Obituaries by LocationDorothy Hunter Duncan, 74, of 135 Second Ave., Aliquippa, went home to be with her Lord on Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, at her residence. Complete arrangements will be announced in Thursday's Times by the SHEFFIELD ALIQUIPPA FUNERAL HOME, 920 Franklin Ave.
Blair Feits, 83, of New Brighton, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, in the Ellwood City Hospital. Complete arrangements will be announced in Thursday's Times by the GABAUER FUNERAL HOME INC. at SYLVANIA HILLS MEMORIAL PARK INC., Daugherty Township.
Regis G. Fritz, 79, of Pulaski Township, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born Nov. 2, 1919, in East Canonsburg, Pa., a son of the late Anthony Alderson and Bertha Fritz, he was a retired employee of the St. Joe Minerals Corp., Potter Township. A Protestant by faith, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a life member of the Disabled Veterans and a 37-year member of American Legion Post 19, New Brighton. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Dora E. Hollenbaugh Fritz; a stepson and daughter-in-law, C.L. "Fats" and Judy Mooney, New Brighton; three stepdaughters and two sons-in-law, Shirley Ann Campbell, New Brighton; Nancy and Robert Schettig, Daugherty Township, and Patricia and Edgar Rae, New Brighton; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren, and two half brothers, Donald Fritz, San Bernardino, Calif., and George Alderson, Green Tree. He was preceded in death by a half sister, Beverly Murphy. The family will receive friends Friday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the WILLIAM MURPHY FUNERAL HOME INC., 349 Adams St., Rochester, where services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Eugene DeMarco, of the New Brighton Christian Assembly Church, will officiate.
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 Junior 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 Instructions, 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 today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the CAMPBELL'S CHIPPEWA FUNERAL HOME, 2618 Darlington Road, 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, Kristen Kalcevic, and Brooke and Brandy Vukich, all of New Brighton; Tracy Horvath, White Township, and Kelly Schachner, Spartanburg, 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 today 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.
Blanche Cook Lushear, 81, of Madison, N.J., died unexpectedly at the Fellowship Village in Basking Ridge, N.J., on Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999. She was the wife of the late William Harold Lushear. Born Oct. 24, 1917, in Rochester, Beaver County, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Lillian C. and Albert Moore Cook of Beaver, Pa. For many years she lived at 1450 Corporation St., Beaver, and graduated from Beaver High School in 1935 as Valedictorian of her class, from Geneva College, Beaver Falls, in 1939 with high honors with a B.A. in Elementary Education, and from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949 with a Masters of Education. She was building principal of the Fort McIntosh School in Beaver, when she married William Harold Lushear on June 15, 1963, and moved to New Jersey almost 35 years ago. Blanche and her husband were happy world travelers with happy times and memories on ships such as Caronia, Bremen, Queen Mary, Sagafyord, Rotterdam, Royal Viking "Sky" and several Caribbean Cruise Lines. She was a member and deacon of the Old First (Presbyterian) Church in Newark, N.J., for many years. In addition, she was a member of the United Methodist Church in Madison, N.J., with memberships in United Methodist Women, Priscilla Circle and the Friendship Circle. She was also a longtime member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Alpha Zeta State Organization, New Jersey. In Madison, she was active in the Thursday Morning Club, American Association of University Women, the Historical Society, as well as PSEA and AARP. She is survived by many relatives and friends including, William E. Alexander and his family of Lancaster, Pa.; Mrs. William A. (Jean Cook) Marx of Beaver; the family of Mrs. Samuel T. Peoples (Helen Hayward) of Aliquippa, and Mrs. Eugene (Linda Spelker) Bacha and her family of Chatham, N.J. Friends will be received Saturday, Feb. 20, 1999, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the BURROUGHS, KOHR AND DANGLER FUNERAL HOME, 106 Main St., Madison, N.J., with the funeral commencing at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in the Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Springfield, N.J. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Memorial Funds of the Old First Church (Presbyterian), 820 Broad St., Newark, N.J. or to the United Methodist Church, 24 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940.
