Obituaries by LocationEarl A. Baumgartel
Earl A. Baumgartel, 81, formerly of Springdale, Allegheny County, died Tuesday at the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Born May 6, 1920, in West Deer Township, Allegheny County, he was the son of Joseph F. and Lena H. Seibert Baumgartel.
Mr. Baumgartel retired as director of engineering at St. Francis Medical Center.
He was a member of the Springdale Presbyterian Church and John E. Mair F&AM Lodge 729. He was a life member of the VFW Post 249 of Butler, the Hospital Engineers of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the American Society of Hospital Engineering.
During World War II, he served as an Army sergeant and received the Bronze Star and Victory Medal.
He is survived by two sons, Dr. Earl D. Baumgartel of Loveland, Colo., and Ronald L. Baumgartel of Cranberry Township; a daughter, Mrs. David (Joyce) Howard of Tarentum; a sister, Helen Wylie of Clinton Township; a brother, Ralph Baumgartel of Murrysville; and six grandchildren.
His wife, Edna Hamilton Baumgartel, and a brother preceded him in death.
BAUMGARTEL - Friends of Earl A. Baumgartel, who died Tuesday, June 5, 2001, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. today and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME, 421 Allegheny Ave., Oakmont. Services will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The Rev. Norma Prima-Murphy will officiate. Entombment will follow at Allegheny County Memorial Park.
Harold W. Walker
Harold W. Walker, 76, of Zelienople died Wednesday at St. John Specialty Care Center, Mars.
Born Aug. 6, 1924, in Swissvale, he was the son of Roy T. and Jessie Hudson Walker.
He was a member of the Grace Church of Harmony, American Legion Post 474 of Zelienople, Harmony Lodge 429 F&AM and the Harmony Moose Lodge.
Mr. Walker enjoyed bowling and golfing.
He was a World War II Army veteran.
Surviving are a son, Lavon H. Walker of Evans City; two sisters, Mrs. William (Edith) Marlowe of Butler and Mrs. Frank (June) Hortsman of Herman; and a grandson.
His wife, Virginia “Ginny” Walker, died Feb. 17, 2001.
WALKER - Friends of Harold W. Walker, who died Wednesday, June 6, 2001, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at GLENN-KILDOO FUNERAL HOME, 319 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Peter Everett, his church pastor, officiating. Entombment will be at the Zelienople Community Mausoleum.
A Masonic service will be held at 6:45 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to Grace Church of Harmony, 538 Main St., Harmony, PA 16037.
Thelma V. Rupert
Thelma V. Rupert, 79, of East Brady died Tuesday at Chicora Medical Center.
Born March 13, 1922, in Altoona, Blair County, she was the daughter of Charles and Irene Smith Irvin.
She had retired from the cleaning services department at Altoona Hospital.
Mrs. Rupert was a past commander of the Disabled American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary of Palatka, Fla.
She enjoyed crocheting.
Surviving are her companion, Alexander Massaro; three daughters, Janet Houston and Phyllis Seevers, both of Altoona, and Saundra Simpson of East Brady; 15 grandchildren; and 39 great-grandchildren. Two sisters, Ruth Prough of Mount Union, Huntingdon County and Sally Mazza of Vero Beach, Fla.; three brothers, Richard Irvin of Hastings, Fla., Charles Irwin of Thompsontown, Juniata County, and Kenneth Irwin of Florida, also survive.
RUPERT - Friends of Thelma V. Rupert, who died Tuesday, June 5, 2001, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at SANTELLA FUNERAL HOME, 1106 Eighth Ave., Altoona. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Jack Moyer will officiating. Burial will be at Grandview Cemetery , Altoona.
Marion H. Peffer
Marion H. Peffer, 86, of Scott Ridge Road, Harmony, died Tuesday at St Francis Hospital, New Castle.
Born June 7, 1914, in Lancaster Township, he was the son of Paul H. and Rebecca Coulter Peffer.
He was the sixth-generation farmer on his family’s century farm, which was first deeded in 1839. He also had been a field service manager for John Deere for 30 years and retired from Matthew Conveyor of Ellwood City in 1973.
Mr. Peffer served on the Butler Fair Board for 47 years.
He hobbies included water dowsing, gardening, bee-keeping and small orchard management.
He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church of Middle Lancaster, where he and his wife, the former Thelma M. Rupert, were married Feb. 9, 1941.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by eight sons, Warren Peffer of Ellwood City, Glenn Peffer of York, Robert “Bob” Peffer of New Castle, Larry Peffer of Epsyville, Dale Peffer of Slippery Rock, Thomas “Tom” Peffer of Portersville and Neil and Charles “Chuck” Peffer, both of Harmony; and three daughters, Mrs. James (Bonnie) Nicodemus of West Sunbury, Mrs. Philip (Velma) Hollerman of Harmony and Mrs. Dale (Diane) Young of New Sewickley.
A brother, Paul Luther Peffer of Fombell; 32 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren also survive.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, a brother and a sister.
PEFFER - Friends of Marion H. Peffer, who died Tuesday, June 5, 2001, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople. Funeral services will be private. Entombment will be at the Zelienople Community Mausoleum.
Memorial donations may be made to St Francis Hospital, 1000 S. Mercer St., New Castle, PA 16101; or to Zion Lutheran Church, 557 Perry Highway, Harmony, PA 16037.
Bartram G. Murray III
Bartram G. Murray III, 81, of Zephyrhills, Fla., formerly of Sarver, died Tuesday at East Pasco Medical Center in Florida.
Born in Cheswick, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bartram G. Murray Jr.
