Obituaries by LocationCatherine "Katie" I. Cerra, 82, a resident of Beaver Falls for 48 years, formerly of Pittsburgh, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, in the Providence Health Care Center, Beaver Falls. Born Sept. 11, 1916, in Clinton, Pa., a daughter of the late Pirmin and Rosa Simon Hund, she was a cigarette stamper, having worked for the Beaver Falls Candy and Cigar Company. She was a member of the Divine Mercy Parish, Beaver Falls; Ladies Guild, and the VIP's. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Mary T. and George R. Hurbanek, Beaver Falls; two sisters, Mrs. Richard (Martha) Baxter, Erie, Pa., and Mrs. William (Josephine) Carson, Pittsburgh, and two grandchildren, Tara Hurbanek, Beaver Falls, and George Hurbanek II, Dayton, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband, Felix L. Cerra, on July 31, 1991; two brothers, Peter and Frank Hund, and four sisters, Marie Ihrig, Anna Hund, Bertha Francis and Margaret Parra. Friends will be received Wednesday from 2 to 9 p.m. in the LUTTON BEAVER FALLS FUNERAL HOME, 1117 Fifth Ave., where prayers will begin Thursday at noon, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 12:30 p.m. in the Divine Mercy Parish, Beaver Falls. Father Larry Bruney, of St. Vitus Catholic Church, New Castle, will officiate. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Chippewa Township.
Marguerite "Marie" Dye Clark, 89, of Center Township, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, after an extended illness. Born Dec. 12, 1909, in Rochester, a daughter of the late James and Margaret Dye, she was a former lifelong resident of Aliquippa. She was a retired teacher at St. Titus Roman Catholic Church for many years and was also a substitute at other area schools. She was a member of St. Titus Roman Catholic Church, Aliquippa, and the Confraternity of Christian Mothers of St. Titus. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas P. Clark; three brothers, Joseph, William and Maurice Dye, and a sister, Gladys McDermott. Surviving are three daughters and two sons-in-law, Marie and William Schrum, Center Township; Kathleen and Richard Kemmery, Frackville, Pa., and Sister Maureen Clark, C.S.J., Boston, Mass.; six grandchildren, Brian, Megan, Mark and Patrick Kemmery, all of Frackville, Pa., and William and Michael Schrum, both of Center Township; a brother, Raymond Dye, Aliquippa, and many nieces and nephews. Friends will be received Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the DARROCH MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 2640 Mill St., Aliquippa, where a service will be conducted Thursday at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. in St. Titus Catholic Church, Aliquippa. Father Leroy DePietro, of St. Sylvester Roman Catholic Church, Brentwood, Pa., will officiate. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Hopewell Township. The Confraternity of Christian Mothers will recite a rosary Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the funeral home.
David Paul Cook, 92, husband of the late Dorothy G. Cook of Glenwillard, died Jan. 27, 1999, in the Mount Lebanon Nursing Home. Born in Basil, Ohio, Mr. Cook lived most of his adult life in Wireton, Carnot and Glenwillard. He worked for USS Steel for approximately 39 years, beginning as a fitter at American Bridge in Ambridge in 1928. He eventually assumed responsibility as Superintendent of the Main Shop and Assembly Yard in Ambridge and then of the USS Steel Plant in Trenton, N.J., retiring in 1967. He was also an inspector for the R.W. Hunt Co. for five years. Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, David and Susan Cook, and Joseph and Judy Cook; his grandchildren, Susan and David Calcek, and Andrew, Gregg and Sarah Cook; his great-grandchildren, David and Alec Calcek; two sisters, Anna Cook, Baltimore, Ohio, and Margaret Hunt, Whitehall, Mich., and a brother, Dr. John Cook, Jackson, Ohio. A private family service was held with burial at Beaver Cemetery.
