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Obituary Stories category, Page 31

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Mt. Pleasant woman, mother of 7, known for ‘can-do’ attitude
When the future Nellie Kalp was first chatting with Donald Kalp, the man who would become her husband, the pair passed a group of children playing baseball. A stray ball landed near her. Having played plenty of ball with her brothers, she didn’t give her response much thought. “She reached...
Export man enjoyed traveling, fishing and family
One of Dawn Lingafelt’s strongest memories about her father Ronald revolves around his love of fishing. “I remember him dragging us out of bed at 6 a.m. to dig worms out of the yard and put them in a coffee can before we’d go fishing,” Lingafelt said. Fishing was Mr....
Retired nurse stayed calm, saved lives in emergencies
Sandy Schweikarth kept her cool and took charge during emergencies that would cause others to panic. Even when she wasn’t on duty as a licensed practical nurse, others benefited from her know-how and skills. When daughter Shana Hudson was young, Schweikarth, though in the late stages of pregnancy with a...
Everybody who lived in Mt. Pleasant Borough knew Bill Gratzinger
There wasn’t a resident in Mt. Pleasant Borough who Bill Gratzinger didn’t know. Through his jobs as the town’s police chief and also as the head of the local volunteer fire department, Gratzinger made sure his neighbors were safe and protected. They were jobs he took seriously long after he...
Greensburg man remembered for love of newspapers, passion for life
When Dante Polla was a teenager, he would talk with the neighbors about what was happening in the community, write it up, print it out and hand out his own newspaper. His passion for newspapers followed him throughout his life, no matter what career he was in, and eventually led...
Fairfield man worked long hard hours, but always made time for family
Many of A.J. Liberoni’s childhood memories of her father, William Williams, are of how hard he worked to provide for his family. “He ran a bulldozer at the Conemaugh Generating Station, and he’s run it in freezing temperatures so he could provide for us,” said Liberoni, a Latrobe resident. “He...
Hempfield WWII veteran Joseph Churbock Sr. valued family
Joseph Churbock Sr. of Hempfield Township was part of the Greatest Generation of Americans, who served their country in war and came home to marry and raise a family. “He instilled the importance of family in us,” said his son, David Churbock of Hudson, Ohio. “He was always busy with...
Former Greensburg grocery co-owner was famous for classic cars
When Ellis G. Claar married Geraldine Waugaman, he married into the family business. He spent about 50 years as part owner and bookkeeper of Waugaman’s Market, a Greensburg grocery that remains beloved by longtime residents even though it’s been closed for more than 25 years. “It was a landmark,” said...
Irwin man created treasures from glass, good times with music
The glass Lee Jasper helped produce has gone around the world and beyond it. Before retiring as a scientific glassblower at the former Westinghouse research and development center in Churchill, the Irwin man “did a lot of interesting things,” daughter Wendy Bigelow said. “He helped with Spacelab and parts for...
Greensburg mailman remembered for time in service, love of family
R. Ronald Joseph had a knack for telling Greensburg residents where they lived. “His recall is phenomenal,” said his nephew, Rick Joseph. “He couldn’t wait to hear you were from Greensburg so he could ask what your name was and he could tell you where you lived.” Ronald Joseph spent...
Baggley woman remembered as caring person
Yvonne Schmucker was always helping someone else, no matter her own circumstances. And the Baggley, Unity Township, native raised her children, who all volunteer and work for various organizations, and grandchildren to be the same way. “We all have gotten that bug from my mother, just helping when we can...
Greensburg nurse ‘was always a friend to the underdog’
Carmella Neil helped found a church in Delmont, played violin, cared for thousands of people during her nursing career and made two trips to China in her 70s and 80s. “She was pure love, she was fair and she was always a friend to the underdog,” said her son, David...
Self-taught woodworker from Apollo enjoyed staying active, eating healthy
In 1921, when Donald Bayne was born, Warren G. Harding was president, the first religious radio broadcast aired on Pittsburgh’s KDKA, the first Miss America pageant was held in Atlantic City, N.J., and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Bayne attributed his long...