He had worked in the steel industry.
Mr. Murray was a member of Tyrian Lodge 644 F&AM of Lower Burrell, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of New Castle, Syria Temple of Pittsburgh and the Odd Fellows of New Kensington.
He was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps.
Surviving are his wife, Mabel Rahner Murray; a son, Bartram G. Murray IV of Zephyrhills; a daughter, Debra Rothen of Saxonburg; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, H. Bruce Murray of Zephyrhills and D. Wayne Murray of Flowery Branch, Ga.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
A daughter preceded him in death.
MURRAY - Friends of Bartram G. Murray III, who died Tuesday, June 5, 2001, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at FOX FUNERAL HOME, Saxonburg. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The Rev. Dennis Swineford, pastor of Cabot United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be at Lakewood Memorial Gardens, Cheswick.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 2251, New Port Richey, Fla., 34656-2251; or Shriners’ Hospitals for Children, Childs Life Department, Tampa Unit, 12502 Pine Drive, Tampa FL 33612.
Howard Heim
Howard Heim, 84, formerly of Saxonburg, died Wednesday at his home in Richmond, Va.
Born in West Winfield, March 11, 1917, he was the son of Albert and Elvia Smith Heim.
He retired after 13 years as superintendent of Saxonburg Borough. He previously was self-employed. He also served on the Saxonburg Planning Commission for 20 years.
Mr. Heim was a member of the Hill United Presbyterian Church, a 50-year member of the Butler Masonic Lodge and a member of Saxonburg VFW Post 7376.
He was a World War II Army veteran.
Surviving are a son and a daughter, Jeffrey Heim and Mrs. Art (Becky) Matz, both of Richmond; and two grandchildren. Three sisters, Mrs. Walter (Grace) Wiegand of Sarver, and Mrs. William (Viola) McFarland and Mrs. Roland (Ester) Germuth, both of Ellicott City, Md., also survive.
HEIM - Friends of Howard Heim, who died Wednesday, June 6, 2001, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at FOX FUNERAL HOME, Saxonburg. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev. John Porter, his church pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at Greenlawn Burial Estates, Mount Chestnut.
Memorial donations may be made to the Deacon Fund, Hill United Presbyterian Church, 501 Second St., Butler, PA 16001.
Mildred I. Potts
Mildred I. Potts, 83, of Athens Township, Crawford County, formerly of East Brady, died Friday at the Homestead Hearth Personal Care Home in Athens Township.
Born Nov. 16, 1917, in West Monterey, Clarion County, she was the daughter of William M. and Anna R. Pickerd Moltekin.
Mrs. Potts was a member of the Regular Baptist Church in East Brady.
She is survived by three daughters, Lois Nelson of Wilmington, N.C., Connie Lewis of Appomattox, Va., and Barbara Helgert of Union City; and three sons, Dean W. Potts of Bradys Bend Township and Charles R. and Gary A. Potts, both of Union City. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Potts was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph L. Potts, whom she married Nov. 7, 1934, and who died Dec. 12, 1972; a son; two brothers; two sisters, and four grandchildren.
POTTS - Friends of Mildred I. Potts, who died Friday, June 1, 2001, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at CHARLES B. BUECHELE FUNERAL HOME, 105 Fourth St., East Brady. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. James Burlingame, pastor of New Life Church of the Nazarene in Ricefield, officiating. Burial will be at Bradys Bend Cemetery , Bradys Bend Township, Armstrong County.
Donald E. Fabian
Donald E. Fabian, 57, of Pine Township died on Friday at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless.
Born on April 6, 1944 in Pittsburgh, he was the son of John and Mary Sabol Fabian.
Mr. Fabian was a truck driver who worked for Dart Trucking and was a member of Teamsters Local Union 249. He was a member of St. Alphonsus Church in Wexford.
Survived by his wife; Ruth A. (Ambrose) Fabian, his sons; David Fabian of Pine Township and John J. Fabian of Middlesex Township; two sisters, Dolores Buch of Crafton, Rita Kasarda of Bellevue; two brothers, John Fabian of Middlesex Township and Richard Fabian of West Sunbury, and a granddaughter.
FABIAN - Visitation for Donald E. Fabian, who died Friday, June 1, 2001, will be Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the HERBERT R. KING, JR. FUNERAL HOME, Inc. Route 8 at 2841 Woodland Circle, Allison Park, PA 15101.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Alphonsus Church, Wexford. Interment
will follow Mass in Holy Savior Cemetery in Richland Township.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Fabian Family, St. Richard Church, Dickey Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044.
Mary Emma Buckham
Mary Emma Buckham, 99, of the Grove Manor Nursing Home, Grove City, formerly of Slippery Rock, died Friday at 8:10 p.m. at Grove Manor after an extended illness.
Born Aug. 1, 1901, in Carter, Butler County, she was the daughter of Norman E. and Ida Jane Hockenberry Cranmer.
Mrs. Buckham was a homemaker.
She was a member of the Hilltoppers Club of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock AARP and Slippery Rock United Methodist Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Clyde (Grace E.) Rettig and Mrs. William (Helen M.) Rogerson, both of Butler; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren, and a number of great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Buckham was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Cordell Buckham Sr., whom she married Dec. 2, 1919, and who died April 11, 1977; two daughters; two sons; two sisters, and three brothers.
BUCKHAM - Friends of Mary Emma Buckham, who died Friday, June 1, 2001, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Dr. H. Rand Edwards, pastor of the Slippery Rock United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Slippery Rock Cemetery , Slippery Rock Township.
