Saturday, April 11, 2009

More obits

STROTT
David B. Strott
., 52, of Lakewood, Colo., died Monday, April 21, 1980, at Louviers, Col., as a result of an accident.
Born January 11, 1928, in Washington, he was the son of A.W.T. Strott Sr. of Washington and the late Ruth L. Strott.
Mr. Strott was reared and educated in Pennsylvania and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Miami in Florida. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
In Claysville, he married the former Jean McCullough on June 16, 1951. They moved to Colorado in 1966.
At the time of his death Mr. Strott was plant manager for Molycorp, Inc., in Louviers, Colo.
Surviving, in addition to his father who resides in Washington, and his wife, are two sons and two daughters, David B. Strott Jr., Dane Kit Strott, Jean Elizabeth Strott and Jan Christian Strott, all of Lakewood, Colo.; and one granddaughter, Jessica Lynn Strott.
Also surviving are one sister and three brothers; Leola M. Sheffler of Granville, Ohio; Dr. Charles A. Strott of Rockville, MD., A. W. Ted Strott Jr. and S.S.G. Richard M. Strott, both of Washington.
Services will be held at 1 pm Thursday, April 24, at the St. Andrew United Presbyterian Church, Denver, Colo., with burial in Fort Logan national Cemetery, Denver.

VERY (1980)
Penn State Great Dexter Very Dies
Dexter W. Very, one of the greatest players in the early days of Penn State University football, and a resident of Washington for 25 years, died Saturday, Sept 27, in State college.
Very, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, would have observed his 91st birthday Nov 27. He played at Penn State from 1909 through 1912 starting every game at right end on offense and defense. He was named on several All-American teams as the Nittany Lions compiled a 26-2-4 record. He was named to the College Hall of Fame in 1976.
In 1912, when Penn State was undefeated and untied in eight games, Very caught eight passes for 187 yards, scored nine touchdowns and made 240 yards on kick returns. He also ran the end around play 17 times for 234 yards.
That year, although he was overlooked for the second year in a row by Walter Camp, at that time selector of the most prestigious All-America team, and placed on his second squad. Bery was rated by seven other authorities in New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Scranton and was almost a unanimous All-East selection.
Penn State had compiled an 8-0-1 record in 1911 when Very served as team captain.
Born in 1889 in Susquehanna County, he played his first competitive football at Soldiers’ Orphan Industrial School at Scotland, PA. At Penn State, he also played on the soccer team and was an outstanding wrestler in the 158-pound division. He won both 175-pound and heavyweight titles in the AAU tournament in Atlantic City, N.J., in 1917.
He was an active member of the Washington Kiwanis Club while living in the city.
Very was the last surviving member of coach Bill Hollenback’s undefeated and untied Penn State team, whose record stood until 1968.
He expressed no desire to play or officiate in professional football but was active for many years as a college and high school official. His major assignments included several Army-Navy games and the 1933 Rose Bowl contest between Pitt and Southern California.

OLSHOCK
John M. Olshock,
91, of the Beallsville area, died at 1:15 pm Saturday, January 24, 1981, in Brownsville Hospital.
He was born May 14, 1889, in Austria, a son of John and Mildred M. Olshock.
Mr. Olshock was a Protestant. He was a retired employee of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. He farmed in Deemston Borough for many years.
On May 17, 1915, he married Anna Franks, who survives along with one son, John M. Olshock of Tulsa, Okla.; and daughter, Anne, wife of John D. Cleaver of Richeyville; two grandsons, John T. Olshock of Washington and Dr. Richard C. Olshock of Denver, Col,; one great-grandson; and one great-granddaughter.

OLSHOCK – funeral notice
Friends of John M. Olshock of the Beallsville area, who died Saturday, January 24, 1981, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 pm. Tuesday in the Greenlee funeral Home, Beallsville, where services will be held at 11:30 am Wednesday, January 28, by the Rev. William H. Miller and the Rev. John H. Stubbs. Burial in Beallsville Cemetery.