William E. Davidson Sr., 83, of West Mayfield, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, in his residence. Born Oct. 12, 1915, in Beaver Falls, a son of the late Roy J. and Yarda Sternquist Davidson, he was a member of St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church. He had attended Youngstown University, where he played football, and was a member of the Beaver Falls Owls Club and the Beaver Falls Turners. He retired from Babcock and Wilcox Tubular Products Company in 1981. Surviving are his wife, Catherine M. Trn Davidson; two sons and two daughters-in-law, William E. Davidson Jr. and his wife, Peggy, Pittsburgh, and Thomas J. Davidson and his wife, Suzanne, Follansbee, W.Va.; four grandsons, William E. Davidson III and Matthew Davidson, Pittsburgh, and T.J. Davidson Jr. and Douglas Davidson, Follansbee, W.Va.; three brothers, Robert Davidson, Chippewa Township; George Davidson, Vanport, and Donald Davidson, Chippewa Township; four sisters, Mrs. John (Helen) Smith, Beaver Falls; Mrs. Edith Yoho, Chippewa Township; Evelyn "Ahoo" Davidson, Beaver Falls, and Mrs. Betty Pokita, Monaca. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Roy J. Davidson Jr., Charles, and John Davidson. Friends will be received today from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the CAMPBELL'S BEAVER FALLS FUNERAL HOME, 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, where prayers will be recited Thursday at 10:30, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. in St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church. The Rev. Father J. Francis Frazer will celebrate the mass. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Chippewa Township. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made, if desired, to St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church, 3908 Sixth Ave., Beaver Falls, Pa. 15010.
Dorothy P. Gardner, 74, of Beaver Falls, died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born Nov. 8, 1924, she was a member of the Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Chippewa Township. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Gardner. Surviving are a son, Leonard Payne, New Brighton; a grandson, Leonard Payne III; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ruth and Charles Gardner, Beaver Falls, and a friend, Michelle Warnich, Rochester. Friends will be received Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. in the GABAUER FUNERAL HOME INC. at SYLVANIA HILLS MEMORIAL PARK INC., Daugherty Township. Her pastor, the Rev. John Pingel, will officiate. Interment will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park.
John A. Gilchrist, 76, of Chippewa Township, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999. Born Sept. 7, 1922, in Beaver Falls, he was a son of the late Theodore M. and Cora (Maccall) Gilchrist. Along with his brother, Tom, he operated the family business, Alps Ice Cream, until 1960. He retired in 1987 as a salesman at Tri-State Equipment. He was a charter member of the Beaver Falls Chamber of Commerce; a charter member of the Chippewa Area Lions Club, where he served as King Lion, served on the Advisory Board of the Light House for the Blind, and received the Lion's distinguished Melvin Jones Award. He was a member of the Parian Lodge No. 662 F&AM since 1945, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1985, Instructor, Chairman of the Masonic Education Committee, and a Trustee of the Lodge; served on the Board of Directors and as President for many years of the Temple Association; was an instructor at the School of Masonic Education, and was a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory of Valley of New Castle and Beaver Valley Commandry No. 84. He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a weather observer in the Yukon and was a member of the Chippewa United Presbyterian Church. Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Mary Alice (Hess) Gilchrist; a son and daughter-in-law, Douglas K. and Trina Gilchrist, Clinton, Pa.; a daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Alan Cagle, McLeansville, N.C.; three grandchildren, David Gilchrist, and Jessica and Sean Cagle; a brother, Thomas A. Gilchrist, Patterson Township; a sister, Mary Hetzler, Patterson Heights, and two nieces and two nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister and a brother. Friends will be received Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the CAMPBELL'S CHIPPEWA FUNERAL HOME, 2618 Darlington Rd., where a service will be conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Frazier officiating. Parian Lodge No. 662 will hold a Masonic service Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Private entombment will follow in the Beaver Falls Mausoleum. Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to the Beaver County Cancer and Heart Association Inc., Beaver Valley Professional Building, Suite 104, 1260 Brodhead Rd., Monaca, Pa. 15061.
