Obituaries by LocationThomas J. Keener, 30, of South Montrose, PA passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday night, August 15, 2000 at his residence.
Thomas is the son of Clara (Canfield) McGavin, Rush Township, and Roscoe J. Keener.
He is a graduate of Elk Lake High School, Class of 1989.
A son, Lukus J. Keener, many aunts, uncles and cousins survive Thomas.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 18 at the Daniel K. Regan Funeral Home, 64 S. Main St., Montrose. Friends may call on the family at the funeral home from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday. Interment
will be in the Beaver Meadows Cemetery , Tuscarora Township, Bradford County.
Friends may send donations to the Treasurer House, Attn: Leslie Mershon, 60 S. Main St., Montrose, PA 18801.
Walter Thomas Blackburn (Blackie), age 73, of Golden Hill, Wilmot Township, Bradford County, PA, passed away on Wednesday, September 20, 2000 at the Towanda Memorial Hospital.
Blackie was born June 7, 1927 in Philadelphia, a son of the late Joseph Leroy and Anna T. Cassidy Blackburn. He attended Philadelphia area schools and graduated from Bensalem High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and Korea. Blackie was employed at U.S. Steel (USS and USX) in Fairless Hills. He retired from U.S. Steel in 1985 after 33 years and began part-time work for Sam VanDeMark at VanDeMark Logging and Excavating. Blackie was a member of the Steelworkers Union and the Black Walnut American Legion. He was an avid sportsman, fisherman and hunter.
Blackie was married to the former Josephine Beffert, who predeceased him in 1984. He married the former Cornelia VanDeMark Taylor on October 16, 1985.
Surviving are his wife, Cornelia, at home; sons and daughters-in-law, Walter J. and Karen Blackburn, Laceyville, Mark and Lori Blackburn, Levittown, Bryan and John Blackburn, both of Laceyville; daughters and sons-in-law, Helen and Richard Flail, Levittown, Sharon and Steve McClain, Bristol, Celeste and Steve Kraeuter, Levittown; brothers and sisters-in-law, James L. and Jean Blackburn, Florida, George P. and Eleanor Blackburn, West Bristol, Richard D. Blackburn, Levittown, Robert A. and Holly Blackburn, Hatboro, Edward C. and Alice Blackburn, Levittown; sisters, Teresa Palagruto, Philadelphia, Joan Daley, Levittown; a brother-in-law, Lou Coppens, Langhorne; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a brother, Milton J. Blackburn and sisters, Helen Coppens and Victoria Chratian.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Sept. 25 from the James Dougherty Funeral Home, Trenton Road, Levittown, followed by interment
in Morrisville Cemetery , Morrisville.
Friends called at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 1 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing on Friday, Sept. 22 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be directed to the American Lung Association, 738 S. Main Ave., Scranton, PA 18504.
Mrs. Thelma E. (Butch) Burdan, age 89, of Nordmont, PA, passed away on Monday, September 25, 2000 at the Muncy Valley Hospital, Muncy Valley, PA.
Thelma was born May 26, 1911 in Pottstown, daughter of the late Eugene B. and Edna B. Lightcap Swinehart. She attended local schools and married Lester Lee Burdan of Pottstown.
In 1960 they purchased Zangara's Bar in Dushore and renamed it Burdan's Tavern, in which they furnished the community with good food and great pizza in a spotless environment for ten years, retiring to Nordmont in 1970. Also assisting them in the operation of the tavern was Butch's sister, Edna Swinehart Loughnane. Thelma's husband, Les, died on August 27, 1975.
Butch was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church of Nordmont.
Surviving are a sister, Edna May Swinehart Loughnane, Warrensville; a niece, Barbara Covello, Harleysville; four grand-nephews and one grand-niece.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Nordmont, with her pastor, Rev. Karen B. Allen, officiating. Interment
will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery , Pottstown.
Friends may call at the church on Friday from 2 p.m. until the time of the service.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore.
Mary Culver, 54, of Vernon, PA died on Monday, September 25, 2000 at the Tyler Memorial Hospital in Tunkhannock.
Born August 23, 1946 in Binghamton, NY, she was the daughter of Edith Weber Robinson and the late Arthur Robinson.
She attended Binghamton schools. Thirty-three years ago she moved to Vernon and married her husband, Phillip Culver.
She attended the Blessed Sacrament Church in Centermoreland.
Mary worked for both McCrory's and McDonald's in Shavertown.
Surviving in addition to her husband and mother are two sons, Michael Wheaton, Luzerne and Mark Culver, at home; three daughters, Ann Marie Dale and Christine Howell, both of Wilkes-Barre and Maureen Culver, Wyoming; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild; a brother, Donald Moran, Germany; sisters, Delores Winters, Binghamton, NY and Patricia Westley, St. Mary's, GA; several nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Nulton Funeral Home, Rt. 309, Beaumont on Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Eileen M. Brown Ruerup, 81, died on Friday, September 22, 2000 at her home in Westfield, NJ.
