Pennsylvania Obituary and Marriage Records, 1947-2010
Viola Pauline Tibbits Parker, Akron, Ohio, Formerly of Irwin
Viola Pauline Tibbits Parker, 99, of Akron, Ohio, formerly of Irwin, died Tuesday, July 18, 2000, in Akron. She was born Sept. 10, 1900, in Flint, Mich., the daughter of the late William and Bertha E. (Kenter) Tibbits. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence A. Parker. Survived by a son, Alan Parker of Akron, Ohio; a daughter, Jean Lashley (husband, George B. ) of San Antonio, Texas ; and four grandchildren. There will be no visitation. Services and interment are private. Officiating will be the Rev. Louis P. Long. Arrangements by the VINCENT V. RODGERS FUNERAL HOME, Irwin.
Richard Frederick Pearson, Lynchburg, VA., Formerly of Greensburg
A memorial service for Richard Frederick Pearson, 79, of Lynchburg, Va., formerly of Greensburg, who died Monday, July 10, 2000, will be held Saturday, July 22, at 11 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, Greensburg. BARNHART FUNERAL HOME, Greensburg, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles M. Rogers, Delmont
Charles M. Rogers, 88, of Delmont, died Wednesday, July 19, 2000, in his home. He was born Feb. 11, 1912, in Jeannette, a son of the late Charles and Mary (Dodge) Rogers. Charles was a retired machinist for Westinghouse Electric. He was a member of the Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ of Delmont, a life member of the B.P.O.E. Lodge #486 of Jeannette, a member of Forbes Trail Lodge F&AM #783 of Export, and Gourgas Lodge of Perfection of Pittsburgh. In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by five brothers , John, William, Frank, Edward, and Herbert Rogers; and a sister, Marguerite Baker. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Helen L. (Keenan) Rogers; a son, Charles W. Rogers; four grandchildren, Timothy, Sandra, Michelle, and James; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive relatives and friends at the VAIA FUNERAL HOME INC. AT TWIN VALLEY, 463 Athena Drive, Delmont, (724) 468-1177, Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Charles's funeral service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in the funeral home with Pastor Peter Bortz of the Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ of Delmont officiating. Entombment will follow in Twin Valley Memorial Park, Delmont. Forbes Trail Lodge F&AM #783 will hold a memorial service Friday at 7 p.m. in the funeral home. The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to either Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, 39 E. Pittsburgh St., Delmont, PA 15626 or Westmoreland Hospice, 532 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA 15601. Kevin P. Altman, supervisor, in charge of arrangements.
Mary Elizabeth Labik Sarik, Trafford
Mary Elizabeth Labik Sarik, 83, of Trafford, died Wednesday, July 19, 2000, at Beverly Manor Nursing Home. She was born April 24, 1917, in Wall, a daughter of the late Paul and Anna Torma Labik. She was a member of St. Regis Church. Prior to her retirement, she was an L.P.N. at the Podiatry Hospital. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Sarik, in 1984; two brothers , Paul and John Labik; and two sisters , Susan Labik and Anna Zitnik. She is survived by her son, Michael Sarik of Lincoln, Neb.; also two grandchildren, Adam and Robin Sarik; and two brothers , Michael Labik of East McKeesport and George Labik of Trafford. Friends will be received Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the DAVID A. RITTER FUNERAL HOME, 220 Edgewood Ave., Trafford. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Regis Church, Trafford, with Father James D. Tringhese as celebrant. Interment will follow in New St. Joseph Cemetery, North Versailles.
Dorthy E. Sarver, Greensburg
Dorthy E. Sarver, 83, of Greensburg RD3, died Wednesday, July 19, 2000, in the Redstone Highlands, Greensburg. She was born April 23, 1917, in Jeannette, a daughter of the late James E. and Theresa Rushman Croushore. She was a former member of the First Lutheran Church of Greensburg, prior to attending several local Christian and Missionary Alliance churches. She was a member of the Alwine Civic Center. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Merle H. Sarver; a daughter, Blanche A. Ewing; a son-in-law, Thomas L. Grove; a brother, Nicholas Croushore; and two sisters , Margarette Croushore and Alice Kealey. She is survived by two daughters , Teresa Grove of Greensburg and Violet Ciesielski and her husband, Frank, of Greensburg RD4; 27 grandchildren, Susan and Jeffrey Glowa, Teresa Lynn Grove, Dale and Nancy Ewing, Amy Ewing, Beth Ewing, Eric and Erin Ewing, Jill Ewing, Cory and Amanda Ewing, Donna Ewing, Frank Ciesielski, Stanley and Aimee Ciesielski, Andrew Ciesielski, Dorthy and Eric Kaufman, Anna and Rick Johnson, Thomas and Melissa Ciesielski, Stephen and Danielle Ciesielski, Lisa Ciesielski and Mary Ann Ciesielski; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers , J. Edwin Croushore of DesMoines, Iowa, and Louis Croushore and his wife, Marie, of Lorain, Ohio; two sisters , Marcella Gray and Minnie Poole, both of Greensburg; and a son-in-law, Robert Ewing of Greensburg. Friends will be received at the BARNHART FUNERAL HOME, 505 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, Thursday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the First Lutheran Church, 246 S. Main St., Greensburg, with the Rev. E. Allen Scanlon and the Rev. Craig T. Hess co-officiating. Interment will follow in the Greensburg Union Cemetery. Should friends desire, memorials may be placed with Westmoreland Hospice, 532 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg.
