Obituaries by LocationAnthony Topinka Sr., 91, formerly of North Huntingdon, Pa., died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1999, in the Westmoreland Manor, Greensburg. Born Aug. 8, 1907, in North Huntingdon, he was a son of the late Julius and Barbara Yasko Topinka. Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a machinist for Westinghouse in Trafford. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church of Irwin and a former member of the Ushers Club. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Dorchock Topinka; a son, Anthony Topinka Jr.; two brothers, Joseph and Stephen Topinka, and two sisters, Anna Topinka and Mary Schmidt. Surviving are a daughter, Barbara Schmidt, Aliquippa; a son, Joseph Topinka, North Irwin; 11 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the JOSEPH F. OTT FUNERAL HOME, Fifth and Oak Streets, Irwin, Pa. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 11 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception Church. Interment will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, North Huntingdon.
James C. "J.C." Vickers, 73, of Center Grange Road, Monaca, died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born Dec. 25, 1925, in Lax, W.Va., a son of the late Charles E. and Jewell Hager Vickers, he was a resident of Monaca for the past seven years. He retired from the U.S. Air Force and also from Pan Am World Airways, where he worked at the guided missile range in the Bahamas for 20 years. He attended the Monacrest Free Methodist Church, Monaca. He was a member of the F&AM Indian River Lodge 90, Titusville, Fla.; Azan Shriners Temple, Melbourne, Fla.; Scottish Rite, Orlando, Fla.; American Legion Post 580, Monaca, and Center Veterans Post 1821. He served four years with the Navy during World War II, and later 18 years with the U.S. Air Force where he received 18 campaign medals. Surviving are his wife, Beatrice Scholl Sambol Vickers; a son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Ann Vickers, Indiatlantic, Fla.; six stepsons and their wives, James and Sue Sambol III, Aliquippa; Rohn and Joni Sambol, Industry; Joseph and Adriana Sambol, Richmond, Texas; Randall and Barb Sambol, Houston, Texas; Richard and Lisa Sambol, Brighton Township, and John and Mary Sambol, Midland; a daughter and her husband, Raye Lynn and Michael Gluskin, Melbourne, Fla.; 25 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother and friend, Drexel Vickers, Titusville, Fla.; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Geraldine Blankenship, Titusville, Fla., and Valeria and Denver Spears, Palm Bay, Fla.; numerous nieces and nephews; his brother-in-law and friend and his wife, Neil and Mea Scholl, Ford City, Pa.; and a sister-in-law and her husband, Marian and Joe Cochran, Brighton Township. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Vickers, and a stepson, Robert Sambol. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the TODD FUNERAL HOME, 340 Third St., Beaver, where a service will be conducted Friday at 11 a.m. by the Rev. Deano Pulice of the Monacrest Free Methodist Church, Monaca. The Beaver County Special Unit will provide full military rites.
Margaret M. "Peg" Bittner, 85, of the Franciscan Manor, Beaver Falls, formerly of Rochester, died Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born Nov. 16, 1913, in Rochester, a daughter of the late Frank Patrick and Bertha Monroe, she was a retired department manager with the Fishers Big Wheel Department Store. She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church, Rochester; Elizabeth Circle of the church; Beaver County Charlies Angels; Rochester Woman's Club; Naomi Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, and was a volunteer with the Beaver County Red Cross. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert W. Bittner, in 1993; a sister, Louise Monroe, and a brother, John Monroe. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Robert M. and Susan Bittner, Brighton Township; a grandson and his wife, Michael R. and Denise Bittner, Atlanta, Ga.; a granddaughter and her husband, Kelly S. and F. William Johnson, Raleigh, N.C.; two great-grandsons, David Michael Bittner, Atlanta, and William Brenden Johnson, Raleigh; a brother, Willis Monroe, in Florida; a beloved niece and nephew, Ruth and Frank Richter, Beaver Falls, and beloved friends, Grace and Jim Lewis, Rochester Township. Friends will be received Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon until time of service at 2 p.m. in the WILLIAM MURPHY FUNERAL HOME INC., 349 Adams St., Rochester. The Rev. Wayne Gillespie, assistant pastor of the Grace Lutheran Church, will officiate. Entombment will follow in Sylvania Hills Mausoleum. The family suggests memorial contributions be made, if desired, to the Grace Lutheran Church, Adams Street, Rochester, Pa. 15074.
Robert George Bruehl Jr., 77, of Chesterfield County, Va., passed away Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999. A native of Pennsylvania, he was a son of the late Robert George Sr. and Mamie Ploppert Bruehl. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a retired electrical engineer and general maintenance supervisor with the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. He was a Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge 283. He is survived by his wife, Jane H. Bruehl, and a daughter, Margaret Ferguson, and her husband, John, of Chester, Va. He was the loving grandfather of Tiege Robert Ferguson and Kyleigh Elizabeth Ferguson. The family will receive friends from noon until the time of service at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, 1999, in the Chesterfield Chapel of the J.T. MORRISS & SON FUNERAL HOME, 3050 West Hundred Road, with Monsignor Michael Shmeid of St. Augustine's Catholic Church officiating.
