Obituary for Carl Richard Cathers
Carl R. Cathers, 95, of Pennington, NJ, passed away on June 28, 2022 at home in the presence of his loving wife, Elaine (Widman) Cathers.
Born in Stockton, NJ on August 22, 1926, Carl was a lifelong resident of Stockton until five years ago when he and Elaine moved to Brandywine Assisted Living in Pennington, NJ. Carl was a graduate of the Stockton Elementary School, Lambertville High School, and Rutgers University. He served in the US Navy and Navy Reserves from 1945 to 1955. Carl managed the then popular River’s Edge Restaurant in Lambertville, NJ for twenty years until the restaurant burned down in 1973. Thereafter, Carl was self-employed in the construction business for 15 years.
Carl served as mayor of the town of Stockton from 1976 to 1979 and was well known as the town’s historian. Carl was acknowledged for his significant contributions to the publication, “Images in America – Prallsville Mills and Stockton”, for which he provided many of the book’s photographs of Stockton in the early 1900s.
Carl was a voracious reader, with special interests in politics, history of the American railroads, and major league baseball. Carl excelled at many sports including ice hockey, tennis, and baseball, and played on military, university, and local teams. His other hobbies included gardening, stonework, and carpentry.
Carl was predeceased by his parents, Horace and Eleanor (Sillery) Cathers; brother Horace Cathers, Jr. (Margaret); sisters, Mildred Cathers Shelton (Michael) and June Cathers Mathews (Donald); niece, Donna Mathews, as well as his beloved German Shepherd Dogs, Kara and Kotchen, and cat, Lionel.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 48 years, Elaine (Widman) Cathers; stepson and daughter-in-law, Kim and Claire Hamm; grandchildren, Dana Hamm and Kristopher Hamm; nephews, James Mathews (Nora) and Donald Mathews (Alexandra); sisters-in-law, Carol Kane (Robert); Joanne Widman (Charles); and Lynda Widman; cousin, Peggy Hylan; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Services are private and under the direction of Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, Lambertville, NJ. Interment will be private at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Washington Crossing, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Carl’s memory be made to the Stockton Fire Company, P.O. Box 47, Stockton, NJ 08559.
Born in Stockton, NJ on August 22, 1926, Carl was a lifelong resident of Stockton until five years ago when he and Elaine moved to Brandywine Assisted Living in Pennington, NJ. Carl was a graduate of the Stockton Elementary School, Lambertville High School, and Rutgers University. He served in the US Navy and Navy Reserves from 1945 to 1955. Carl managed the then popular River’s Edge Restaurant in Lambertville, NJ for twenty years until the restaurant burned down in 1973. Thereafter, Carl was self-employed in the construction business for 15 years.
Carl served as mayor of the town of Stockton from 1976 to 1979 and was well known as the town’s historian. Carl was acknowledged for his significant contributions to the publication, “Images in America – Prallsville Mills and Stockton”, for which he provided many of the book’s photographs of Stockton in the early 1900s.
Carl was a voracious reader, with special interests in politics, history of the American railroads, and major league baseball. Carl excelled at many sports including ice hockey, tennis, and baseball, and played on military, university, and local teams. His other hobbies included gardening, stonework, and carpentry.
Carl was predeceased by his parents, Horace and Eleanor (Sillery) Cathers; brother Horace Cathers, Jr. (Margaret); sisters, Mildred Cathers Shelton (Michael) and June Cathers Mathews (Donald); niece, Donna Mathews, as well as his beloved German Shepherd Dogs, Kara and Kotchen, and cat, Lionel.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 48 years, Elaine (Widman) Cathers; stepson and daughter-in-law, Kim and Claire Hamm; grandchildren, Dana Hamm and Kristopher Hamm; nephews, James Mathews (Nora) and Donald Mathews (Alexandra); sisters-in-law, Carol Kane (Robert); Joanne Widman (Charles); and Lynda Widman; cousin, Peggy Hylan; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Services are private and under the direction of Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, Lambertville, NJ. Interment will be private at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Washington Crossing, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Carl’s memory be made to the Stockton Fire Company, P.O. Box 47, Stockton, NJ 08559.