Obituaries by LocationWilliam D. Hay
William D. Hay, 74, of Butler died at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born Feb. 18, 1928, in Youngstown, Ohio, he was the son of William and Ida May Say Hay Sr.
There are no known survivors.
HAY - Friends of William D. Hay, who died Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, 127 W. Jefferson St. Services will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the West Sunbury Union Cemetery .
Richard N. Gregory
Richard N. Gregory, 50, of 315 W. Penn St. died Tuesday evening at his home.
Born in Butler, Dec. 19, 1951, he was the son of Leonard F. and Dimitra Keffalas Gregory.
He was a painter with George Meehan Painting Co. and served two years in the Army Reserve.
Surviving are four brothers, Tony and Tyrone L. Gregory, both of Knoxville, Tenn., and Leonard F. Jr. and James D. Gregory, both of Butler; and nieces and nephews.
GREGORY - Friends of Richard N. Gregory, who died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave. A blessing service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. James Dolan, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, officiating. Burial will be at St. Michael Cemetery .
Audrey V. Bovard
Audrey V. Bovard, 69, of Orchard Manor in Pine Township, Mercer County, died at 1:07 p.m. Nov. 9, 2002 at the manor, as a result of an auto accident on April 18 in Lawrence County.
Born April 22, 1933, in Forestville, Butler County, she was a daughter of C. Ray and Mabel Seaton Bovard.
She was a homemaker.
She was a member of the Forestville United Methodist Church.
She is survived by a sister, Mrs. James (Doris) Riddle of Harrisville.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters and two brothers.
BOVARD - Services for Audrey V. Bovard, who died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at JAMISON FUNERAL HOME, 117 N. Main St., Harrisville. The Rev. Steve Soltis, pastor of Forestville United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in the Prairie Cemetery in Harrisville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Forestville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 102, Forestville, Pa. 16035.
Mabel E. Frantz Bickel
Mabel Elizabeth Frantz Bickel, 74, 1022 E. Main St. Ext., Pine Township, Mercer County and of Daytona Beach, Fla., died at 7 a.m. Thursday at her home in Grove City.
Born in Pine Township, Aug. 18, 1928, she was the daughter of John B. and Emma Margaret Graham Frantz.
A 1946 alumna of Grove City High School, she retired from Bell Telephone Co. in Grove City as an operator and supervisor. She also had been office manager at Grove City Hospital and at Divine Providence Hospital, Pittsburgh, and was an income tax preparer for self-employed individuals for years.
She enjoyed NASCAR and had been a concession manager at Sharon Speedway for 15 years and was an usher at the Winston Tower at Daytona Speedway, Daytona Beach. She also enjoyed cooking and flowers and was a Steelers fan.
Mrs. Bickel was a member of the Harmony United Presbyterian Church, Harrisville.
Surviving are her husband, John A. Bickel Jr., whom she married June 5, 1948; a daughter, Mrs. Richard R. (Sue Anne) Kennedy of Daytona Beach; a son, John A. “Jack” Bickel III of Butler; a sister, Hazel M. Husing of Beaver Falls; and a brother, John B. Frantz Jr. of Grove City. Two grandchildren also survive.
Two brothers and two sisters preceded her in death.
BICKEL - Friends of Mabel Elizabeth Frantz Bickel, who died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. John McElwain, her pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Crestview Memorial Park, Grove City.
Memorial donations may be made to Harmony United Presbyterian Church Mission Fund, P.O. Box 406, Harrisville, PA 16038.
Merle V. Johns
Merle V. Johns, 81, of Eldorado, Parker, R.D. 3, died Friday afternoon at Sunnyview Home in Butler after an illness.
Born Dec. 11, 1920, in Parker Township, he was the son of Meade and Genevieve Pearl Shakley Johns.
He served in the Army during World War II, earning numerous awards and medals for outstanding service.
Mr. Johns had worked for the Pennsylvania Refining Co., now Penreco, in Karns City, retiring after 27 years. He had also served seven years as supervisor of Parker Township.
He was a member of the American Legion Post of Chicora and a longtime member of the Bruin Volunteer Fire Department.
He was a Protestant.
Surviving are his wife, Grace Wilk Johns; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
A sister and a brother preceded him in death.
JOHNS - Friends of Merle V. Johns, who died Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, will be received from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday at H. JACK BUZARD FUNERAL HOME, Main Street, Eau Claire. Private services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Chapel of Devotion Mausoleum in Butler County Memorial Park in Butler with the Rev. Thomas Pierotti, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, officiating. Entombment will be at Butler County Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Barry J. Hershey
Barry J. Hershey, 44, of Butler died Thursday morning at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Oakland.
Born Jan. 15, 1958, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of Edward K. and Claire Caliguri Hershey.
He worked as a rigger for Crown Communication in Greentree and had lived in Butler for about eight years.
He served with the Marine Corps in 1975 and 1976.
Mr. Hershey was an avid fisherman, cook and reader. He enjoyed the outdoors.
