Obituary of Adda May Gontarz

Adda May (Hines) Gontarz age 96 of Lawrenceville, PA passed away on March 27, 2021 at Williamsport General Hospital UPMC as a result of injuries sustained in a one car auto accident. Adda was born August 8th, 1924 to Walter Thomas Hines and Violet May (Spoerl) Hines at their home in Ridley Park, Pa. She was a 1942 graduate of Glen-Nor High School in Glenolden Pennsylvania where she excelled in academics and especially taking shorthand translation. She married Stephen John Gontarz from Essington, Pa in 1944 and settled in Broomall, Pennsylvania to raise her family of six children. Always interested in science and electronics she attended RCA training in New Jersey and together with Stephen started a small Television and Radio repair business in the early 1950's. Television was in its infancy. In 1949 she acquired her General Class Communication License (W3QBZ) in amateur radio and began a lifelong love of Ham Radio. Together with Stephen (W3PKX) they built several transmitters along with receivers which had energy outputs of 500 watts. They installed communications equipment in each car with 100 watt capabilities using power equipment from a B-29 bomber aircraft. Using exclusively Morse Code she soon acquired a large library of QSL contacts from all over the world. She even flew to England to visit one of her QSL contacts. She was a member of several local Amateur Radio groups over the years and a member of the Antique Wireless Radio Museum in Bloomfield, NY. In addition, she was an active member in Emergency Response Groups in Elmira, New York and the Civil Defense Team in Broomall, Pennsylvania during the cold war threat and Cuban Missile Crisis. In addition to her love of radio, Adda was very involved volunteering her time with St. Pius X church in Broomall and leading a Girl Scout Troop #333 for many years. She loved camping, music, dance, baking, sweet wine and a glass of baileys with her family and friends. No one was a stranger, she welcomed everyone, and her home was a haven to anyone in need. All that knew her will feel the loss and void. She was preceded in death by her husband Stephen, parents and eight siblings. Walter Hines Jr., William Hines, John Hines, Harry Hines, Thomas Hines, Richard Hines, Violet (Hines) Edwards, Ethel (Hines) Marinuck and her husband Stephen John Gontarz,Sr. in 1980. Adda leaves behind six children: Stephen John Gontarz Jr. (Geraldine Moore), Ronald J. Gontarz (Maryann Connell), Nancy Ellis (Charles), Phyllis Baum (Glenn), Andrew R. Gontarz (Joan McPhillips), Martha Green (Peter). Grandchildren: Deborah Bergmark, Stephen Watson, Adda Farmer, Chelsea Roberts, Stephanie Green, Stephen, Hank, Matthew, Benjamin, Joseph, Gillian and Ainsley Gontarz Great Grandchildren: Shane, Shelby, Owen, Carter, Sean, Aden Gontarz, William Farmer, Michael Farmer and Kyla Otto. Great-Great Grandchildren: Destini Farmer, Mya-Lynn Farmer and Shawn Dorrin. She was also a beloved aunt, friend and inspiration to her many nieces, nephews and extended family, as well as devoted companion to her dear friend George Kasdorf of Brooklyn, Michigan. Friends and family in the Mansfield, PA area may call on Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 from 5-7 pm at Buckheit Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc. 637 S. Main St. Mansfield, PA. A second viewing in Delaware County, PA will be held at 9AM at Saint Pius X Church, 220 Lawrence Road, Broomall, PA on Friday, April 9th. A Requiem Mass will follow the viewing at 10 am. Internment at St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield Pa. following the Mass.