Obituaries by LocationLeah Hudson Geortz
Leah Hudson Geortz, 82, formerly of Butler and Bruin, died of natural causes at 6:30 a.m. Sunday at Orchard Manor Nursing Home in Grove City.
Born Aug. 7, 1920, in Alliance, Ohio, she was the daughter of John T. and Kathleen Smith Hudson.
She was a member of the Parker United Methodist Church, a member and past president of the United Methodist Women and a former member and officer of the Grove City District United Methodist Women.
After moving to Butler, she became a member of the Christ Community Methodist Church. She was a former member and president of the Chicora Area Republican Women. In earlier years, she was active, along with her husband, in providing assistance to the IOOF Home, now known as Orchard Manor in Grove City.
She married Claire E. Geortz on Oct. 4, 1941. He died July 12, 1997.
She is survived by a sister, Cecile Nunamaker of St. Petersburg, Clarion County; two half-sisters, Carol Hosey of Emlenton R.D. 3 and Delores Stants of Callensburg; and a number of nieces and nephews.
GEORTZ - Friends of Leah Hudson Geortz, who died Sunday, March 23, 2003, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at H. JACK BUZARD FUNERAL HOME, Wayne Street, Parker. Funeral services will follow at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. David Bowman, pastor of Parker United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Parker Presbyterian Cemetery .
Jeffrey S. Downes
Monday, March 24, 2003
Jeffrey S. Downes, who died Wednesday, is survived by a niece, Sylvia Downes, whose last name was incorrect in the obituary in Sunday’s newspaper. His parents lived in Harrisville. An incorrect residence was provided for the obituary.
Frank L. Sutara Jr.
Frank L. Sutara Jr., 77, formerly of Fawn Township, Allegheny County, died unexpectedly at 8:15 p.m. Sunday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born March 29, 1925, in Tarentum, he was the son of Frank L. Sr. and Mary Tabacjar Sutara.
He lived in Fawn Township most of his life and retired in 1986 as a storeroom clerk at PPG Industries, Creighton, after 44 years. He enjoyed gardening, riding his bicycle, reading and farming.
Mr. Sutara was a member of Holy Martyrs Parish, St. Clement Worship Site, Tarentum.
During World War II, he served in the Army Military Police.
He is survived by five children, Frank S. Sutara of Brackenridge, Robert W. Sutara of Saxonburg and Mark R. and William M. Sutara and Barbara A. Bushman, all of Natrona Heights; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. Also surviving are a brother and two sisters, Steven Sutara and Anna Gaworski, both of Fawn Township, and Mary Drotar of Tarentum.
His wife, Margaret Adams Sutara, died Jan. 17, 1992. Three brothers and a sister also preceded him in death.
SUTARA - Friends of Frank L. Sutara Jr., who died Sunday, March 23, 2003, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at DUSTER FUNERAL HOME, 10th Avenue at Corbet Street, Tarentum. A Christian funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Clement Worship Site in Tarentum with the Rev Robert Miller officiating. Burial will be at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery , Frazer Township, Allegheny County.
The Brackenridge American Legion will hold a service at 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Full military honors will be provided by the Natrona Heights VFW.
Isabel L. Stamm
Isabel L. Stamm, 91, of Northampton, Mass., died Thursday, March 20, 2003, at the Hampshire Care facility in Leeds, Mass.
Born in Evans City, May 13, 1911, she was the daughter of Guy and Iva Boggs Stamm.
A graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville, she received her master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and retired as professor emeritus from Columbia University in New York, where she taught social work. She also taught courses at the University of Washington, Tulane University, the University of Melbourne, Australia, as well as at universities in England and Cypress.
She lived in New York City until moving to Northampton five years ago.
Surviving are a sister, Ruth Harrington of Florence, Mass.; a nephew; and two nieces.
A memorial service was held Saturday at Florence Congregational Church. Burial will be at Evans City Cemetery .
Memorial contributions may be made to the Florence Congregational Church’s Renovation Fund, 130 Pine St., Florence MA 01062.
PEASE AND GAY FUNERAL HOME of Northampton is in charge of arrangements.
William H. Olinger
William H. Olinger, 75, of Renfrew died at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, March 23, 2003, at Sunnyview Nursing Home.
Born April 24, 1927, in Ford City, he was the son of Lamberson Olinger and Katharine Jeanette Robertson Olinger Baughn.
He had worked at Eljer Plumbing and was an avid hunter and outdoorsman.
Mr. Olinger was a veteran of the Navy and Army Air Force and was past president of the USS Columbus Veterans Association and had served as a board member of the USS Iowa for 12 years. He also belonged to the Meridian Vets Club.
Surviving are his wife, Nancy Jane Dickey Olinger, whom he married Aug. 14, 1977; a daughter, Katharine I. Olinger at home; two grandchildren, Heather Lokovich of Perrysville and Brandon Olinger at home; and a sister, Mrs. Blair (Mary Ann) Black of Valpariso, Ind.
A brother preceded him in death.
There will be no visitation. A military service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are being handled by YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, Butler.
