When someone in Carbon County passes away, the first place most neighbors look is the Times News obituaries Lehighton section. It’s been that way for a long time. This isn’t just about a list of names; it’s basically the historical record for the Lehigh Valley and the coal regions nearby. Honestly, in a world where everything is digital and fast, these local notices still carry a lot of weight for families in Jim Thorpe, Palmerton, and Tamaqua.
The Times News (often called the Times News Media Group now) has deep roots. It actually traces back to the Mauch Chunk Daily Times from over a century ago. Today, Marta Gouger leads the newsroom as editor, recently getting inducted into the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Hall of Fame. That kind of longevity matters when you’re looking for a record of a life lived.
How to Find Recent Times News Obituaries Lehighton Records
Finding a specific notice is usually pretty straightforward, but there are a few ways to go about it depending on how old the record is. For anything recent—say, within the last week or month—the digital edition is your best bet.
Most people start at tnonline.com. There’s a dedicated obituary section there. However, you’ll notice that many of the full stories are actually hosted on Legacy.com. That’s a common partnership for newspapers these days. It allows for things like virtual guestbooks where you can leave a note or "light a candle" for the family.
If you are looking for a specific name, say someone like Barton L. "Buster the Clown" Fritzinger or Ernest P. Christman (names that have recently appeared in the Lehighton listings), searching by both name and town helps narrow it down. The coverage area is wider than you might think. It includes:
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- Carbon County
- Parts of Monroe and Schuylkill Counties
- Sections of Northern Lehigh and Northampton
Sometimes the search results on the main site can be a bit finicky. If you get an error or can't find a 2025 or 2026 record, try searching specifically within the Legacy "Times News" portal. It usually caches the data better than the local search bars.
Historical Research and Archives
What if you’re doing genealogy? Maybe you're looking for an ancestor from the 1970s back when the paper was called the Times-News & Record.
That’s where things get a bit more manual. The digital archives on the website don't always go back decades. For the deep history—the stuff from the 1800s or mid-1900s—you might need to visit the Lehighton Memorial Library or the Carbon County Historical Society. They keep microfilm of the old editions. It’s a bit of a trek, but it’s the only way to find those older "Times News obituaries Lehighton" entries that haven't been scanned into a database yet.
What it Costs to Place an Obituary
Let's talk money, because honestly, it can be expensive. Placing a notice isn't free unless it’s a very basic "death notice" (and even those often have a fee).
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The pricing for a full obituary in the Times News usually starts around $70.95. But that’s the base. Most people want to include a photo or tell a longer story. Here is a rough breakdown of how the costs typically shake out:
- Basic Text: Usually charged by the word or line. Expect to pay more once you cross the 100-word mark.
- Photos: Adding a black-and-white or color photo usually adds a flat fee to the total.
- Digital Guestbooks: Most paid obituaries include a permanent link on Legacy.com, but some "keepsake" options cost extra.
Families usually handle this through the funeral home. Places like Schaeffer Funeral Home in Lehighton or TK Thomas in Palmerton deal with the newspaper daily. They know the deadlines—usually, you need to have the copy in by early afternoon the day before you want it to run. If you're doing it yourself, you can email postanobit@legacy.com or use the online submission tool on the Times News website.
Why the Lehighton Obituaries Still Matter
You might think social media has replaced the newspaper. It hasn't. Not here.
In Lehighton, the obituary is the official "stamp." It’s what banks, insurance companies, and the Social Security office often look for as a secondary proof of passing. Beyond the legal stuff, it’s a community ritual. People read the Times News to see who they need to go pay respects to at the viewing.
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The paper has survived a lot of industry shifts. While other local papers were bought out by huge hedge funds—like the recent sale of Times-Shamrock properties to MediaNews Group—the Times News has managed to maintain a very local, neighborly feel. Marta Gouger once said the goal is to show readers "we're your neighbors, we're your friends." That philosophy definitely shows up in how they handle the obituary section. It’s treated with a level of respect you don't always see in bigger city dailies.
Practical Steps for Families
If you’re currently tasked with writing or finding a notice, here is the best way to handle it:
- Check with the Funeral Director First: They often get a discounted rate or have a streamlined system for the Times News that saves you the headache of formatting.
- Verify the Deadline: For a next-day print, you generally need to submit by 2:00 PM.
- Search the Legacy Portal: If you’re just looking for a service time, go straight to the Times News page on Legacy.com rather than the main newspaper homepage; it loads faster and has a better search filter.
- Save a Digital Copy: Print versions yellow and fade. Screenshot the online version or save the PDF if you have a digital subscription.
The Times News obituaries Lehighton remain the primary bridge between the past and the present for this corner of Pennsylvania. Whether you're looking for a relative's service details or researching your family tree, the archives are an essential resource for anyone with ties to the Mahoning Valley.