Sonya Sharp Hartzell

Sonya Sharp Hartzell, 83, of Quakertown died October 26, 2016 at the Lutheran Community at Telford. She was the wife of W. Pitt Hartzell and the late Robert L. Sharp. Born in Quakertown she was the daughter of the late Stanley Evan & Sarah (Ostrom) Grant. She retired as a reporter at the Allentown Morning Call in 1993. The highpoint of her reporting career was winning the American Political Science Assoc. Award in 1963 for "Distinguished Reporting of Public Affairs," it was given for her extensive series examining the inequities of payment by the General State Authority for properties acquired to create Nockamixon State Park, this series triggered new state laws curbing this practice. She was also a founding member of the Pa Affiliate of the National Federation of Presswomen serving four terms as their state president. She also served as their National Convention Director in 1981. Because of such a successful convention she was named to Whos Who of American Women in 1981-1982. In 1984 Sonya was diagnosed with Celiac disease a genetic disorder that is kept under control by eliminating wheat, oats, rye and barley from your diet. Celiacs are allergic to the gluten in these foods at the time doctors in this country knew little about this disorder. Working with Celiacs patient groups to find food they could eat, Sonya was sent to two National Institute of Health Boards in Washington, DC as an advocate. In that position she directed several Celiac National Conferences in Bethesda, MD, each featuring products of gluten free food suppliers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Both conferences included a day on Capitol Hill lobbying the Congress for Celiac research funds for the National Institutes of Health which was moderately successful. She was an active member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Quakertown where she served 9 years on the Mutual Ministry Committee. She was also an active member of the Quakertown Womans Club and a member of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. Her and her husband loved to travel and spending time at their summer home in North Wildwood enjoying their merged family especially the grandchildren. In addition to her husband she is survived by a daughter Jan Bannon (Kevin), step son Bill Hartzell (Jackie) and a step daughter Sherri Moir (Sean), a brother William Grant, grandchildren Aimee Chambers (Melanie), Natalie and Katherine Moir and Joe Hartzell. In addition to her first husband she was predeceased by a son Gregory R. Sharp, and a grandson Kevin M. Bannon. A service will be held on Friday, November 4, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Johns Lutheran Church 19 S. Tenth St. Quakertown, PA 18951. Call 10:00-11:00 A.M. in the church. Arrangements are being handled by the C. R. Strunk Funeral Home, Inc. (www.crstrunk.com) Quakertown. An additional Memorial service will be held on Saturday November 5, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. in the chapel at the Lutheran Community at Telford 12 Lutheran Home Drive Telford, PA 18969. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Johns Lutheran Church Endowment Fund P.O. Box 979 Quakertown, PA 18951. Charitable donations may be made to: St. John's Lutheran Church P. O. Box 459, Richlandtown PA 18955 Service Information 24 Hour Viewing Friday November 4, 2016 10:00 AM St. John's Lutheran Church 19 South 10th Street Quakertown, PA 18951 Funeral Service Friday November 4, 2016 11:00 AM St. John's Lutheran Church 19 South 10th Street Quakertown, PA 18951 Memorial Service Saturday November 5, 2016 2:00 PM Lutheran Community at Telford 12 Lutheran Home Drive Telford, PA 18969