Notes:
Lehigh County Coroner Wayne Snyder said Heffelfinger died
of smoke inhalation. Few details about the events leading up
to Heffelfinger's death are available pending completion of
an investigation.
State police at Bethlehem reported that Heffelfinger had eaten
dinner at the hotel at Ruchsville and Mauch Chunk roads in
North Whitehall Township shortly before 9 p.m.
Sgt. Scott Snyder said that sometime after Heffelfinger left
the bar the engine of his vehicle ignited. It isn't known whether
Heffelfinger had been sitting in the vehicle for a period of
time before the fire started, said Snyder.
State police Fire Marshal George Umberger is investigating
the cause of the fire, he said.
Coroner Wayne Snyder pronounced Heffelfinger dead at the scene
at 9:29 p.m.
Heffelfinger's son,*****, 24, of 913 Wyndotte St., Bethlehem,
disputed information in yesterday's Morning Call attributed
to the Ruchsville Hotel's owner and bartender.
Bartender Donna Givler was quoted as saying that Heffelfinger
golfed regularly at Twin Lakes Golf Course and that he was
passing time at the bar until a friend from Delaware arrived
at A-B-E Airport.
But ***** Heffelfinger said his father was not a golfer and
had no friends in Delaware.
He said his father was a mechanic at Trans-Bridge Tours and
was a motor sports fan. He had worked as a bartender at the
Ruchsville Hotel in 1970, the son said.
Richard J. Heffelfinger worked for Smedley Chevrolet of Cresco,
Monroe County, where he reconditioned cars. He had also worked
for Ronca Construction Co., Bethlehem, for five years.
Born in Bethlehem, he was a son of Helen (Raub) Heffelfinger
Slahta of Easton and the late Richard J. Heffelfinger.
Besides his mother and his son *****, he is survived by sons,
***** and *****. of Bethlehem; a daughter, *****
of Bethlehem; his sisters, ****** of Bethlehem,
***** of Easton, and ***** of Bethlehem Township;
and his brothers, *****. of Easton, and *****. of Northampton.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Connell Funeral Home,
245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem. Calling hours will be from 7 to
9 p.m. tomorrow.
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