Mike 'Mickey' Sawayda, Daisytown
Mike "Mickey" Sawayda, of Daisytown (Walkertown), died at 4 a.m. Tuesday, July 18, 2000, in Life Care, Pittsburgh. He was born in Donora, a son of the late Wasil and Mary Perun Sawayda. He was a member of St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, Daisytown. He was a retired steelworker from Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., Monessen, and was a retired miner from the Crescent #1 coal mine, Daisytown, and the Shannapin mine in Bobtown. He was a member of the U.M.W.A. and the United Steelworkers of America. He is survived by three children, Michael E. and his wife, Marlene Sawayda, of Harrison City, Patricia D. Sawayda at home and Gary Sawayda of Las Vegas, Nev.; two grandchildren, Michael E. Sawayda and Rebecca Sawayda; three sisters , Catherine Hill of Daisytown, Stella Dunkalio of Charleroi and Mary Slogik of California, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Eleanor Micsky Sawayda, on June 6, 1989; five sisters , Julia Zelenik, Ann Cucura, Helen Markovich, Elizabeth Illar and Antonia Cover; and a brother, John Sawayda. Friends will be received Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. in the GREENLEE FUNERAL HOME, Route 40, 2830 Main St., Beallsville, where a blessing service will be held Friday at 9:15 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary R.C. Church, Daisytown, with the Rev. Francis Jurewicz as celebrant. Interment Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Coal Center.
Elsie Mildred Schmidt, Quincy, Massachusetts
Elsie Mildred Schmidt, 81, a resident of Hancock Park Nursing Center, Quincy, Mass., died Thursday, July 13, 2000, after a prolonged illness. She was born April 24, 1919, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of the late Michael and Katherine (Schuller) Rampelt. Wife of the late Andrew Walter Schmidt. She lived in Cleveland and Canton, Ohio, and in New Castle and Leechburg, before moving to Massachusetts. She served as president of the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens, as a member of the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council, the Right to Education Task Force, and the Statewide Health Planning Council. She received national, state and local awards for her volunteer service with numerous boards and organizations. She was the mother of Ronald Schmidt of Rochester, N.Y., Katherine Schmidt of Milton, Mass., Mark Schmidt of Houston, Texas , and the late Andrew Walter Schmidt Jr. She is survived by her grandchildren, Christine, Melanie and Amanda Schmidt and Andrew, Aaron and Alex Keel. A funeral service will be held in the chapel at Riverside Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio, Saturday, July 22, visiting at 1:30 p.m. and the service at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) of Westmoreland, Building Fund, RD12, Box 179, Donohoe Road, Greensburg, PA 15601-9349.
James E. Sowash, State College, Formerly of Greensburg
James E. Sowash, 75, of State College, died Tuesday, July 18, 2000. Born in Greensburg, Aug. 30, 1924, he was a son of the late Earl and Mary Smith Sowash. He married Jean McKenna. He was a 1942 graduate of Greensburg High School and received a degree in mechanical engineering in 1951 from Penn State. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS San Carlos. For 22 years, he had been a mechanical engineer in the office of physical plant at Penn State, retiring in 1986. From 1954 to 1965, he had been an engineer at Westinghouse in Youngwood. And from 1951 to 1953, he was a research engineer for American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, N.Y. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters , Terree Knapik of Port Matilda, Pa., and Jeanette C. Copeland of Huntsville, Ala.; five sons , Greg of Callicoon, N.Y., Jeffrey L. of Pennsylvania Furnace, Steven F. of Finksburg, Md., Gary L. of Milesburg, Pa., and Matthew R. of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; two sisters , Peggy De Armitt of Greensburg and Sally Cover of Cleveland, Ohio; 19 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the KOCH FUNERAL HOME, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. A Christian wake service will be held Thursday at 8:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. in the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 867 Grays Woods Blvd., State College, with the Rev. Philip M. Bender as celebrant. Burial will be in Centre County Memorial Park in College Township. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sight Loss Support Group of Central PA Inc., 111 Sowers St., State College, PA 16801, or to the American Diabetes Association, 827 Grove St., Howard, PA 16841.