Friday, April 10, 2009

More obits

HUNTER
Clarence S. Hunter,
87, of 960 Redstone Road, Washington, died at 4:30 pm Saturday, April 26, 1980, in Washington Hospital.
He was born July 15, 1892, in Savannah, MO., a son of Clarence S. and Anna Harrison Hunter.
A member of Trinity Episcopal Church, he served on the vestry for 12 years and was a junior warden of the church.
Mr. Hunter established the C. S. Hunter Co., whose principal business was building materials and ready –mixed concrete. He retired in 1959.
In 1922, he married Mildred Bell Thistle who died in 1930. In 1932, he married Erma Theakston who died in 1960.
He attended Shadyside Academy and the University of Pittsburgh and graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1916.
Mr. Hunter was a member of the Washington Rotary Club and Elks Lodge.
Surviving are two daughters, Helen H. White of Livingston, N. J., and Ann H. Lawhead of Rockland, Calif.; two sons, Clarence Summers Hunter III of Lancaster and Richard T. Hunter of Herndon, VA.; a sister, Catherine Hunter of Washington, 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
A brother, David Harrison Hunter, is deceased.
Mr. Hunter donated his body to Humanity Gifts Registry for cancer research.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, at Trinity Episcopal Church Memorial contributions may be made to the American Caner Society.

STOCKDALE
Helen Rutherford Stockdale
, 89, of the Presbyterian Home, formerly of Allison Avenue, Washington, died Tuesday, January 9, 1979, in Washington Hospital.
She was born May 5, 1889, in Avalon, a daughter of the Rev. Matthew Rutherford and Louise Poe Rutherford.
She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Colonists, Current Events Club, a life member of the Washington Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, and the Martha Washington Garden Club.
Surviving are one sister, Elizabeth Rutherford, Washington; and four nephews, Harry Holiday, president of Armco, and Matt Holiday, both of Middletown, Ohio, Albert Holiday, Rijeka, Yugoslavia, and Logan T. Johnston Jr., Chicago, ILL.
Four sisters, Mrs. Logan T. Johnston, Mrs. Charlotte Holiday, Miss Ann Rutherford, and Miss Dorothy Rutherford are deceased.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Miscellaneous obits continued

ZEHNER
Mabel Zehner
of 424 East wheeling Street, Washington, died at 6 am Thursday March 15, 1979, in the Negley House, Pittsburgh, after a brief illness.
She was born in Indiana County, a daughter of Edward G. and Jennie Spence Munshower.
She was a member of the Church of the Covenant and was active in social and civic organizations, including Child Welfare. She was a past president of the Current Events Club and a member of Friends of the Library and Washington and Jefferson Auxiliary.
A graduate of Indiana State Normal School, she had taught school in the Washington area.
Her husband Lisle A. Zehner, died in 1934.
Surviving are a son, Lisle A. Zehner Jr. of Pittsburgh, and a grandson, Lisle A. Zehner III, Pittsburgh. A brother, Paul G. Munshower is deceased.

CARROLL
Ralph Baston Carroll
, 72, of 35 Fairhill Drive, Washington died at 2 pm Wednesday, September 3, 1980, in the VA Medical Center, Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, following a lengthy illness.
He was born in Washington January 14, 1908, a son of John E. Carroll and Emma Batson Carroll Couts.
He had been an administrative assistant for Mellon Bank until illness forced his retirement in 1965 after 39 years of service.
Mr. Carroll attended Washington schools and Duff’s Business College and later studied at Washington & Jefferson and the University of Pittsburgh. During World War II he had served in the U.S. Army.
He was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church, where he had served as an elder, a trustee, financial secretary and Sunday school teacher. He was also a former treasurer of the Salvation Army and Girl Scouts.
Mr. Carroll served as a director on the Washington School Board for 12 years. He was also a member of American Legion Post 175 of Washington, the Washington county Umpires Association and was a member and former officer of the Washington Band Aides.
On August 16, 1930, he married Evelyn Brown Carroll, who survives along with two daughters, Marilyn, wife of Donald G. Emery, and Nancy, wife of Edwin L. Andrew, both of Washington, and four grandchildren; Bryan and Kristin Emery, and Scott and Sonja Andrew.

FARRER
Miss Jane L. Farrer,
54, of 10 College Street, West Middletown, died in Washington Hospital, Saturday, February 24, 1979, at 8:25 am after being a patient in the Washington Hospital Extended Care Facility for two months.
She was born in West Middletown, August 3, 1924, a daughter of Sarah Bemis Farrer and the lat Donald Farrer.
She was a member of Grove United Presbyterian Church, the YAF Sunday school class, and women’s Association of the church.
Surviving in addition to her mother are one aunt, Miss Janet Bemis, west Middletown; one uncle, E. L. Bemis, George Washington Apartments, Washington; and three nephews, the Rev. James Farrer, Taylorstown, William Farrer, Washington, and John D. Farrer, West Middletown.
One brother, Donald, is deceased.

