Obituaries by LocationWILLIAM A. THOMAS SR., O.D.
William A. Thomas Sr., O.D., 73, of Connellsville, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999, at home with his loving family at his side. He was born Jan. 17, 1926, in Uniontown, a son of the late George and Anna (Matthew) Thomas. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Hazel George; and a brother, Thomas J. Thomas. Dr. Thomas was an optometrist for over 45 years with his office located on Pittsburgh Street in Connellsville. He was a World War II veteran, serving with the U.S. Army Air Corps (African Theater), attended Waynesburg College, was a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, and was a member of St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church, Connellsville, and St. George Maronite Catholic Church, Uniontown. He was the president of the Newman Club, the Youth Center, the Lebanese Club, the Kiwanis Club, and the Lions Club; regional vice president of the Jaycees; vice president and director of the Pleasant Valley Country Club; a director of the Yough Valley National Bank, and the Scottdale Bank and Trust; and served on the Penn State University, Fayette Campus, Advisory Board. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Florence M. (Koury) Thomas; four children, Karen A. Galderisi and husband, Carmen M. Galderisi, of Hopwood, Garry J. Thomas, M.D., and wife, Mary Jo Thomas, O.D., of Berwyn, Pa., Denise Thomas Wilcox, O.D., Ph.D., and husband, David Wilcox, Ph.D., of Doylestown, and William A. Thomas Jr., M.D., and wife, Michelle Thomas, M.D., of Lewes, Del.; seven grandchildren, Chad D. Galderisi, Carmen Brittaney Galderisi, Kimberly Thomas, Koury Thomas, Kathryn Wilcox, Zachary Wilcox, and William A. Thomas III; four brothers and sisters, Abraham Thomas of Melbourne, Fla., Elizabeth Molnar of Uniontown, Joseph Thomas of Parma, Ohio, and Mary Mosako of Uniontown; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends were received in the STEPHEN R. HAKY FUNERAL HOME INC. AT SYLVAN HEIGHTS CEMETERY, 603 N. Gallatin Ave. Ext., Uniontown, Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. and will be received Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Divine Liturgy will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in St. George Maronite Catholic Church with the Rev. Father Joseph R. David and the Rev. Father Michael Bucci as celebrants. Entombment will follow in the Sylvan Heights Cemetery Mausoleum where military honors will be accorded by Hopwood AMVETS Post #103. The Ladies of the Parish will recite the rosary Wednesday at 4 p.m. The service of Ginnaz will be held at 8 p.m.
RICHARD B. GARDNER
Richard B. Gardner, of McCandless Township, died Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, at UPMC Passavant Hospital. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Catherine (Genkinger) Gardner; a daughter, Karen Luderer of Clarion; a son, Dr. Robert Gardner of Dayton, Ohio; a sister, Barbara; and brothers, James and Alfred Gardner; and four grandchildren. Mr. Gardner was a World War II veteran; a Robert Morris College alumnus; an elder and trustee of Memorial Park Presbyterian Church; a member of Avalon Lodge #657, F&AM, Bellevue American Legion Post 0161, and North Allegheny #168 AARP. He was with Gulf Oil Corp. Transportation Co. for 42 years. Burial will be in Allegheny County Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Memorial Park Presbyterian Church, 8800 Peebles Road, Allison Park. The family suggests memorials be made to Odyssey Healthcare Inc. (Hospice), Park West One, Suite 500, Cliff Mine Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15275. Arrangements by SIMONS FUNERAL HOME INC., Pittsburgh, www.simonsfuneralhomeinc.com.
MARY SUE (BOVINGTON) JOHNSON
Mary Sue (Bovington) Johnson, 70, of Mt. Lebanon, died peacefully at home on Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dec. 4, 1928, to the late John R. and Helen Pettibone. She graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts in 1951; married C. Bayard Johnson Jr. in 1958; and settled in Pittsburgh in 1971. She is survived by her loving husband, Bayard; daughters and sons-in-law, Cam and Greg Allen of Mt. Lebanon and Gail Johnson and Tim Elgren of Clinton, N.Y.; daughter, Molly Johnson of Seattle, Wash.; son and daughter-in-law, Bayard and Karen Johnson of St. Louis, Mo.; and six grandchildren, Robby, Brad, Scott, Ruth, Ben and Bay. She is also survived by her brother, John R. Bovington of Cleveland, Ohio. She was a dedicated, active grandmother, a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church and active in numerous church and community activities, including Southminster choir, women's hand bell team and AFS student exchange. Her family gratefully acknowledges the outpouring of support throughout the past few months from friends near and far, as well as the caring guidance and support of the Family Hospice. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 13, at 9:30 a.m. at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Mt. Lebanon. Sue expressed wishes that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Southminster Presbyterian Church music program, Mt. Lebanon, Pa., the Mt. Lebanon Public Library or Family Hospice, Mt. Lebanon.
LOUISE (BLYSTONE) MENSCH
Louise (Blystone) Mensch, 75, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 27, 1999, at her home in Richland, Mich. Formerly of the Mt. Pleasant area, she was a daughter of the late Irene and Kenneth Blystone. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford A. Mensch; a sister, Adah Belle Kampitch; and a brother, Darrell T. Blystone. She is survived by her sons, Clifford Mensch of California, John Mensch and Kenneth Mensch of Michigan; daughters, Lena Koger of Galesburg, Mich., and Cathy Banks of Cadillac, Mich.; a brother, Robert J. Blystone of Hancock, Md.; and a sister, Phyllis Carns of Greensburg. She is also survived by six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Services were held at FARLEY-ESTES & DOWDLE FUNERAL HOME, Richland, Mich. Interment followed at Fort Custer National Cemetery.
