Lincoln K. Miles, 59, of Willingboro died December 28 at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he lived in Plainsboro for many years. Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Susan Miles; two sons, Richard L. Miles and Anthony D. Miles; daughter-in-law, Maria Fernanda Cobos-Miles; grandson, Isaiah M. Miles; and granddaughter, Mylean M. Miles.
Henry L. ‘Larry’ Schafer Jr., 77, a lifelong resident of Princeton Junction, died January 1 at Sunrise in Yardley, Pennsylvania.
Schafer served in the Army, was a volunteer fireman for the Princeton Junction Fire Company 1, and owned Schafer’s Service Station in Princeton Junction for many years.
Survivors include his brother, Donald Schafer Sr.; his nephew, Donald Schafer Jr. and his wife, Nancy, and their children, DJ, Alexandra, and Emily; his niece, Kimberly Jago and her husband, David, and their children, Sophie and Emma. Donations may be made to Somerset Handicap Children’s Treatment Center, 377 Union Avenue, Bridgewater 08807.
John James Wells, 78, of Ewing died December 30. Survivors include his niece, Theresa Falzon and her husband, Charles; and great nephew, Jon Falzone, all of Plainsboro. Donations may be made to the Incarnation-St. James Parish, 1545 Pennington Road, Ewing 08618.
Joan Deborah Sanders, 57, of West Windsor died January 7 at University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro.
Born and raised in Princeton, she attended Princeton High School and Mercer County Community College. Sanders was a longtime employee of Technicolor in its patent department.
Survivors include her husband, David Sanders; daughters and son-in-law, Jennifer Sanders, Laura and Henry Ryan; her mother, Eleanor Harrelson; her sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Keith Gwin; her niece, Debbie Visconti and her husband, Jay; and nephew, Doug Gwin. Donations may be made to Susan G. Komen For The Cure, Two Princess Road, Suite D, Lawrenceville 08648.
John J. Morris Sr., 85, of Monroe died January 8 at Cranbury Center. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, John and Lynn Morris; two grandchildren and their spouses, Christopher and Jennifer Morris and Meghann and Robert Valeo; and three great-grandchildren, Colin and Isla Morris and Julianne Valeo. Donations may be made to Mercer High School Scholarship Fund, 1030 Old Trenton Road, Hamilton 08690.
Morton L. Braverman, 88, of Plainsboro died January 9. Born in Brooklyn, he was a New York resident for most of his life. An Army veteran, he served in World War II and was a businessman. He served on the Plainsboro Rescue Squad.
Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, David and Carolyn; daughter, Barbara Braverman; brother and sister-in-law, Robert Braverman and Doris Feigenbaum; grandchildren, Marcy, Janice, and Andrew; and great-grandchildren Mira, Shayne, Jonah, Ethan, Sephira, and Jonathan. Donations may be made to Greenwood House Hospice.
Robert “Robin” J. Lala Jr., 59, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Plainsboro, died January 10. Born in Cedar Rapids, he traveled between New Jersey and Iowa for his job with Liberty International Underwriters.
Survivors include his wife, Anne; his children, Robby Lala, Sarah Lala, Katie and Richard Jackson, and Matthew Lala; his father, Robert J. Lala Sr.; and brothers and sister-in-law, Philip Lala and Eddie and Sue Lala.
Thomas J. Valeri Sr., 83, of Ewing died January 10 at Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell.
Born in Trenton, Valeri lived in Ewing for 56 years. An Army veteran of the Korean War, he retired from the Chubb Corporation after 30 years. For the past 50 years Valeri was a self-employed tax accountant. A pianist, he was the leader of the Tommy Valeri Orchestra, which played throughout the Delaware Valley. Valeri composed and copywrote many songs.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Gloria Corso Valeri; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas J. Jr. — a co-publisher of Community News Service, including WW-P News — and Maryellen of West Trenton; a sister, Mary Corso of West Orange; a brother and sister-in-law, Domenick and Dorothy Valeri of Columbus; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, great-great-nephews, and friends.
Gertrude A. Miller Conway, 84, of Old Bridge died January 10. Survivors include a son, Richard Conway of Plainsboro.
Herbert M. Gurk, 82, of Plainsboro died January 11 in the University Medical Center at Plainsboro. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also earned a Ph.D. in the mathematical theory of games.
Gurk applied his training to the fields of communication and digital data processing at RCA Camden, RCA’s David Sarnoff Laboratory, and RCA Astro.
After his retirement, he was a consultant on government programs, and taught courses on satellite remote sensing. Gurk was a volunteer reader of mathematics and physics for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic and volunteered as a math and physics tutor.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine Auerbach Gurk; children, Lisa and Mike Herman, David Gurk, and Rebecca Gurk and Stuart Mangel; and grandchildren Katie Herman and Mike Noble, Peter Herman, Molly Mangel, Josh Mangel, and Ben Mangel.
Donations may be made to Learning Ally, Financial Development Department, 20 Roszel Road, Princeton 08540, or the Jewish Center of Princeton.
Kenneth J. Kelly, 89, of Robbinsville died January 11 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Sheri and Steven Harhigh of West Windsor. Donations may be made to the Juvenile Arthritis Fund at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Lockbox 1352, Box 8500, Philadelphia, PA 19178-1352.
Maria Lopez, 88, of Lambertville died January 12. Survivors include her son, Jose Lopez of Plainsboro. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Walk, Alzheimer’s Association, 400 Morris Avenue, Suite 251, Denville 07834.
Leo J. Kelly, 74, of Cream Ridge died January 14 at Deborah Heart and Lung Hospital in Browns Mills. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Linette and Lloyd Oertel of West Windsor. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 19, at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Assumption, 28 Monmouth Road, Wrightstown. Friends may call Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 South Main Street, Allentown. Donations may be made to St Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
