Obituaries by LocationLonnie L. Williams
Lonnie L. Williams, 50, of Pittsburgh died of natural causes Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002, at his home.
Born in Pittsburgh, Sept. 5, 1952, he was the son of Vernon Williams and the late Flossie Williams.
He was a machinist for various companies and a member of the AA in Pittsburgh.
Surviving are two sons, Chad Williams of Pittsburgh and Jessie Williams of Arkansas; his father of Cranberry Township; and two brothers, Vernon Williams, Jr. of Prospect and Jeffrey Williams of Zelienople.
A son and a sister preceded him in death.
There will be no visitation. Friends will be invited to a memorial service later.
Arrangements are by McDONALD-AEBERLI FUNERAL HOME, Mars.
Mary E. Davis
Mary E. Davis, 92, formerly of Forrest Hills in Pittsburgh, died Monday afternoon at Chicora Medical Center, where she lived for four years.
Born in Fairview, June 23, 1910, she was the daughter of Phillip and Sarah Bartoe Dorr.
She was a 1930 graduate of Clarion State College, now Clarion University, where she received a degree in elementary education. She taught in a one-room school in Eau Claire for several years and then taught handwriting and geography at Karns City High School.
Along with her husband and their children, she owned and operated Silverside Swimming Pool in Chicora from 1932 to 1970.
She was a member of the Forrest Hills Presbyterian Church and the Treble Clef Club of Chicora.
Surviving are a son, Edgar Sims Davis of Pasadena, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. John (Janet) Hegburg of Brookville, Nancy Skidmore of Chicora and Mrs. William (Marjorie) Gelatka of Akron, Ohio; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Edgar Sykes Davis, whom she married Sept. 23, 1934, died Aug. 3, 1968. Two brothers also preceded her in death.
DAVIS - Friends of Mary E. Davis, who died Monday, Nov. 11, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at STETGHNER FUNERAL HOME, 111 E. Slippery Rock St., Chicora. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Richard Rowe, pastor of Petrolia Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be at Grandview Cemetery , 1301 Lincoln Highway, North Versailles.
Henry D. Cooper
Henry D. Cooper, 86, of Fullerton, Calif., died Oct. 29, 2002, after a brief illness.
Born Nov. 26, 1915, he was the son of Edward and Anna Wilkewitz Cooper of Cabot.
He was a 1934 graduate of Winfield Township High School and had attended Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh and the National Diesel Schools in Los Angeles, Calif.
Mr. Cooper belonged to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Saxonburg before he moved to California in 1937.
He served in the Army during World War II and received an honorable discharge in 1946.
He had been an engineering manager at Luber-Finer Corp., a subsidiary of Rockwell International, in Los Angeles, retiring in 1977.
Surviving are his wife, Mary Voelker Cooper, whom he married May 10, 1945; a brother, Horace E. Cooper of Washington, Pa.; and four cousins, Robert Harry Wilkewitz and Freda Wilkewitz, both of Cabot, Grace Schwab of Pittsburgh, and Helen York of Hamilton, Ohio.
A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church in Fullerton later. Following cremation, a burial service will be at Hannahstown Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
Earl E. Wiles
Earl E. Wiles, 75, of New Brighton, formerly of Grand Isle, Vt., died Wednesday at the Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Born Dec. 17, 1926, in Bradys Bend, Armstrong County, he was the son of Cloyd A. and Bertha V. Kelly Wiles.
He retired in 1969 as a staff sergeant after 24 years in the Air Force and served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He received the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal Bronze Clasp with 3 loops, Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Korean Service Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Bronze OLCs, United Nations Service Medal and a ROK Presidential Unit Citation.
After retiring from the military, he was a security guard at General Electric in Burlington, Vt., for 10 years. He enjoyed woodworking, playing the guitar and reading.
He was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Sugarcreek Township, Armstrong County; VFW Post 863 of Kittanning; American Post 0019 of New Brighton; Korean War Veterans Association Post 9219; Air Force Security Police Association of San Marcos, Texas; and the U.S. Constabulary Association.
Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Gertrude Donawitz of New Brighton and Mrs. Naomi Nulph of West Kittanning; a stepsister, Cleta McCormick of Port Monmouth, N.J.; and nieces and nephews.
His wife, Alice Mary Lombard Wiles, whom he married Nov. 27, 1963, died May 21, 1995. Three brothers and two sisters also preceded him in death.
WILES - Friends of Earl E. Wiles, who died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the CHARLES B. BUECHELE FUNERAL HOME, 105 Fourth St., East Brady. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Sugarcreek Township. The Rev. Joseph Kiewra, interim church pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery , Sugarcreek Township.
VFW Post 863 will hold a memorial service at 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Graveside military honors will be conducted at Oak Grove Cemetery after the funeral service.
Mildred L. Ritzert
Mildred L. Ritzert, 74, of New Haven Court Apartments died Wednesday at home.
Born July 28, 1928, in Butler, she was a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Hesidence Thoma.
She worked as a crew leader at the Butler County Mushroom Farm in West Winfield for 42 years until she retired in 1979.
She was a member of St. Wendelin Roman Catholic Church in Carbon Center.
Mrs. Ritzert was an avid bingo player at the Tanglewood Senior Center and enjoyed line dancing and crafts.
She also was an avid card player, playing 500.
She is survived by a son, Harry Ritzert Jr. of Butler; a daughter, Mrs. Raymond (Jeannie) Neff of Butler; a brother, Carl Thoma of Indiana, Pa.; two sisters, Mrs. Marie Osche of Fenelton and Mrs. Stella Graham of Butler; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Ritzert Sr., who died Feb. 7, 1998, and whom she married Oct. 3, 1950.
