Obituaries by LocationRuth E. Stepp Etzel
Ruth E. Stepp Etzel, 77, of Ringneck Lane died Tuesday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born Jan. 19, 1926, in Boggsville, Armstrong County, she was the daughter of Everett L. Stepp Sr., and Agnes Mae Gaiser Stepp Darling and was raised by her mother and her stepfather, Thomas E. Darling.
A 1944 graduate of Butler High School, she was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Herman and the A.A.R.P.
Surviving are a son and two daughters, Richard A. Etzel and Mrs. Leo J. (Sharon) Rosenbauer III, both of Butler, and Carol S. Hans of Lyndora; her companion, Clyde “Bud” Wyant of Lyndora; seven grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her husband, Alvin L. Etzel, whom she married Nov. 10, 1956, died April 12, 1975. She also was preceded in death by a grandson and a brother.
ETZEL - Friends of Ruth E. Etzel, who died Tuesday, March 11, 2003, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, Herman. Burial will be at the church Cemetery .
Members of St. Mary Parish will hold a parish vigil service at 3 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Penn Center Blvd., Suite 700, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.
Michael Petronchek
Michael Petronchek, 81, of Ford City died Tuesday at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital, Kittanning.
Born April 15, 1921, in Ford City, he was the son of Maxim and Anna Panchik Petronchek.
A 1939 graduate of Ford City High School, he received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Indiana (Pa.) University on Jan. 15, 1949, and a master’s degree in education from Pennsylvania State University on Aug. 9, 1952.
He started his 37-year teaching career with seven years at West Leechburg Elementary School, followed by a year at Kittanning High School. In 1957, he took over the instrumental and band programs at Ford City High School and retired in 1984 from Lenape Elementary School, where he formed the first elementary band.
During World War II, he served in England as a radio operator with 8th Air Force.
He was member of St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church of Ford City, where he organized the first men’s choir; and the Ford City VFW and Eagles. He was an avid golfer at the Kittanning Country Club and Lenape Golf Course and bowled in the Kittanning Men’s League and the Mixed League at Falcon Lanes. He also played in Johnny Murphy’s Dance Band and other bands for years.
Surviving are his wife, Mary Onufer Petronchek, whom he married June 6, 1953; a sister, Martha Yaros of Monongahela; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by four sisters and a brother.
PETRONCHEK - Friends of Michael Petronchek, who died Tuesday, March 11, 2003, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at MANTINI FUNERAL HOME, 701 Sixth Ave., Ford City. The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, Ford City, and burial will be at the church Cemetery .
A Holy Name Rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
A parastas service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
A prayer service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Louise Bester
Louise Bester, 74, of Chicora died at 11:53 p.m. Tuesday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born Oct. 19, 1928, in Boydstown, she was the daughter of the Deloy and Hazel A Maxwell Bell.
She had been a beautician and operated beauty shop in her home.
Mrs. Bester was a member of the North Butler Presbyterian Church and the Soroptimist Club.
Surviving are two sons, Raymond E. Bester of Butler and Jeffrey J. Bester of Evans City; a brother, Frank Bell of Colorado; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy Richard Bester, who died April 24, 1986; an infant son; and a brother.
BESTER - Friends of Louise Bester, who died Tuesday, March 11, 2003, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at WILLIAM P. YOUNG JR. FUNERAL HOME, 127 W. Jefferson St. Services will follow at 9:15 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Rev. Mary Sickels, her church pastor, and the Rev. Wayne Bell, pastor of West Sunbury Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be at North Butler Presbyterian Church Cemetery , Oakland Township.
Anna M. Shanabrough
Anna Mae Shanabrough, 80, of Windsor Township, York County, died March 3, 2003, at her home.
Born in Butler County, Feb. 2, 1923, she was the daughter of Otto and Florence Bartley Wetzel.
She had been self-employed as the owner and operator of Ann’s Beauty Shop in Dallastown, York County, for more than 50 years.
Mrs. Shanabrough was a member of St. John’s Church of Christ of Red Lion, where she was involved in women’s fellowship. She also belonged to the Red Rose Ramblers Camping Club and was a volunteer at York Hospital and for Meals on Wheels.
During World War II, she served in the Navy as a pharmacist mate.
She was the wife of George Edward Shanabrough and they celebrated their 56th anniversary on June 15, 2002. Also surviving are a son, Brian E. Shanabrough of Louisville, Miss; a daughter, Donna Watson of York; three grandchildren, and a brother, Lawrence Wetzel of Freeport.
A daughter and two brothers preceded her in death.
She was buried at Susquehanna Memorial Gardens, Red Lion.
Edith Margaret Rabold
Edith Margaret Rasp Rabold, 99, of Wexford died Thursday morning, March 13, 2003, at Mariner Health Care of North Hills.
Born in Pittsburgh April 4, 1903, she was the daughter of Wilhelm and Kunigunda Mueller Rasp.
She was a homemaker and with her husband had owned and operated a Pittsburgh area bakery. In 1947, she retired to a farm, where she lived until January 1999, when she entered the nursing home.
Mrs. Rabold was a member of the Perry Highway Lutheran Church, Wexford.
Surviving are two daughters, Thelma F. Hardt of Wexford and Ann T. Kasperski of Urbana, Mo.; two sons, George F. Rabold of Wexford and Arthur C. Rabold of Urbana; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Her husband, George Rabold, whom she married Oct. 1, 1925, died in September 1984. Five brothers and two sisters also preceded her in death.