Surviving are his wife, Loretta J. Hershey of Butler; his father of Callery; a son and daughter, Jacob D. and Rachael N. Hershey, both of Butler; a sister, Sandy Moose of Fisher; three brothers, Tim Hershey of Keyster, W.Va., Ron Hershey of Callery and Dave Hershey of Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida; a stepbrother, William Trautman of Florida; and a number of nieces and nephews.
His mother preceded him in death.
HERSHEY - Funeral arrangements for Barry J. Hershey, who died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002, will be private.
Arrangements are by THOMAS M. SMITH FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY in Blawnox.
Audrey V. Bovard
Audrey V. Bovard, 69, of Orchard Manor in Pine Township, Mercer County, died at 1:07 p.m. Nov. 9, 2002 at the manor, as a result of an auto accident on April 18 in Lawrence County.
Born April 22, 1933, in Forestville, Butler County, she was a daughter of C. Ray and Mabel Seaton Bovard.
She was a homemaker.
She was a member of the Forestville United Methodist Church.
She is survived by a sister, Mrs. James (Dorie) Riddle of Harrisville.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three sisters and two brothers.
BOVARD - Services for Audrey V. Bovard, who died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at JAMISON FUNERAL HOME, 117 N. Main St., Harrisville. The Rev. Steve Soltis, pastor of Forestville United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in the Prairie Cemetery in Harrisville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Forestville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 102, Forestville, Pa. 16035.
Terri Jo Boros
Terri Jo Boros, 45, of Crescent City, Calif., formerly of Eau Claire, died Wednesday morning at her home.
Born in Butler on Jan. 3, 1957, she was the daughter of the late Joseph J. and Mary Lou Gerwick Boros.
She attended Moniteau School District and then graduated from Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School in 1974.
She lived in California for more than 20 years, serving as a medical secretary for various medical facilities during that time.
She was a Catholic.
Surviving are a sister, Mrs. John (Pamela) Costa of West Sunbury; a brother, Joseph Jay Boros of Saxonburg; three nephews; a niece; and a number of cousins.
BOROS - Friends of Terri Jo Boros, who died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, will be received from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at H. JACK BUZARD FUNERAL HOME, Main Street, Eau Claire. Services will be at 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Richard Rockwood, pastor of St. Peter’s Reformed Church in Fairview, officiating. Interment
will be in Allegheny Cemetery , Allegheny Township.
The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Peter’s Reformed Church in Fairview, R.D. 1, Petrolia, PA 16050.
Stephen Beitch
Stephen Beitch, 56, of East Brady died at 3:55 a.m. Saturday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born in Butler on Aug. 6, 1946, he was the son of John and Barbara Malesh Beitch.
He served with the Marines in Vietnam.
Mr. Beitch was a member of St. Wendelin Catholic Church, American Legion Post 117, VFW Post 249, the Slovak Social Club and the East Butler Fireman Club.
He had retired from the strip shears department of A.K. Steel.
Surviving are his wife, Lenore M. McCommon Beitch, whom he married June 27, 1970; his mother of Butler; a son, Eugene J. Beitch of East Butler; five sisters, Mary Beitch of Lyndora, Mrs. Mitchell (Anna) Habel, Mrs. Larry (Cathy) Sarvey and Theresa Beitch, all of Butler, and Mrs. Gregory (Veronica) Orihel of South Carolina; four brothers, John Beitch of Evans City, Michael Beitch of Maine and Peter and Joseph Beitch, both of Lyndora; four grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
His father, two sisters and a nephew preceded him in death.
BEITCH - Friends of Stephen Beitch, who died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002, will be received from noon to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, 127 W. Jefferson St., Butler. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Wendelin Catholic Church with the Rev. Michael Maranowski officiating. Burial will be at Greenlawn Burial Estates.
William Spanberger
William Spanberger, 83, of State Route 308 in Harrisville since 1979, formerly of Franklin, died at 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, at United Community Hospital, Grove City, after a brief illness.
Born Nov. 24, 1918, in Grove City, he was the son of Joseph and Mary Baskey Spanberger.
He attended public schools in Grove City and retired from the foundry at CPT in 1980.
Mr. Spanberger was a member of the Church of the Beloved Disciple of Grove City.
He was a Civil War enthusiast, and this past year he went to the re-enactment of the Battle of Antietam. He also enjoyed going to various Native American functions throughout the United States.
Surviving are eight children, Mrs. Freda M. Reese of Polk, Ronald R. Norcross of Grove City, H. James Norcross of Boyers, Mrs. Brandon (Dorothy D.) Miller of Wesley, Mrs. Robert (Linda E.) Kerr of Grove City, Mary J. Shaw of Harrisville, Ms. Esther J. Spanberger of Meadville and Mrs. Gaines (Patricia L.) Bodien of Oil City. Several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren also survive.
He was married Feb. 22, 1941, to Effie J. Christy, who died Jan. 10, 1998. He also was preceded in death by three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, two sisters and six brothers.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated today at the Church of the Beloved Disciple, Grove City, with the Rev. Edward Zeitler officiating. Burial was at Lamey Cemetery , Oakland Township, Venango County.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Beloved Disciple, Broad Street, Grove City, 16127; or the American Cancer Society.
LARRY E. MCKINLEY FUNERAL HOME, Clintonville, handled arrangements.