Ligonier man devoted to family and faith
For James E. McCracken of Ligonier, it was truly love at first sight when he saw Hazel Braden at a playground and knew that, one day, he was going to marry that girl. It did not matter that James was only 11 years old and the pretty girl was only...
Broken leg ruse in Connellsville emergency room began 52-year relationship
Robert Broderick has no regrets over a ruse more than 50 years ago he and a Connellsville State General Hospital nurse pulled off in the hospital’s emergency room that introduced him to his future wife and “a lifetime of loving memories.” In 1968, Broderick was a cub reporter at The...
Mt. Pleasant area man cared for foster children
Richard Frena loved children so much so that he and his former wife, Dorothy Marie, were foster parents to 41 over many years. “He wanted to help them out,” said his sister, Elizabeth Mizikar of Mammoth, Mt. Pleasant Township. “They would take in the children and care for them.” Richard...
North Huntingdon man remembered for love of history
When Irwin prepared to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2014, Jerry Kyslinger was there with his pen, ready to capture the memories. Helping to write “Irwin Then & Now,” the North Huntingdon resident traveled to various nursing homes, scanning pictures provided by residents to show before and after shots of...
East Huntingdon beautician loved faith, friends, family
Dorothy Johnson was always able to brighten someone’s day, whether it was with a bouquet, a great meal or a new hairdo. “Her cup was not just half full; her cup was overflowing,” said her daughter, Donna Britt. Mrs. Johnson ran Dorothy’s Beauty Shop out of her East Huntingdon home...
Mt. Pleasant Twp. man set foot on every continent but Antarctica
James Hall has set foot on every continent except Antarctica. “He went on at least three mission trips to Africa, another trip to Morocco, all over the place,” said his daughter C. Carol Oravetz of Ligonier. “He loved to travel and he loved to eat. I traveled the U.S. and...
North Huntingdon woman was avid golfer, beloved teacher
Carol Weiss was at a restaurant when she overheard a man bragging about having shot a hole-in-one at the golf course that day. Her name was Carol Lenhart then, and an avid golfer herself, she struck up a conversation. The man was David Weiss, and it was his lucky day...
‘Disposition of joy’ hallmark of woman’s life
In 1915, when Mabel Glunt Keibler was born, Woodrow Wilson was president, the United States had not yet entered the war in Europe, Babe Ruth hit his first career home run and women were still fighting for the right to vote. Mrs. Keibler lived a quiet life in a century...
Plum’s Frank Furko, best remembered as Pudgie Wudgie’s owner, dead at 85
Frank J. Furko’s claim to national fame was being the owner of a 20-pound tabby cat named Pudgie Wudgie — a famed feline in the 1990s. But Furko was more than that to people who knew him in the Oakmont and Plum areas. Furko of Plum’s East Oakmont neighborhood died...
Acme man’s family helped found the annual Appalachian Wagon Train
Chart Howard lived for the annual Appalachian Wagon Train, when residents jump back in time and participate in a horse-drawn wagon train through Westmoreland and Fayette counties, traveling during the day and camping at night. So it was with a heavy heart that wagon-train participants set out in 2019, the...
Ed Saliba Sr. remembered as icon of New Kensington firefighting
“Chief 56” has acknowledged his last call. An icon of New Kensington firefighting, J. Edward Saliba Sr. died Wednesday afternoon. “He was 89 and a half,” said his son Edward Saliba Jr., who followed his father’s footsteps and now is the city’s fire chief. “It’s a sad day for New...
Murrysville photographer never stopped capturing moments
David Adams loved photography, so much so that even after his job at local newspapers came to an end, he continued to work in the field. “He just took prom pictures last month at Spectrum Charter School in Monroeville,” his wife Bonnijean said. “He just liked the interaction. He was...


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