Monday, April 6, 2009

More obits

ELLIFRITZ
Mable Ecker Ellifritz, 82, of Rout 1, Box 66, Danville, Ind., formerly of 315 Clark Avenue, Washington, died at 7:20 pm Friday, September 14, 1979, in the Danville Nursing Home.
She was born in Washington January 1, 1897, the daughter of Henry Bender and Mary Catherine Wheatley Ecker.
She was a member of the Third United Presbyterian Church while she lived in Washington, and she became a member of the Danville United Presbyterian Church after moving to Danville.
On April 10, 1920, she married Elmer E. Ellifritz, who died June 14, 1962.
Surviving are a son, Robert E. Ellifritz of Danville, Ind.; a daughter, Mrs. Thomas (Lois) Peirce of Springfield, VA/; a brother, Henry Ecker of Cincinnati, Ohio; two sisters, Catherine and Ruth Ecker, both of Washington.

GESSNER
Mollie Frank Gessner, 77, of 693 East Beau Street, Washington, died Wednesday, January 30, 1980, at 2:30 pm in the Kade Nursing Home.
She was born November 21, 1902, in New Castle, a daughter of Jacob and Rachel Frank.
A member of the Beth Israel Congregation and the Beth Israel Sisterhood, she was a past president of the Washington Chapter of Hadassah.
Mrs. Gessner, widow of Charles Gessner, who died February 21, 1960 had operated the Charles Gessner Shop in Washington for the last 20 years.
Surviving are two daughters, Dorothy Pohl of Johnstown and Ann Alpern of Washington; one brother, Samuel Frank of New Castle; six grandchildren, Julie, Claudia and Shelley Alpern and Robin, Judy and Charles Pohl.
One brother, Perry Frank, is deceased.

GRABLE
Miss A. Eliza Grable, 69, of 822 North Main Street, Washington, died at 11:15 pm Thursday, June 21, 1979, in the Washington Hospital after a lengthy illness.
She was born December 31, 1904, in Washington, a daughter of Eli S. Sr. and the late Emma Herron Grable.
She was a member of Faith United Presbyterian Church of Washington, a member of the church choir and a member of the Women’s Association of the church.
A retired school teacher, she had taught in Marshall School, West Finley Township; Sowers School, West Bethlehem Township; Atlasburg Schools, Smith Township; Wylie Avenue School, Canton Township, and the First Ward and Washington High School, retiring in 1970.
Miss Grable was a member and past matron of the Martha V. Paul Chapter 404, Order of Eastern Star; Monday Music Club; Alpha Psi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma; was past president of Xi Beta Aplha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi and a member of local, state and national teaching organizations.
She served as a storekeeper first class in the WAVES of the United State navy from 1942 to 1946, stationed at Norfolk, VA.
Surviving are three brothers, Eugene Grable and John Grable of Washington and Sherman Grable of Richmond, Va.; three sisters, Gertrude, Irene and Virginia all of Washington; also four nieces and nephews.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

More obits

PAUL HUBER HILL– Was Decorated for Gallantry by Gen. George S. Patton
Paul Huber Hill, 76, of Hickory, died at 8 am Monday, February 23, 1998, at Allegheny University Hospitals, Canonsburg, following a two-week illness.
He was born September 29, 1921, at Gretna, a son of Huber and Anna Mary Briggs Hill.
Mr. Hill attended area schools and Penn Tech Institute.
He was Protestant and for many years was associated with Atlasburg Church of the Nazarene.
Prior to his retirement, he had been employed by Washington Steel, and was a member of Local 7139
During World War II he served with the U.S. Army in the European Theatre with Co. E., 301st Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division, with the Third Army.
He was personally decorated for gallantry in action by Gen. George S. Patton in Germany, where he was awarded the Silver Star.
He participated in four major campaigns and was awarded four Bronze Stars. He received several other medals including the Expert Combat Infantry Badge. He was a member of Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of the American Legion.
On September 4, 1947, he married Dorothy Dagnana, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Alan A. Hill of Canonsburg; a brother, Roy M. Hill of Hickory; a sister, Ora Hughey of Smith Township; and a grandson, Kevin A. Hill.
Deceased are two brothers, Harry and Wray Hill; and two sisters, Emma E. Nelson and Ruth Hill.