Florence V. Eriksson Gibson, 88, of Clinton, died Thursday morning, Feb. 25, 1999, in the Ohio Valley General Hospital. Born Nov. 12, 1910, in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late Bernice and Sadie Younger, she retired from the Homestead Valve Co., Coraopolis. She was a member of the Hebron Presbyterian Church. Surviving are her husband, Samuel J. Gibson; a daughter and son-in-law, Arlene and Cecil Long, Clinton; a stepson, Samuel Gibson, Hampden, Mass.; a sister, Jean Yolton, Flagler, Fla.; six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Henry Eriksson, and a son, Ronald Erikkson. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the WHARTON-HERRICK FUNERAL HOME, 951 Cliff Mine Road, Imperial, where services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. The Rev. Patricia Deeter, of the Hebron Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Jeffrey Long, of the Eureka United Methodist Church, will officiate. Interment will be in Hopewell-Hebron Cemetery.
John D. Golasz, 92, a lifelong resident of Moon Township, died Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999, in the Mariner Health Care Center of West Hills. Born June 15, 1906, in Groveton, Pa., he was a son of the late Peter and Ann Sech Golasz. Mr. Golasz retired in 1986 from Pittsburgh Des Moines with 40 years of service in plant maintenance, and later was a custodian and night watchman for Gilmary School. He was a member of St. Margaret Mary Church. Surviving are his beloved wife, Ella (Yadrich) Golasz; two sons and their wives, Joseph and Nancy Golasz, and Peter and Carol Golasz, all of Moon Township; a brother, Paul Golasz, in Florida; four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the COPELAND MOON TOWNSHIP FUNERAL HOME, 981 Brodhead Road. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in St. Margaret Mary Church, with Father John Ayoob officiating. Entombment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery Mausoleum.
Sandra Ann Gourley, 63, of Hookstown, died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999, in the Trinity East Hospital, Steubenville, Ohio. Born March 28, 1935, in Aliquippa, a daughter of the late Irvin and Grace (Hobbs) Retallic, she was a member of the Baha'i faith. Surviving are her husband of 44 years, James D. Gourley; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Gregory Gourley, Lancaster, Pa., and Daniel and Diana Gourley, Coraopolis; three daughters and a son-in-law, Jillane Persi and Jamie Boyd, both of Hookstown, and Bonnie and Jon Capelli, Mount Joy, Pa.; eight grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Rondele and Doug Todd, Raccoon Township, and a brother and sister-in-law, Warren and Linda Retallic, Fairhaven, Mass. A service will be conducted today at 11:30 a.m. in the WAYNE N. TATALOVICH FUNERAL HOME, 2205 McMinn St., Aliquippa. Interment will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Daugherty Township. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Suite 146, Des Plaines, Ill. 60018-4110.
Melvin Dutch Graham, 86, of Pulaski Township, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. Born Aug. 30, 1912, in Cranberry Township, a son of the late Harvey A. and Rose Dambach Graham, he was a member of the Marion Hill Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, and was a lifetime member of the Marion Hill Sportsman Club. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Graham, and a brother, Richard D. Graham. Surviving are a son, Robert K. Graham, Rochester; a sister, Frances G. Graham, Parchment, Mich.; two brothers and two sisters-in-law, Robert H. and Theda Graham, North Sewickley Township, and John A. and Emeline Graham, Ellwood City; close friends, Baney and Tambra Willis, Rochester, and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the GABAUER FUNERAL HOME INC. at SYLVANIA HILLS MEMORIAL PARK INC. Mr. Graham will lie in state Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. in the Marion Hill Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. His pastor, the Rev. James Krouse will officiate. Private interment
will follow in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park Inc., Daugherty Township. Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to the ARC Beaver County Chapter Inc., 1260 North Brodhead Road, Monaca, Pa. 15061.
Laura File Larson died suddenly in Laurel, Md., on Dec. 30, 1998. Born Nov. 27, 1916, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, and daughter, Mildred Clark. Surviving are a son, Robert, Moon Township; daughters, Lynnea Roehrich and Becky Witek, both of Laurel, Md.; five grandchildren, and a brother, Donald File, Houston, Texas. A memorial service was held in the FLECK FUNERAL HOME, Laurel, Md. Burial will be in Sylvania Hills.
William M. "Beetle" Lonnett, 81, of Beaver Falls, passed away Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999, in The Medical Center, Beaver. He was retired from Babcock and Wilcox Tubular Products in the Hot Finish Department. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Lonnett. Complete arrangements will be announced in Sunday's Times by the CAMPBELL'S BEAVER FALLS FUNERAL HOME, 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, Beaver Falls.
