Obituaries by LocationWilliam A. Cook Sr.
William A. Cook Sr., 74, of 813 S. Pike Road in Buffalo Township died at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Allegheny Valley Hospital, Natrona Heights.
Born Aug. 6, 1928, in Vandergrift, he was the son of William Raymond and Margaret V. Emahiser Cook
He owned and operated Bill Cook Trucking Co. in Buffalo Township for 28 years and enjoyed Greyhound racing, hunting and playing cards.
Surviving are his wife of 30 years, Mildred D. Dininger Cook; a son, William A. Cook Jr. of Browns Mill, N.J.; a daughter, Mrs. Marla D. Hutchison of Vandergrift; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Two brothers, Kenneth Cook of West Leechburg and Robert Cook of Vandergrift, also survive.
COOK - Friends of William A. Cook Sr., who died Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at REDMOND FUNERAL HOME, 524 High St., Freeport. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Rev. Ron Kutsch, pastor of First Baptist Church of Avonmore, will officiate. Burial will be at Sarverville Cemetery , Buffalo Township.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley, 533 Linden Ave., New Kensington, PA 15068; or to the Butler County Humane Society, 1027 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053.
Eric J. Clauser
Eric J. Clauser, 23, of 203 South St. died Tuesday evening at Butler Memorial Hospital after a heart attack.
Born in Butler, Sept. 9, 1979, he was the son of Richard E. and Donna M. Fleeger Clauser Jr.
He was a mixer at Dynamic Ceramics in Sarver and was a member of the Italian Society and the French and Belgium Club.
Surviving are his parents of Butler; a brother, Benny Clauser at home; his grandparents, Mrs. Shirley Fleeger, Gordon Fleeger, Richard Clauser Sr. and Mrs. Georgia Colosimo, all of Butler; and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.
CLAUSER - Friends of Eric J. Clauser, who died Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave. A blessing service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday 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 .
Thelma Kamerer Ziringer
Thelma Kamerer Ziringer, 84, died Tuesday in Butler Township at the home of her granddaughter, Vickie Carr.
She was the daughter of Carey E. and Maggie Wilson Kamerer.
Mrs. Ziringer was a member of the Faith Baptist Church of Mars.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Paul (Nancy) Kramer of Butler and Mrs. Arthur (Sue) Stewart of Mars; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Ross W. Ziringer; three sisters and a brother preceded her in death.
ZIRINGER - A memorial service to celebrate the life of Thelma Kamerer Ziringer, who died Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2002, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Faith Baptist Church, Mars. SCHELLHAAS FUNERAL HOME, Bakerstown, is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Faith Baptist Church, Pittsburgh Street, Mars, PA 16046; or to Albert Gallatin Hospice, 165 Brugh Ave., Butler, PA 1600l.
H. Paul Scherich Jr.
H. Paul Scherich Jr., 71, of Cranberry Township died Thursday at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh.
Born Aug. 2, 1931, in Wind Ridge, Greene County, he was the son of Herbert Paul and Ruby Durban Scherich Sr.
He retired from GPX Inc. in Cranberry Township after 38 years.
Mr. Scherich was a Navy veteran of the Korean War and a member of Unionville American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Mary “Connie” Scherich, whom he married April 4, 1960; a sister, Christine Staggers of Cape Coral, Fla.; a brother, Francis Scherich of Liberty Hill, Texas; and nieces and nephews.
SCHERICH - Friends of H. Paul Scherich, who died Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at GLENN-KILDOO FUNERAL HOME, 130 Wisconsin Ave., Cranberry Township. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. John Sands, pastor of Conway Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Pinewood Memorial Park, Cranberry Township.
Hugh Bowen Hemphill
Hugh Bowen Hemphill, 89, of Whitestown Road in Connoquenessing Township died at 10:10 a.m. Thursday at Chicora Medical Center, where he lived since September.
Born in Butler, March 17, 1913, he was the son of Mossene and Bertha Bowen Hemphill.
He worked at the former Armco-Butler Works from 1937 to 1975. He operated a locomotive yard crane and later became turn foreman in the transportation department. He also was a stonemason.
Mr. Hemphill was a member of St. John’s Reformed Church, Meridian.
He was a charter member of the Butler Old Stone House Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America and enjoyed driving his 1936 Studebaker and collecting old license plates.
Surviving are a son and daughter, Neil Hemphill and Mrs. George (Norene) Stephenson, both of Butler; a brother, Jack Hemphill of Prescott, Ariz.; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
His wife, Margaret E. “Peg” Dutter Hemphill, died Sept. 17, 2000. An infant great-grandson, two sisters and three brothers also preceded him in death.
HEMPHILL - Friends of Hugh Bowen Hemphill, who died Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 124 E. North St. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. John’s Reformed Church, 493 Evans City Road. The Rev. Dr. Robert Peterson will officiate. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park, Butler Township.