A memorial service will be later. Private burial will be at Allegheny County Memorial Park, McCandless.
Memorial donations may be made to Perry Highway Lutheran Church, Wexford, PA 15090.
Arrangements are by McDONALD-AEBERLI FUNERAL HOME, Mars.
Dolores G. Grossman
Dolores G. Grossman, 89, died Thursday morning at Indian Creek Nursing Home, New Castle.
Born in New Castle, Jan. 27, 1914, she was the daughter of Harry D. and Mary Carroll Cochran.
She was a member of the Maitland Lane Free Methodist Church, New Castle.
Mrs. Grossman graduated from New Castle High School in 1932 and from the Mason Felix Beauty School in Pittsburgh. In 1989, she retired from the New Castle Public Library, where she worked in the periodicals department and history room, after 22 years. While at the library, she contributed to the compilation of data for the book, “Legends of Lawrence County, Volume 2” by Bill Burmester. She also created the department of marriage and obituary index for the library’s genealogy department.
She enjoyed gardening, writing poetry and music and played the piano and the organ. She also was interested in genealogy and history and had researched the history of Clen-Moore School in New Castle and provided information to the New Castle News for an article.
Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Evan (Mary Margaret) Thomas of Butler, Mrs. Jack (Laura Jane) Rogan of Portersville and Rebecca Loucks of New Castle; two sons, Albert Grossman of Sacramento, Calif., and Phillip Grossman of Slippery Rock; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are a brother, James Cochran of Neshannock Township, Lawrence County; and a sister, Rosemary Kauffman of New Castle.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert B. Grossman, who died on June 26, 1957; and a brother.
GROSSMAN - Friends of Dolores G. Grossman, who died Thursday, March 13, 2003, will be received from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday at R. CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME, 2429 Wilmington Road, New Castle. The service will follow at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Paul Knight, pastor of Maitland Lane Free Methodist Church, and the Rev. Kenneth Kauffman officiating. Burial will be at Castle View Memorial Gardens, New Castle.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Castle Public Library, 207 E. North St., New Castle, PA 16101.
Jonathan E. Hall
Jonathan E. Hall, 29, of Slippery Rock died at 2:25 p.m. Friday from injuries suffered in a vehicle accident.
Born May 25, 1973, in Butler, he was a son of Carl Hall Sr. and Brenda Deal Hall.
He was a self-employed carpenter.
He is survived by his wife, Michelle Paffrath Hall, whom he married Aug. 21, 1999.
Also surviving are two sons, Justin and Austin Kepple, both of Butler; his mother of Slippery Rock; his father and step-mother, Carl and Val Hall of Slippery Rock; his maternal grandfather, George Deal of Butler; a brother, Carl Hall of Meridian; a step-brother, Peter Armstrong of Slippery Rock; a niece; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, his paternal grandparents, his maternal aunt and a step-brother.
HALL - Friends of Jonathan E. Hall, who died Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, 127 W. Jefferson St. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Timothy Bupp, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Burial Estates.
Sharon Hughes Grooms
Monday, December 2, 2002
Sharon Hughes Grooms, 46, of 4156 Cypress St. died at 2:15 p.m. Sunday at her home after an illness.
Thompson-Miller Funeral Home is completing arrangements.
Mark H. Galbreath
Mark H. Galbreath, 51, of Durham, Maine, died unexpectedly Nov. 23 at his home.
Born in Butler, Dec. 29, 1950, he was the son of James H. Galbreath and the late Marguerite Ewing Galbreath.
He graduated from Knoch High School in Saxonburg and received a degree in physical education from Lock Haven State College.
Mr. Galbreath was the owner of Quaker Meeting Kitchens in Durham
He enjoyed all sports, especially football, which he played in high school and college.
Surviving are his wife, Lorinda Spencer Galbreath, whom he married in Westwood, N.J., Aug. 4, 1973; and two daughters, Sara Granroth of Jericho, Vt., and Maggie Galbreath of Austin, Texas. Also surviving are his father of Butler; six brothers, James, John and Larry Galbreath, all of Butler, David Galbreath of Lucinda, Dennis Galbreath of Wilmington, Del., and Bruce Galbreath of Whitehall, Mont.; and a sister, Linda Harbison of Butler.
An infant twin sister died at birth.
GALBREATH - A memorial service for Mark H. Galbreath, who died Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Summit United Presbyterian Church, 181 Caldwell Drive. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 163 Lancaster St., Suite 160B, Portland, ME 04101.
Judy Lee Felitsky
Judy Lee Felitsky, 69, of Orchid Lane, Slippery Rock and formerly of Pittsburgh died at 5:15 a.m. Sunday at Butler Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness.
Born July 22, 1933, in Louisville, Ky., she was a daughter of Edward and Virginia Gratzer Hatfield.
She was Protestant.
She attended school in Louisville.
She is survived by two sons, Dennis Felitsky of Bruin and Jason Felitsky of Slippery Rock; two daughters, Mrs. Ricardo (Cheryl) San Miron and Deborah Yocham, both of Pittsburgh; a sister, Doris Mae Brewer of Louisville; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Felitsky, who died April 30, 2000.
Also preceding her in death were her parents, a daughter, a brother and two sisters.
FELITSKY - Friends of Judy Lee Felitsky, who died Sunday, Dec. 1, 2002, will be received from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the RICHARD HILLIS FUNERAL HOME, Petrolia. Services will be held at 3 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. David West, pastor of the Christ Outreach Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Bear Creek Cemetery , Petrolia.