Evalyn H. Cooper
Evalyn H. Cooper, 87, of Slippery Rock Township died at 1:35 p.m. Monday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born in Lawrence County, Oct. 2, 1915, she was the daughter of Chester and Nannie Cameron Hunt.
She had been an administrator with Veterans Affairs in Pittsburgh for 30 years and was a member of First English Lutheran Church.
Surviving are a brother, Willard Hunt of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Harry A. “Whitey” Cooper, died July 26, 1989. Three brothers and a sister also preceded her in death.
COOPER - Friends of Evalyn H. Cooper, who died Monday, March 24, 2003, will be received from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday at THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 124 E. North St. Services will follow at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. James Dollhopf officiating. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park, Butler Township.
Memorial donations may be made to the Kay M. Hunt Nursing Scholarship, Slippery Rock Foundation, 100 Old Main, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock PA 16057.
Margaret C. Carbin
Margaret C. Carbin, 87, of Butler died Monday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born Oct. 13, 1915, in Butler, she was a daughter of Fred and Catherine Hornberger Carbin.
She had worked as a supervisor for Castle Rubber Co. in East Butler for 41 years, retiring in 1977.
She was a former member of AARP and was a volunteer meal delivery driver for the Butler Meals on Wheels program for 12 years.
Ms. Carbin was a member of St. Wendelin Roman Catholic Church in Carbon Center.
She is survived by three brothers, Bernard, Victor and George Carbin, all of Butler; six sisters, Mrs. Catherine Bergbickler, Mrs. Marie Maloney, Mrs. Bertha Green and Mrs. Charles (Helen) Kriley, all of Butler, Mrs. Edward (Mae) Fleming of West Sunbury and Mrs. Larry (Clara) Razete of Fort Myers, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by five brothers and a sister.
CARBIN - Friends of Margaret C. Carbin, who died Monday, March 24, 2003, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday from St. Wendelin Roman Catholic Church, with the Rev. Michael Maranowski, her pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the parish Cemetery .
Memorial contributions may be made to the Butler County Humane Society, 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew PA 16053.
Genevieve M. Gerlach
Genevieve M. “Jane” Gerlach, 91, formerly of Barkeyville, died at 8:25 p.m. Monday at Sugar Creek Station nursing home in Franklin.
Born Jan. 25, 1912, in Branchton, she was the daughter of Oscar and Mable Gould Stine.
Mrs. Gerlach, a graduate of Grove City High School, attended The Butler Business College and had been a cottage parent at George Junior Republic, Grove City.
She was a member of the Barkeyville Church of God and a former member of the Wesley Grange in Irwin Township, Venango County.
Surviving are a sister-in-law, Mrs. Dorothy Sopher of Mars; and several nieces and nephews.
Her husband, Earl H. Gerlach, whom she married Sept. 15, 1934, died Dec. 28, 1985. An infant daughter also preceded her in death.
GERLACH - Friends of Genevieve M. “Jane” Gerlach, who died Monday, March 24, 2003, will be received from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at JAMISON FUNERAL HOME, 117 N. Main St., Harrisville. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Douglas Molgaard, her church pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Prairie Cemetery , Harrisville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 320 Bilmar Drive, Pittsburgh, 15205-4620.
Irvin T. ‘Jack’ Fockler
Irvin T. “Jack” Fockler, 69, of Parker Pike Road, Parker, died at 1:50 p.m. Monday at United Community Hospital, Grove City, after a long illness.
Born July 27, 1933, in Hooker, Concord Township, he was the son of James Irvin and Mary Etta Walker Fockler.
Mr. Fockler was a commercial fisherman in California for 10 years; worked for some time as a lumberjack and worked out of the San Francisco Local Union as a longshoreman. For 33 years, he worked out of Pittsburgh Boilermakers Union 154 and retired in 1990 when he became disabled.
He attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Chicora and enjoyed traveling and listening to the short-wave radio.
Surviving are his wife, Shirley A. Seelbaugh Fockler, whom he married in Reno, Nev., on Jan. 30, 1963; three daughters, Rhonda J. and Sandra A. Fockler, both of Parker, and Brenda S. Fockler Chafin of Victorville, Calif.; two sons, Eric A. and Karl W. Fockler, both of Parker; and 10 grandchildren. A sister, Mrs. Kenneth (Mary Eileen) Bandi of Sarver; and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.
A brother and a sister preceded him in death.
FOCKLER - Friends of Irvin T. “Jack” Fockler, who died Monday, March 24, 2003, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at CHRISTOPHER M. HILE FUNERAL HOME, Emlenton. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Rockland Cemetery , Rockland Township, Venango County.
Mary E. McMunn
Mary Elizabeth McMunn, 85, a former resident of Butler, died March 2, 2003, after a brief illness.
She was the wife of the Rev. Dr. W. Scott McMunn, who was pastor of the Second United Presbyterian Church, now Hill United Presbyterian Church, from 1944 to 1956.
Surviving are her husband of Pittsburgh; her children Jean McMunn Hill of Ashland City, Tenn., William Robert McMunn of Windham, Conn., and John McMunn of San Francisco, Calif.; and by four grandchildren.
A family funeral service was March 5 in Pittsburgh.
Memorial donations may be made to Baldwin United Presbyterian Church, 201 Knoedler Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.