Sophia (Gvoic) Mancini, 84, of Hopewell Township, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, in UPMC - Montefiore Hospital, Pittsburgh. Born June 19, 1914, in Aliquippa, a daughter of the late Eli and Mary Gvoic, she was a member of St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church, Aliquippa; St. Elijah Serbian Church Circle of Serbian Sisters, and SNF Zora Lodge. She was employed by the former Clover Farms Store, Aliquippa, which her father owned. Sophia was a devoted wife, a wonderful mother and a proud grandmother. She will be sadly missed by her husband, Carmen Mancini; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Jenny Mancini, and Robert and Robin Mancini; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lynn and Kent Brooks, all of Atlanta, Ga.; three grandchildren, Marjorie, Laura and Natalie, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Mancini was preceded in death by a brother, George Govic, and two sisters, Anna Howard and Martha West. Friends will be received today from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the WAYNE N. TATALOVICH FUNERAL HOME, 2205 McMinn St., Aliquippa, where a service will be conducted Friday at 9:30 a.m., followed by an additional service at 10 a.m. in St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church, Aliquippa. Entombment will follow in Sylvania Hills Mausoleum, Daugherty Township. Pomen (blessing service) will be held today at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home.
Catherine R. Miller, 75, of Glenwillard, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, in Mariner Nursing Center, West Hills. Born Sept. 16, 1923, in Bridgeport, Conn., a daughter of the late John and Gertrude (Diamond) Friedl, she was a graduate of Ambridge High School, and was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Wireton, Pa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph C. Miller, in 1992, and three brothers, Jack, James and Charles Friedl. She is survived by three sons and one daughter and their spouses: John C. and Barbara Miller, Beaver Falls; Joseph C. and Phyllis Miller, and Timothy R. and Elaine Miller, both of Wilmington, N.C., and Darlene Miller and Edwin Huff, Boston, Mass., nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the HUNTSMAN ALIQUIPPA FUNERAL HOME, 2345 Mill St., where a service will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Wireton, with Pastor Father Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Hopewell Township. Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to the Handicap Accessible Fund of St. Catherine's Church, 20 McGovern Blvd., Wireton, Pa. 15046.
Helen M. Opperman, 99, formerly of Unionville and Conway, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, in the Valley Care Nursing Home, Aleppo Township, following an extended illness. Born June 14, 1899, in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late Oscar and Julia Kane Watkins, she was a former member of the St. Veronica Church, Ambridge. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Miles Opperman, on April 20, 1960; a son, Charles, in 1993; a daughter, Mildred Roll, in 1994; a brother, Oscar Watkins Jr., and two sisters, Mildred Wolber and Myrtle Summers. Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Miles R. and Katherine Opperman, Wyomissing, Pa., and John V. and Betty June Opperman, New Brighton; two daughters, Mrs. Dolores Lukachek, Harmony Township, and Mrs. Patricia Clancy, Neville Island; 18 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the JOHN SYKA FUNERAL HOME, 833 Kennedy Drive, Ambridge, where a service will be conducted Friday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in the St. Veronica Worship Site of Good Samaritan Parish, Ambridge. Burial will follow in the church Cemetery, Bell Acres.
Dana (Nelson) Paar, 73, of Baden, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Born Sept. 26, 1925, in Conway, a daughter of the late Fred and Dana Sweesy Nelson, she was a member of New Hope Lutheran Church, Economy. Surviving are her husband, George Paar; two daughters, Mrs. Leslie (Judy) Kotouch, and Mrs. Lee (Debbie) Faltenovich, both of Economy; a brother, Raymond Nelson, Economy; two sisters, Mrs. William (Beaulah) Hamilton, Indianapolis, Ind., and Jeanette Nelson, Beaver; four grandchildren, Jenny, Allison, Chris and Stacie, and two great-grandchildren, Michael and Joseph. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the MATTER-TATALOVICH FUNERAL HOME, 1133 Church St., Ambridge, where a service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. with her pastor, Larry Mort officiating. Interment will be in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park.