Raymond J. Thompson, Ligonier
Raymond J. Thompson, 67, of Ligonier, died Wednesday, July 19, 2000. A son of the late Raymond and Ellen (Lynch) Thompson. Beloved husband of Ann (Nalevanko) Thompson. Dear Father of Deborah (Paul) Bigos, Donna (Nick) Padezan, Richard Thompson, Joseph (Bernadette) Thompson, Susan (Lawrence) Butler, Judith (Ted) Lanyi, David (Patty) Thompson, Glenn (Dawn) Thompson and Timothy Thompson. Brother of Don (Donna) Thompson. Also 26 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends received at the ALFIERI FUNERAL HOME INC., 201 Marguerite Ave., Wilmerding, Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday from noon to 9 p.m. and Saturday up until the time of the service in the funeral home at 11 a.m., followed by Mass in St. Robert Bellarmine Church at noon.
Esther E. Hoover Witman, North Huntingdon
Esther E. Hoover Witman, 77, of North Huntingdon, died Tuesday, July 18, 2000, at home. She was born Sept. 21, 1922, in Enhaut, Pa., a daughter of the late Samuel E. and Sylvia Sheaffer Hoover. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Irwin. She was a former Bell Telephone operator in Harrisburg, and a former member of the Meadowrue Garden Club, and the Irwin Junior Women's Club. She was a volunteer for the American Red Cross, a member of the Senior Citizens Mixed Couples Bowling League, Greensburg, and various local bridge clubs. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Hoover; and a sister, Sylvia Selcher. She is survived by her husband of over 57 years, Robert J. Witman; a son, Thomas R. Witman and his wife, Karen, of North Irwin; three daughters , Susan K. Harris and her husband, Al, of Derry, Nancy Sheehy of Latrobe and Beth Miller and her husband, Howard, of Jeannette; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. Friends will be received at the WILLIAM SNYDER FUNERAL HOME, 521 Main St., Irwin, Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Dr. R. Bruce Maxwell officiating. Interment will follow in Irwin Union Cemetery.
Harry H. Yates, Greensburg, formerly of Emlenton and Pittsburgh
Harry H. Yates, 91, of Greensburg, formerly of Emlenton and Pittsburgh, died Monday, July 17, 2000, in the Greensburg Nursing and Convalescent Center. He was born Aug. 17, 1908, in Emlenton, the son of the late Edward and Hannah Heath Yates. He was a retired employee of West Penn Power and a graduate of Penn State University. He was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, the sons of the American Revolution, and several religious, charitable, business and social organizations. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Marie Collins Yates. Survivors include a son, Edward Yates and wife, Jill, of Columbia, S.C.; two daughters , Carol Rendulich and husband, Tony, of Greensburg and Christine Yates of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Friends and relatives received Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the CLEMENT L. PANTALONE FUNERAL HOME, 409 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, (724) 837-0020, www.pantalone.com. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home Thursday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Jeffrey Paschal officiating. Graveside service at 2 p.m. in the Emlenton Cemetery Co., Emlenton, Pa. Natale N. Pantalone, funeral director.
Jeanette Garcher Zosky, Brownsville
Jeanette Garcher Zosky, 70, of Brownsville, died Wednesday, July 19, 2000, at her home. She was born Nov. 22, 1929, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of the late George Sr. and Helen Yanchus Garcher. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph F. Zosky Sr.; and brothers , George Jr. and Richard "Buddy" Garcher. She is survived by three children, Joseph F. Zosky Jr. of Brownsville, Joyce Lynn Zosky of Morgantown, W.Va., and Janel L. and her husband, Robert Allen, of Morgantown, W.Va.; five grandchildren, Aimee, Laura, Lisa, Tony and Kayla; and a brother, William Garcher Sr. of Masontown. Friends will be received in the SKIRPAN FUNERAL HOME, 135 Park St., Brownsville, Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., where a prayer service will be held Saturday at a time to be announced.
Janet E. Baldwin, Connellsville
Janet E. Baldwin, 59, of Connellsville, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2000, at her residence. She was born Nov. 22, 1940, in Connellsville, a daughter of the late Emery C. and Mildred P. Miller Stewart. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Connellsville and its Christian Mothers. She was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Casey Girls Society. She was a housewife and homemaker who dearly loved her husband, children, and grandchildren. She enjoyed latch hooking for a pastime. She is survived by her husband, William Edward Baldwin, to whom she was married for 31 years; a daughter, Amy Lynn Butler and her husband, Edward, of Mt. Pleasant; a son, John William Baldwin at home; three grandchildren, Tiler, Kara, and Megan. She is also survived by two brothers , Robert F. Stewart and wife, Louise, of Virginia Beach, Va., and Emery C. Stewart Jr. and wife, Sandy, of DeLand, Fla.; three sisters , Joan Newcomer and husband, Wayne, Shirley Harshman and husband, George, all of Connellsville, and Gertrude Etling and husband, Howard Jr., of Dickerson Run. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, William W. Stewart. Friends will be received in the VITO C. MARTUCCI FUNERAL HOME, 123 S. First St., West Side, Connellsville, Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A blessing service will be held Monday in the funeral home at 9 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church with the Rev. Michael Sciberris as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Members of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church and its Christian Mothers will hold a parish wake service Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the funeral home.