Robert G. Hays, 86, of New Brighton, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born Feb. 8, 1913, in North Sewickley Township, a son of the late John Byron and Mary Elizabeth "Mayme" (Moyer) Hays, he retired in 1978 from the Aliquippa Works, Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., where he was a clerk in the Seamless Tube Division. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Pearl M. Smith, in July 1990. Surviving are a nephew, Rick Smith, and a niece, Cindy Vukich, both of New Brighton; a great-nephew, David Smith, New Brighton; five great-nieces, Kristin Smith, and Brooke and Brandy Vukich, all of New Brighton; Tracy Horvath, White Township, and Kelley Schachner, Spartenburg, S.C., and six great-great-nieces and nephews, Taylor, Johnny and Nicholas Horvath; Amanda Allison; Jessica Kalcevic, and Trevor Schachner. Friends will be received Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the J&J SPRATT FUNERAL HOME, 1612 Third Ave., New Brighton, where a service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Judith McBride of the Westminister United Presbyterian Church, New Brighton, officiating. Private interment
will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Rochester.
Elva F. Lundy, 98, formerly of Carrick, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, in St. Clair Memorial Hospital. She was born June 29, 1900, in Pittsburgh. She was the wife of the late James G. Lundy Sr.; mother of the late James G. Lundy Jr., and grandmother of David J. Lundy, of Carrick; Bruce G. Lundy, of Upper St. Clair; Joy Blankenbicher, of New Brighton, and Alan R. Lundy, Esplen. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren. There will be no visitation. A committal service will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Mount Lebanon Cemetery Chapel, 509 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon. The BRIGHT FUNERAL HOME, 704 Brownsville Road, Mount Oliver, Pa., is in charge of arrangements.
Ethel M. "Sis" McMillan, 76, of Hookstown (Hanover Township), died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, in UPMC - Beaver Valley, following a brief illness. Born Nov. 20, 1922, in Crafton, a daughter of the late Neil and Ethel Newell Kincaid, she was a retired dispatcher for the Hanover Township Police Department, and was a former employee of Stevenson's Store, Frankfort Springs. She was a member of the Hanover United Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles C. "Keck" McMillan, in January 1986, and two brothers, George and Dale Kincaid. Surviving are a daughter, Charlene McMillan, Hookstown; a brother and sister-in-law, Ross and Patty Lynn Kincaid, Hookstown, and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the WELCH FUNERAL HOME, Hookstown, where the Rev. Paul Becker, her pastor, will conduct services Wednesday at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Mill Creek Hill Cemetery, Hookstown.
Sara E. Estermyer Ong, 89, a lifetime resident of the Beaver Falls area, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born Oct. 23, 1909, in Beaver Falls, a daughter of the late Louis J. Estermyer and Sara Ellen Gould Estermyer, she worked for the Beaver Falls postal service during World War II and was Catholic by faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Albert R. Ong, on Jan. 22, 1996; six brothers, Lewis, John, Charles, Richard, Wilber and Clarence Estermyer, and three sisters, Lillian Estermyer, Helen Irwin, and Florence Murray. Surviving are two daughters and a son-in-law, Phyllis Bell Aluseo, Patterson Heights, and Joann S. Andrews and her husband, Charles, Patterson Heights; four grandchildren, Susan Basile and her husband, John, New Brighton; William Bell and his wife, Joan, New Brighton; C. Mark Andrews, Patterson Heights, and J. Eric Bell, Patterson Heights, and five great-grandchildren, William Basile and his wife, Tina; Robert Basile; John David Basile; William Bell, and Corey Bell. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the LUTTON BEAVER FALLS FUNERAL HOME, 1117 Fifth Ave., where a service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Kenneth Chorle of the Calvary Presbyterian Church, Beaver Falls, will officiate. Interment will follow in Beaver Cemetery.