Also preceding her in death were a son, two brothers and a sister.
RITZERT - Friends of Mildred L. Ritzert, who died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Wendelin Roman Catholic Church, Carbon Center, with the Rev. Michael Maranowski, her pastor, officiating. Burial will be at St. Wendelin Parish Cemetery .
U. Samuel ‘Sam’ Reitmeyer
U. Samuel “Sam” Reitmeyer, 78, of Butler, formerly of North Huntingdon, died at 11 a.m. Wednesday at his home.
Born March 13, 1924, in Pittsburgh, he was a son of Harold and Anna Werwie Reitmeyer.
He was a self-employed contractor in the building trade.
Mr. Reitmeyer was a life master of bridge. He was a member of the American Contract Bridge League and belonged to the Butler Bridge Club and the Greensburg Bridge Club.
He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was a survivor of the sunken aircraft carrier USS Wasp.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Speakman Reitmeyer; a daughter, Mrs. Glenn (Anne Marie) Geise of Renfrew; a son, William Dempsey of North Huntingdon; a sister, Martha Meyer of California; two brothers, Robert Reitmeyer of New York and David Reitmeyer of Pennsylvania; and three grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters and two brothers.
Private services and burial will be held at the convenience of the family.
Contributions may be made to the Butler County Humane Society, 1027 Evans City Road, Renfrew, Pa., 16053.
Arrangements are in charge of YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, 127 W. Jefferson St.
Russell F. McCracken
Russell F. McCracken, 73, of 348 Ziegler Ave. died at 7:05 a.m. Wednesday at his home after an illness.
Born in Butler, Aug. 27, 1929, he was the son of Clyde and Hazel Knapp McCracken.
He retired from Local 12 of the Sheet Metal Workers union after 25 years.
Mr. McCracken was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church and the Italian Society of Butler.
Surviving are his wife, Joanne Houllion McCracken, to whom he was married for 49 years; a son, Michael F. McCracken of Butler; two daughters, Kathleen Smith of Butler and Karen McCracken of Pittsburgh; a brother, Lawrence McCracken of Butler; and two grandchildren.
A brother and a sister preceded him in death.
McCRACKEN - Friends of Russell F. McCracken, who died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, Center Avenue. The Rev. James Dolan will officiate. Burial will be at the church Cemetery .
The Bereavement Group of St. Michael Parish will hold a scriptural wake service at 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Edna May Keefer
Edna May Keefer, 94, of Sunnyview Nursing Home, formerly of Evans City and Mars, died Tuesday at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born March 24, 1908, in Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, she was a daughter of Arthur and Rebecca Peffer Willetts.
She was a former member of the Evans City Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, the 60-Plus group, and St. John’s United Church of Christ in Evans City. Mrs. Keefer also was a member of the Mars United Presbyterian Church.
She retired from Step Saver Kitchens after 20 years.
She is survived by three sons, Thomas Willetts of Phoenix, Ariz., James Keefer of West Sunbury and Edward Keefer of Tuscon, Ariz.; three daughters, Gladys Gray of Bridgeport, Conn., Joyce Hilliard of Butler and Alice Leonberg of Mars; a brother, Lee Willetts of Harmony; two sisters, Ruth Fox of Zelienople and Mary Fosholdt; 36 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Keefer, who died in July 1980; a brother; a grandson; and a great-grandson.
KEEFER - Friends of Edna May Keefer, who died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Mars United Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Robert Brierly McCrumb II, her pastor, officiating. Entombment will follow in Butler County Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mars United Presbyterian Church, 232 Crowe Ave., Mars, PA 16046.
Keith W. Deal
Keith W. Deal, 83, of Titusville, formerly of Hornertown near Petrolia, died at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Beverly Healthcare in Titusville after an illness.
Born March 23, 1919, in Parsonville, Washington Township, he was the son of Philip Daniel and Flora Bell Deal.
He was a graduate of Concord High School in Hooker. During World War II, he was a master sergeant in the Army’s 467th Air Squadron in Southern France, Normandy and Central Europe and received a number of decorations and citations.
In his early years, he worked at Guthrie, Marsh & Peterson Construction Co. during the construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He then worked for Groves & Ludine Construction Co. during construction of Tionesta Dam. In 1945, he began working at Koppers Chemical Co. in Petrolia and retired in 1984.
Mr. Deal was a member of Bruin United Methodist Church and attended Bruin Senior Center.
Surviving are his wife, Mildred L. Brothers Deal, whom he married in August 1993; two daughters, Pamela S. Crispen of Rimersburg and Mrs. Terry (Tami L.) McGreevey of Petrolia; five grandchildren; a stepdaughter, Mrs. James A. (Loretta B.) Weis of Titusville; and three stepsons, Samuel W. Brothers of Fairview, George E. Brothers of Chicora and Robert L. Brothers of Karns City. He also is survived by a sister, Mrs. Raymond P. (Ruth) Gibson of North Washington; and several nieces and nephews.
His first wife, Virginia Mae Hawk Deal, whom he married in New Castle Oct. 9, 1943, died Dec. 13, 1987. A brother and a sister also preceded him in death.
DEAL - Friends of Keith W. Deal, who died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at RICHARD D. HILLIS FUNERAL HOME, 102 Argyle St., Petrolia. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Richard Rowe, pastor of Petrolia Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Creek Cemetery , Petrolia.