Ralph A. Wittmer Sr.
Ralph A. Wittmer Sr., 72, of Cranberry Township died Sunday at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh.
Born June 11, 1929, in Millvale, he was the son Edward and Katherine Kraus Wittmer.
He retired from the U.S. Postal Service.
Mr. Wittmer was a member of St. Ferdinand Roman Catholic Church, Cranberry Township.
He was a Navy veteran.
Surviving are his wife, Anna Mae Wittmer, whom he married Jan. 14, 1954; a daughter, Sandra Weinheimer of Shaler Township; a son, Ralph A. Wittmer Jr. of Hampton Township; two sisters, Claramae Johnson of Ft. Myers, Fla., and Catherine Brandon of Bonita Springs, Fla.; and three grandchildren.
WITTMER - Friends of Ralph A. Wittmer Sr., who died Sunday, June 2, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and Wednesday at GLENN-KILDOO FUNERAL HOME, 130 Wisconsin Ave., Cranberry Township. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Ferdinand Roman Catholic Church, Cranberry Township. Burial will be at St. Anthony Cemetery , Pittsburgh.
Joseph Anthony Rotz
Joseph Anthony Rotz, 73, of Hermitage died at 2:30 a.m. Monday in the emergency room at UPMC Horizon, Farrell.
Born March 19, 1929, in New Castle, he was a son of Charles and Madeline Russo Rotz.
He attended New Castle schools and retired in 1984 as a millwright at Sharon Tube Co. after 30 years.
Mr. Rotz was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Sharon.
He served in the Army during the Korean War and was a member of VFW Post 7597, the Italian Home and the Croation Club, all of Farrell; and VFW Shenango Valley Post 1338, American Legion Post 299 and the Elks Lodge, all of Sharon.
He enjoyed dancing and cooking for the German Home, the Sharon Tube Co. Golf League and catering private parties. He also was an avid card and bingo player.
Survivors include a son, Robert Joseph Rotz of Sharon; a daughter, Tammie Detwiler of Mansfield, Ohio; a brother, Anthony Rotz of Butler; three grandchildren; and his companion, Verla Bradian, with whom he made his home.
On Feb. 6, 1954, he married Eleanor “Pee Wee” Negrea. She died April 26, 1997. Two brothers, including his twin brother, and two sisters also preceded him in death.
ROTZ - Friends of Joseph Anthony Rotz, who died Monday, June 3, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME, 1090 E. State St., Sharon. Visitation also will be from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Sharon, where services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Douglas Dayton, church rector, officiating. Burial, with military graveside military honors, will be at St. Ann Cemetery , Hermitage.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Penn Center Blvd., Suite 700 Pittsburgh, PA 15235.
Joseph Anthony Reep
Joseph Anthony Reep, 23, of Butler died Saturday, June 1, 2002.
Born March 23, 1979, in Butler, he was the son of John A. and Norma S. Ramos Reep.
He was a 1997 graduate of Butler High School and worked at Wise Business Forms.
Mr. Reep was a member of St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, Center Township.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter.
Surviving are his parents of Butler; his girlfriend, Tristian Jewart; a brother, Chris Reep of Butler; his paternal grandparents, Charles and Margaret Reep of Butler; and his great-uncle and great-aunt, Ruben and Grace Cajigus of California.
A memorial Mass was celebrated today at St. Andrew Catholic Church.
Memorial donations may be made to Camp Cadet, c/o Trooper Michaliski, PSP, 200 Barracks Road, Butler, PA 16001.
YOUNG FUNERAL HOME handled arrangements.
Ruth Ann Slevin Jerome
Ruth Ann Slevin Jerome, 69, of Ellwood City died Monday at her home after a long illness
Born in Ellwood City, Oct. 5, 1932, she was the daughter of Bertilla Kossler and Edward R. Slevin.
A 1954 graduate of St. Francis School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, she held a variety of supervisory positions at Passavant Health and Retirement Center in Zelienople, and retired as director of nursing in January 1998 after 20 years.
She enjoyed needlework and gardening; and all things Italian and Italy.
She is survived by her husband, Albert Jerome, to whom she was married for 47 years; three daughters, Toni Bezek of North Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Dr. Karen Jerome-Zapadka of Beaver Falls, and Maura Carney of Ellwood City; and two sons, Mark Jerome of Cranberry Township and Darrell Jerome of Washington, D.C.; and a sister, Helen Sockaci of Fombell. Eleven grandchildren also survive.
She was preceded in death by a son and two brothers.
JEROME - Friends of Ruth Ann Slevin Jerome, who died Monday, June 3, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at MARSHALL’S FUNERAL HOME, Ellwood City. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Redeemer Church, St. Agatha Worship Site, Ellwood City.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Women’s Center of Beaver County.