HILL
Alexander Leslie Hill,
54, of 403 Burton Avenue, a veteran of the World War and well known oil field worker, died Monday evening, March 24, at 6:30 o’clock in the Veterans Hospital at Aspinwall. He had been ill with a heart condition for two years.
A son of Demas L. and Malissa Latta Hill, both deceased, Mr. Hill was born at Beallsville, Sept 28, 1886.
Mr. Hill served with the 308th Ammunition Train, 157th Field Artillery, 32nd Division during the World War and was in France for a year. He was a member of Edwin Scott Linton Post No. 175., American Legion.
Mr. Hill married Miss Lillian Gooch at Fort Worth, Tex., April 28, 1921. A son, A Leslie Hill, Jr. of Dormont, and the following brothers and sisters survive: Mrs. Irene Ritchey, Dormont; Miss Mabel Hill, New York City; Edgar Hill, Washington; Huber Hill, Washington and Grant Hill, Jennings, Okla.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 pm at the Bebout & McNary Funeral Home, Ridge Avenue. Burial will be in Beallsville Cemetery.
Members of the Edwin Scott Linton Post in uniforms and caps, will meet at the post home this evening at 7 o’clock to attend special American Legion services which will be held at the Bebout & Mcnary Funeral Home a 7:30 o’clock. Commander Calvin C. Conley will be in charge.

SMILEY
Scenery Hill, PA. Jan 2 (Special) – Grief stricken parents today are waiting here to learn how their oldest daughter, on a mission to help others, died in a remote province of Northern India.
A brief telegram informed Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Smiley last week that their daughter, Marjorie, was killed when she fell from a footbridge over a mountain torrent near Dhachula.
“They said it would be at least 10 days before we could hope to receive any news,”
Mrs. Smiley said.
The telegram from the Evangelical Alliance Mission Board in Chicago explained that their daughter had died in a remote area. 4 days by messenger from the nearest communication center.
“Hard to Understand”
“It’s hard to understand things like this,” Mrs. Smiley said. “She only had arrived at Bombay Nov 6 and must have just started on her duties.”
Mrs. Smiley explained that her daughter had always wanted to help others. “She had been preparing for a career like that for 10 years – ever since she started in Centerville High School,” the mother said.
Father in Hospital
Her father, an ambulance driver for the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp, mine in Washington County, is in South Side Hospital, Pittsburgh, with a broken leg. He slipped and fell Wednesday while painting the kitchen of his home.
“She was not an intensely religious girl.” Mr. Smiley said. “She was more interested in helping people than converting them.”
He said she could have gone overseas earlier if she had accepted the sponsorship of one particular church.
“But she didn’t want that.” He explained. “She wanted to belong to a non-denomination group. She felt that she could accomplish more that way.”
He said his daughter was buried near the spot where she was drowned near the Tibetan border.
“We’re waiting for more news before we can decide whether she can be brought home for burial,” he said. “It will require at least 10 days for bearers to bring her out to a town where transportation is available.
Mr. Smiley too found his daughter’s death hard to understand.
“All that work and it’s ended so soon,” he said.
Miss Smiley had prepared herself well. After graduating from high school in 1943, she went to the Moody Bible School in Chicago where she learned ways to bring Christianity to people.
Later, she became a nurse at a Chicago hospital so that she could bring health to stricken people as well.
“She finally achieved her ambition last October when she was assigned as a non-denominational missionary to India,” Mrs. Smiley said. “She was happy because she was doing what she always wanted to do.”

GARLAND
Word had been received in Centerville of the death of Mrs. J. W. Garland, of McComb, Miss. She will be remembered as the wife of the late Rev. J. W. Garland, pastor of the Centerville and Taylor Methodist churches from 1921 to 1924.

WALTZ
Charles R. Waltz
, above a veteran of World War I and long active in Legion affairs died in his home, 673 Donnan avenue March 19 of a coronary occlusion.

THISTLETHWAITE
Friends of Mrs. Margaret Webeck Thistlethwaite, 48, wife of Lee Thistlethwaite, who died at her home, 445 Duncan Avenue, Washington, Wednesday Feb 4, 1948, will be received at the Graham P. Cowieson Funeral Home Maiden Street and Le Moyne Avenue, from 6 to 10 pm Thursday, Fed 5, `948. The body will be removed to the McDonough & Greenlee Funeral Home Beallsville where friends will be received from 10 am Friday Feb 6, 1948. Services will be held at the McDonough & Greenlee Funeral Home Saturday, Feb 7, 1948 at 2 pm in charge of Dr. W. F. Harkey, Third Presbyterian Church. Interment in Taylor Cemetery, McDonough & Greenlee, Beallsville, funeral director.

WILLOCK
Charles E. Willock
, 83, of Beallsville, died in the Washington Hospital Saturday, Oct 23, 1954 at 8:15 pm.
He was born at Centerville, August 11, 1871, and for the past 29 years he operated a refreshment stand at no 11 tee Nemacolin Country Club. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Mary Carroll, Beallsville, and Mrs. Louella Clutter, Canonsburg; three grandchildren, Bernice Hale, Bakersfield, Calif., Beatrice Rodocker, Beallsville, Sara Jane McCoy, Canonsburg. Eight great-grandchildren survive.