Obituaries by LocationWilliam E. Price
William E. Price, 81, of Hamburg, N.Y., formerly of Chicora, died Tuesday in Hamburg.
Born June 28, 1920, in Chicora, he was the son of E. Earle and Inez Holben Price.
He was a 1939 graduate of Chicora High School and owned and operated a service station/repair garage in Eden, N.Y.
Mr. Price was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church, Hamburg.
During World War II, he served in the Army.
He was an avid golfer.
Surviving are his wife, Frances Pugar Price, whom he married in September 1942 in East Brady; six daughters, Mrs. Michael (Patricia) McNell, Mrs. Brian (Barbara) Baird, Mrs. Robert (Joan) Cluckey and her twin, Jane Price, and Jacalyn Price, all of the Buffalo, N.Y., area, and Mrs. Thomas (Judith) