements were by Bedle Funeral Home, Keyport.

Richard W. Kinmon

Mr. Kinmon, 40, of Old Bridge, died Dec. 10 at home. He was a facility maintenance leader for five years at Wawa, Old Bridge. His mother, Valerie Kinmon, died in 1989. Surviving are his father, Hubert Kinmon of Old Bridge; two brothers, Ronald Kinmon of Bradley Beach and Mark K. Kinmon of Howell; three sisters, Karen Sanchez of Bradley Beach, Sherry Ann Caffrey of Manalapan and Susan Kinmon of Elizabeth; and 10 nephews. Services were held at Clayton and McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township, the Rev. Harvey Kelley officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey.

Curtis S. Wood

Mr. Wood, 55, of South Amboy, died Dec. 31 in Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy division. Prior to his retirement in 1996, he was the owner of Wood Chrysler Plymouth, Sayreville. He was predeceased by his father, Wallace Wood. Surviving are four children, Sasha Taner of Belmar, Evette Wood and Curtis Wood, both of the Morganville section of Marlboro, and Troy Wood of South Plainfield; his mother, Audrey Wood-Hays of Cape Coral, Fla.; a brother, Bruce Wood of the Morgan section of Sayreville; a sister, Sharon Hamann of Pine Island, Fla.; and a grandson. Services were under the direction of Carmen F. Spezzi Funeral Home, Parlin section of Sayreville.

Claire K. Hayes

Mrs. Hayes, 77, formerly of the Freehold area, died Dec. 27 at Parsons Hill Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Worcester, Mass., where she had been a resident since Sept. 1. Born in Jersey City, she has been a resident of the Freehold area for many years before moving to Canastota, N.Y., in 1976 and then to Oneida, N.Y., in 1993. Mrs. Hayes was the registrar of vital statistics for the Township of Marlboro, retiring in 1976. She was a member of the New Beginnings Free Methodist Church in Wampsville, N.Y. She was a charter member of the Oneida Canastota Christian Women’s Club and a former member of its executive board. She was also a volunteer for the Oneida Healthcare Center Auxiliary for more than 25 years. Mrs. Hayes is survived by her husband, Kenneth; two daughters and sons-in-law, Gail and Daniel Lehman of Oneida, and Wendy and David Orth of Leister, Mass.; eight grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services were held at the First Presbyterian Church, Oneida. The Ironside Funeral Home, Oneida, was in charge of arrangements.

Thelma E. Burke

Mrs. Burke, 93, of Allentown, died Jan. 11 at Hamilton Continuing Care Center, Hamilton Township. Born in the Perrineville section of Millstone, she had lived in Freehold and in Stuart, Fla., before moving to Allentown. She was a former member of the United Presbyterian Church of Millstone, Perrineville. Mrs. Burke was predeceased in 1973 by her husband, Woodrow Wilson Burke. Surviving are six nieces; two nephews; nine great-nieces and great-nephews; and 20 grandnieces and grandnephews. Graveside services were held at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Betty Ann Springsteen Mundy

Mrs. Mundy, 77, of Middletown, died Jan. 13 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Freehold, she resided there before moving to Middletown in 1963. Before her retirement, Mrs. Mundy was a librarian at the Middletown Township Public Library for five years. She was predeceased by her husband, Philip Mundy, in 2000; and a brother, Donald Springsteen. Surviving are three sons and one daughter-in-law, Philip and Barbara Mundy of Lakewood, James Mundy of Middletown, and Donald Mundy of Red Bank; and one granddaughter. Burial took place at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township, under the direction of the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.