Born in Westfield, she lived there all her life. She owned Eileen's Music Shop in Scotch Plains many years ago. She was a communicant of Holy Trinity Church in Westfield.
Eileen and her late husband, Norman, owned a home at RR Laceyville for many years and made many friends in the area. Norman, former chief of the Westfield Fire Department, died in 1991.
Surviving are two daughters, Geraldine Furchak-Saliola and Eileen Ruerup, both of Westfield; a sister, Honora Pfeiffer of Westfield; two granddaughters, Cheryl Vito and Jennifer Ruerup; a grandson-in-law, Ray Vito and one beloved great-granddaughter, Gabriella Vito.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 25 at Holy Trinity Church in Westfield. Interment
was in Fairview Cemetery .
Friends and family called from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday at the Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Ave., Westfield, NJ.
Myrtle Pentecost, 93, of 1023 Azalia Rd., Union, NJ, passed away on Friday, September 15, 2000 at Union Hospital in Union, NJ.
Born in Olyphant, PA on March 29, 1907, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Laura Monroe Morrison.
She was married to Russell Pentecost, who predeceased her on March 12, 1991.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Union where she was a charter member.
During WWII she worked for the war effort. Being an avid bowler, she won many individual trophies.
Mrs. Pentecost was a retired beautician.
Survivors include two brothers, Arthur L. Morrison of Laceyville and Melvin Morrison of Tunkhannock; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at the Harding-Litwin Funeral Home, 123 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, on Saturday, September 23 at 11 a.m. Interment
will be in Mt. Bethel Cemetery , Justus.
Calling hours will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Roland Campbell Smith, age 82, of 110 Bruce Road, Roebuck, SC, died on Thursday, September 14, 2000 in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Born in Albany, NY and formerly of Wyalusing, he came to Spartanburg in 1969.
He was the son of the late John Louis and Myrtle Campbell Smith. He was a 1935 graduate of Albany High School and was a retired sales representative from American Meter Company, retiring in 1982 after 41 years of service. He was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Wyalusing, having served as a deacon and was later a member of Second Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Doris Campbell Smith, of the home; one daughter, Jeanette and son-in-law, Bryant J. Reeves, Jr. of Boiling Springs; one son, John C. Smith and daughter-in-law, Beverly F. Smith of Jacksonville, FL; five grandchildren, John C. Smith, II and Jeanine Smith Drexler of Jacksonville, FL, Bridgette Reeves Fullington of Evans, GA, Bryant J. Reeves, III of Boiling Springs and Jason Campbell Reeves of Rock Hill, SC; two great-grandchildren, Jordon T. Drexler and Emory L. Fullington, III.
The family received friends on Saturday, September 16 from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Graveside services followed at 11 a.m. in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. G. Wayne Cole and the Rev. Don Roper.
Memorials may be made to Second Presbyterian Church Accessibility Fund, 438 N. Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29303 or to the American Lung Association, Piedmont Region, 84 Villa Road, B-2, Greenville, SC 29615.
The family is at the home of Jeanette and Bryant Reeves, 111 Highland Acres Drive, Boiling Springs, SC.
Mr. Edward C. Bitler, age 51, of RR2, Box 2339, Second Street, Laceyville, PA, passed away suddenly at the Tyler Memorial Hospital in Tunkhannock on Thursday afternoon, November 23, 2000.
Born in Meshoppen on November 19, 1949, he was the son of Alice Root Bitler of Meshoppen and the late Albert Bitler, who passed away on June 7, 1999. Mr. Bitler was a graduate of Tunkhannock High School, Class of 1968. He was employed at the Procter & Gamble Paper Products in Mehoopany for over 29 years, retiring in March 1999.
He was a member of the Mehoopany United Methodist Church. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and also attending auctions.
Besides his mother, he is survived by his wife of 25 years, the former Emily Decker of Laceyville; a daughter and son-in-law, Barb and Charlie Lantz of Laceyville; a brother and sister-in-law, Rev. Kenneth and Sandy Bitler of Susquehanna; an uncle, George Bitler of Meshoppen and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral and committal services were held on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. from the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main St., Laceyville, with the Rev. Dave Hinkley of the Russell Hill United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment
was in the Vaughn Cemetery in Mehoopany.
Family and friends called at the funeral home on Saturday evening, Nov. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing, may make memorial contributions to the Mehoopany United Methodist Church.
Irene D. Davis, age 80 of New Albany RR1, PA, passed away on Tuesday, November 21, 2000 at the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre.
She was born on December 19, 1919 in Hillsgrove, the daughter of the late Ernest and Anna Warburton Norton.
