Compiled from Societies’ newsletters and websites, and newspaper obituaries

Henry “Fritz” N. Williams (Baltimore) – Fritz Williams, 82, died December 24, 2018. He grew up in Palmerton and returned there in retirement with Belva, his wife and soulmate of 58 years, and also a Palmerton native. Fritz enjoyed a long and productive career that incorporated several interrelated occupations. He worked as a Parish Priest at Episcopal churches in Philadelphia and Bucks County, and as a writer and producer at public television stations in Harrisburg and Detroit, and was a Leader of the Baltimore Ethical Society, a non-theistic religious and ethical fellowship. See Karen Elliott’s Baltimore Ethical Society piece on Fritz Williams.

Edie Walton (Chicago) – Edie Walton, mother of Scott Walton, died on January 18, 2019 at the age of 95 after a short battle with cancer. Edie was a charter member of the Chicago Ethical Humanist Circle.

Edith J. Walton, always Edie, never Edith was born on August 25, 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio. Edie met the love of her life, Don, at a dance in 1940; they were married on her father’s birthday on September 27, 1941. While Don served in the army during World War II, Edie was a buyer for several department stores as she moved around the country. Later they settled in Detroit where Don started as an artist and became a writer and creative director of a large ad agency. Edie became involved fundraising for the Detroit Symphony after she had Scott.

Don’s profession took the family to Benton Harbor, MI, Philadelphia, PA, and finally to Kansas City, MO where he was a vice president of Hallmark cards. All the while Edie was involved in civic fundraising and gardening. When she could no longer work in her garden, she tended to her house plants. Edie and Don moved to Lincolnwood, IL in 2011 to be closer to Scott and his wife Sue. Don died in 2013.

Muriel Neufeld (Long Island) – Muriel Neufeld, longtime beloved member of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, died at age 98 on January 25, 2019. Muriel and her late husband Stanley joined the Ethical Culture Society in the mid-1950s. Stanley was the president of the Ethical Society in the mid-1960s and their sons Russell and Peter graduated from our Sunday School. Muriel was active from the time she joined the Society until her death. She headed many committees, organized three American Ethical Union (AEU) Assemblies on Long Island and for many, many years headed the Platform Committee, which arranged for our Sunday morning speakers.

In addition to her work at the Long Island society, she was the chair of the Leadership Committee of the AEU, the body that oversees the recruitment and certification of Ethical Leaders. Muriel also worked tirelessly for social action groups, such as the Nassau Civil Liberties Union, New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty, the Long Island Bail Bond Commission and groups advocating for stricter gun control. See Newsday obituary here.