MARY R. DIVELEY PRITTS
Mary R. Diveley Pritts, 81, of Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, in Mt. Gilead, Ohio. She was born Sept. 12, 1918, in Aberdeen, S.D., a daughter of the late Merl D. and Gladys Njos Diveley. She was a member of Mt. Joy Church of the Brethren. Mary was a graduate of Meyersdale High School, Class of 1936. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold O. Pritts, in 1984; and a brother, Merl D. Diveley, in 1997. She is survived by two sons, Wayne Pritts of Villa Ridge, Mo., and Merl Pritts and wife, Fay, of Mt. Pleasant; a daughter, Karen Goswick and husband, Arthur, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio; a brother, Victor E. Diveley and wife, Priscilla, of North Scituate, R.I.; three sisters, Esther Johnson of Garrett, Pa., Betty Bungard of Meyersdale, Pa., and Helen Wagner of Salisbury, Pa.; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. Friends will be received in the EUGENE G. SALOOM FUNERAL HOME INC., Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Her funeral service will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Durward E. Hays and the Rev. Charles D. Whipple co-officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Joy Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant.
ZORA SAVICH
Zora Savich, 85, formerly of Wilmerding, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999. A daughter of the late John and Mildred (Kunich) Savich. Sister of the late Mildred Dojcinovich, Stella Lonchar, and Edward, Peter, Samuel and Michael Savich. Also, nieces and nephews. No visitation. Arrangements by ALFIERI FUNERAL HOME INC., Wilmerding, (412) 824-4332.
M. BLANCHE SHAFFER
M. Blanche Shaffer, 81, of Penn Run, died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, at Indiana Hospital. Daughter of Edward Barr and Vernie Johns Barr, she was born June 13, 1918, in Heilwood. Mrs. Shaffer lived all of her life in Indiana County and worked as a secretary and salesperson for Ager Appliances, Indiana. She was a member of First Christian Church, Pine Flats, Penn Run Senior Citizens, and many community affairs. Mrs. Shaffer is survived by a daughter, Janet Ager of Jeannette; two brothers, William Barr of Indiana and Charles Barr of Diamondville; a sister, Joette Shaffer of Indiana; two grandchildren, Kevin Ager and Kelly Weightman; and two great-grandchildren, Dustin and Paige Ager. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Clair and John Barr; a sister, Elizabeth Cramer; and two grandsons, Brian and Curtis Ager. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at ROBINSON-LYTLE INC., Indiana, where services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Randy L. Elsea officiating. Interment will be in Brush Valley Lutheran Cemetery.
DAVID S. SULLIVAN
David S. Sullivan, 30, of Turtle Creek, formerly of North Huntingdon, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999. He was an employee of Giant Eagle, Store #60, and HealthSouth Rehab Center, both in Monroeville. Husband of Tammy M. (Kauffman); father of Scott and Brandon; son of Joan (Caldwell) Lindsay and her husband, George, of North Huntingdon, and David G. Sullivan and his wife, Judy, of North Huntingdon; and brother of Robin McWilliams of Ohio and Elaine Campbell of Lawrenceville. Friends may call Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.; Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the PATRICK T. LANIGAN FUNERAL HOME, Turtle Creek/Monroeville Chapel, 1111 Monroeville Ave., Turtle Creek, (412) 823-9350. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Colman Church Saturday at 10 a.m.
LOIS (MULLOOLY) ZYRA
Lois (Mullooly) Zyra, 71, of Turtle Creek, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999. She was a retired employee of USX, E.T. Works. Mother of Trudy Loughrey (wife of Robert G.) of Villanova, Pa., formerly of Mt. Lebanon, and the late Charles L. "Zero" Zyra. Sister of Jane Osman of Turtle Creek. Grandmother of C.J. Starkey, Patrick, Allison, Timothy and Ned Loughrey. Also survived by her aunt, Ellen McKinney of Turtle Creek; and many caring friends and relatives. Friends may call Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.; Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the PATRICK T. LANIGAN FUNERAL HOME, Turtle Creek/Monroeville Chapel, 1111 Monroeville Ave., Turtle Creek, (412) 823-9350. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Colman Church Saturday at noon.
MARY JOSEPHINE WESOLOWSKI DZAMBO
Mary Josephine Wesolowski Dzambo, 80, of Perryopolis, formerly of Chestnut Street, Everson, died Monday evening, Nov. 1, 1999, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Jan Stolarik, with whom she resided. Friends will be received in the FRANK KAPR FUNERAL HOME INC., 417 W. Pittsburgh St., Scottdale, Thursday from noon to 9 p.m. A prayer service will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Everson, with her pastor, the Rev. Dennis Bogusz, and the Rev. John Eucher, pastor of St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Perryopolis, as concelebrants. Interment will follow in St. Joseph R.C. Parish Cemetery, Everson. The Holy Rosary Society and the Catholic Daughters of Americas will recite a parish rosary Thursday at 2 p.m. and a parish wake service will be held Thursday at 8 p.m., both in the funeral home.
