Robert E. Artz

Robert E. Artz, 82, Mechanicsburg, formerly of West Reading, died Sept. 29, 2007, in HealthSouth, Mechanicsburg, where he had been a patient two days.

His wife, Helen E. (Williams) Artz, died March 30, 2002.

Born in Spring Glen, Schuylkill County, he was a son of the late Paul M. and Faye (Carl) Artz.

Artz and his wife owned Artz Restaurant, Spring Glen, and he was a partner in the Midland Theater, Valley View.

He was employed for 23 years at a funeral home in the Reading area and in New Cumberland for 41/2 years, retiring in 1985.

A member of Bethany Lutheran Church, West Reading, he attended Lycoming College, Williamsport, and was a 1958 graduate of Simmons School of Mortuary Science, Syracuse, N.Y.

Robert Artz was a loving and caring son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and best friend. People would marvel at the care, understanding and love he expressed during his career as a funeral director.

In the later years of their 53-year marriage, Helen acquired an incurable illness and Bob showed us all what love and marriage are all about. He would not leave without someone being at Helen’s side, and for years he slept on the sofa by her, never having a complete night’s rest. He never complained about her waking him a dozen or so times a night to tend to her needs. He maintained this constant vigil day and night until her death. Now he sleeps. All who knew and loved him shall know how much one can love another.

Surviving is a son, Kim W. Artz, fiance of JoAnn, Temple.

Other survivors include a brother, Charles Artz, Lebanon.

There also are three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by a sister, Arlene (Artz) Reed, in 2005; and a son, Richard Artz, in May 1998.

Services will be Friday at noon in the Auman Funeral Homes, Reiffton. Burial to follow in Forest Hills Memorial Park. Friends may call 11 a.m. until time of service.

The family requests contributions be made to Bethany Lutheran Church, 336 Franklin St., West Reading, PA 19611.