April 25, 1953 - July 3, 2012

William  R. Ingraham, age 59, of Mechanicsburg, passed away Tuesday, July 3,  2012 at home after a long battle with cancer. Born April 25, 1953 in  Mechanicsburg, he was a son of the late Ross W. and Pauline R.  (Zimmerman) Ingraham.
Bill retired after thirty six years of service  with the Social Security Administration, and was the organist for  twenty five years at First United Methodist Church, (FUMC) Mechanicsburg  and Otterbein United Methodist Church, Boiling Springs. For his many  accomplishments he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the  Hershey Theatre. He also wrote the theme song for their high school  Apollo Award Program. He was a member of FUMC and a former member of  Mechanicsburg Rotary Club.
Bill was a well known pianist and  organist in central PA. He was active with Open Stage; Hershey Theatre;  Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg; Oyster Mill Playhouse; Messiah Choral  Arts; Central PA Oratorio; Mechanicsburg Ecumenical Choir; Wednesday  Club; Theatre Harrisburg; Susquehanna Chorale; Voices of Hershey; Mishar  Productions and an accompanist for many soloists and musicians. He was a  member of the group Signature and performed at the White House with  Kamotion. As a friend recalled, "there probably isn't a piano in Central  PA that Bill hasn't played". In addition to his music Bill enjoyed  participating in softball, racquetball and basketball.
Surviving are  his wife Tammy Ingraham, three children, Tricia Nicole Ingraham of Los  Angeles, CA, Christopher Scott Ingraham of Dillsburg, and Julie Beth  Ingraham of Santa Cruz, CA, two grandchildren Maya R. Ingraham and  Brandon A. Domonkos, two brothers Donald R. Ingraham of West Friendship,  MD and Robert E. Ingraham of Hershey. Bill will always be remembered  for his humble spirit, musical talent, dedication to his family and  incredible optimism.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday,  July 7, at First UM Church, Mechanicsburg with the Rev. Michael V.  Minnix officiating. There will be a viewing from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00  to 8:00 p.m. Friday at Malpezzi Funeral Home, Mechanicsburg. Private  burial will be in Mechanicsburg Cemetery.
Memorial contributions  may be made to First UM Church, 135 W. Simpson St., Mechanicsburg, PA  17055 or Otterbein UM Church, 647 Forge Road, Carlisle, PA 17013.
To sign the online guestbook visit www.malpezzifuneralhome.com 

Published by Patriot-News on Jul. 4, 2012. 

 September 26, 1953 - June 18,   2017

Deborah “Debbie” Lee (Kennedy) Smyser

Loved the Beach -

Deborah  “Debbie” Lee (Kennedy) Smyser, age 63, of Camp Hill, and formerly of  Mechanicsburg, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 18, 2017.  Debbie  was born on Saturday, September 26, 1953 in Mechanicsburg to Robert  Kennedy and the late Winifred Kennedy. 

Debbie’s  survivors include her father, Robert Kennedy and his wife, Irene, of  Mechanicsburg; her brother, Steven Kennedy and his wife, Suzanne, of  Bowmansdale; her three children: Kristy Smyser and her companion, David  Stewart, of Mechanicsburg, Bob Smyser and his fiancé, Angie Fitzgerald,  of Mechanicsburg, Alicia Duvall of South Carolina; her six  grandchildren: Brittani Stonehouse, Casey McDade, Taylor McDade,  Benjamin Smyser, Noah Smyser, Jacob Duvall; her three  great-grandchildren: Corina Spencer, Shaun Stonehouse, William  Stonehouse; her nephew, Michael Kennedy and his wife, Allison, and their  children: Katie and William, of Mechanicsburg; and her former spouse,  Mosser Martin Smyser, Jr. of West Virginia.

Debbie  graduated from Mechanicsburg High School as part of the class of 1971.   Debbie loved the beach and spending time at Atlantic Beach in North  Carolina, which she lived close to for over 10 years.  Her grandchildren  remember spending many summers there with their grandmother.  Debbie  loved her grandchildren dearly and she was always catering to them every  chance she had.  Her family will cherish the memories they made with  her and Debbie will be missed dearly by all of them.

Debbie’s family will be remembering her life privately.  Cremation was private.

Debbie’s  family has entrusted her care to Myers – Buhrig Funeral Home and  Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Debbie’s full  obituary, view her picture, and sign her official guest book at  Buhrig.com.

 April 28, 1953 - December 6, 2022 

John G. Pretz, 69, Rye Township, passed away suddenly at his home on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.  

Born April 28, 1953 in Harrisburg, he was the son of the late Karl S. and Bertha Anne (Gross) Pretz.  

He attended Mechanicsburg High School where he excelled in math.   John went on to study Literature at HACC, receiving his Associate Degree and establishing his lifelong love for the arts.  He retired in 2007 as a Statistical Analyst from the Pennsylvania State Department of Labor and Industry.  

John filled his life with theatre, sports, music, travel and the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He was a volunteer doing lighting or stage managing for many shows at the Theatre Harrisburg and the Mechanicsburg Little Theatre.  He loved theater, traveling as far away as Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York City.  

He was a classic movie buff, and excellent chess player, had a deep appreciation for all the arts; and was an avid reader.  Possessing an eclectic taste in music, he could often be found at concerts for David Bromberg, Roger Hodgson, Rent, Graham Nash, and many others.  

John spent days and weeks traveling the globe, often to exotic locales.  Cruise ship enthusiasts, they were blessed to make many friends and to see nature up close and personal during trips to Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, New Zealand, Australia,  Iceland,  and many other countries.  

With his keen sense of humor and inherent stubbornness, John will be dearly missed for his engaging personality.  

Surviving is his wife:  Nancy Sutch Pretz; two sisters:  Betsy Treharne (and her husband, Charles) and Pam Richardson (and her husband, Scott); many nephews and nieces; and a host of other family members and friends.  

A Celebration of his life will be held at the family’s discretion.  

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Theatre Harrisburg.  

Kimmel Funeral Home, Harrisburg, is handling arrangements.