Irene had been a lifetime member of this area and was a member of the Forksville United Methodist Church.
She volunteered for Senior Citizens at Sullivan Terrace and helped with the Forksville Fire Company.
Mrs. Davis enjoyed time spent playing bingo, doing needlework and she thoroughly enjoyed visiting with family and friends.
In September of 1977, Irene was preceded in death by her husband, the late Charles E. Davis.
She is survived by two children, a daughter and son-in-law, Rose and Mike Morris of New Albany; a son, Robert Davis of St. Mary's; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Grace and Louis Rosbach of Williamsport, Dolores and George Columbine of Williamsport; a brother and sister-in-law, Elmer and Susie Norton of Lewistown; a brother-in-law, James Davis of Elmira, NY; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Ann Davis; a son, Edwin Davis, at three months and by two brothers, Walter and Herbert Norton.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. in the Forksville United Methodist Church; with the Rev. David Hart, her pastor, officiating.
Interment followed in the Hillsgrove Cemetery .
Friends and family called on Friday evening, Nov. 24 at the Russell P. McHenry Funeral Home, 119 Carpenter St., Dushore from 7 to 9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Forksville United Methodist Church in Mrs. Davis's memory.
John E. Fiorini, Jr., age 82, died on Thursday, October 16, 2000 in Charleston, SC. Born in Mildred on June 5, 1918, he was the son of the late John and Giordana Fiorini.
Mr. Fiorini is survived by his wife, the former Jewel Lang, whom he married on December 26, 1945.
The Fiorinis were parents of four children: John, Mary, Anne and Mark. They were parents by marriage, but, more importantly, by love of the former Gail Driscoll (John's wife), Steven Batten (Anne's husband), the former Amy Benson (Mark's wife) and Lou Brzezinski (Mary's husband). He is survived by six grandchildren, Cara, John Carl and Michael Fiorini (John and Gail's children), William Kimmins (Mary's son) and Nicholas and Catherine Fiorini (Mark and Amy's children).
Mr. Fiorini enlisted in the U.S. Army in October of 1940 and was honorably discharged in December of 1945 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. He served in the European Theater of Operations from April of 1942 until September of 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal as a result of injuries received from enemy action on August 1, 1944.
In 1938, Mr. Fiorini earned his undergraduate degree at Bloomsburg University and was followed by his Master's Degree at Bucknell University. He taught English at Turnpike High School in Mildred from 1950 to 1958 when he became administrator of the Turnpike High School System.
In 1963, he was chosen as the principal of the new Sullivan County High School in Laporte. In 1969, he returned to the classroom and taught English at Sullivan County High School until 1973. At that time, he was appointed as curriculum advisor to the nineteen school district's Intermediate Unit No. 17, holding that position until his retirement in 1983.
Mr. Fiorini was the first chairman of the Curriculum Committee of Channel 44 WVIA-TV, serving until 1983. He was chairman, also, of the Curriculum Committee of the Eastern Educational Television Network, which was headquartered in Boston, MA from 1970 to 1980. He served, also, on the advisory committee of National Public Radio, headquartered in Washington, DC.
During the 1970s, Mr. Fiorini was a member of the 12-member National Advisory Committee that developed classroom materials and strategies for the BBC's Shakespeare series, headquartered in New York City's Channel No. 13. In 1972, he was one of a group of educators and media experts who were invited to Israel to evaluate that country's Educational Television System.
For ten years, he was chairman of the Pennsylvania Department of Education teams that evaluated the teacher's training programs in the colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. He was also a part-time teacher at Bloomsburg and Bucknell Universities.
He was a past president of the Sullivan County Cancer society and past president of the Sullivan County Polio Foundation. He was a member of the Sullivan County Library Board for several decades and past president of the Sullivan-Bradford PIAA. He was the scoutmaster of the Mildred Boy Scout Troop during the 1950s.
At the time of his death, Mr. Fiorini was president of the Sullivan County Housing Authority, a position he held for 20 years. The authority's work culminated in establishing Sullivan Terrace and the current rental assistance programs. He was a life member of the Sullivan County Historical Society, a life member of the United Methodist Home Auxiliary (The Highlands) and its first president. He organized the annual Christmas sale at the home and was active in the efforts of the gift shop. He was the first president and life member of the Sullivan Terrace Advisory Board.
Mr. Fiorini was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mildred, having been a parishioner during the tenure of every pastor who served the church, beginning with Father Enright, who baptized him.
It was Mr. Fiorini's wish to be cremated, thus there will be no viewing.
A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Mildred, with the Rev. Patrick McLaughlin, as celebrant.
Interment will be at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of masses and flowers, please direct any memorials to St. Francis of Assisi Church Restoration Project, Mildred, PA 18632.
Local arrangements were entrusted to the Russell P. McHenry Funeral Home, 119 Carpenter St., Dushore.
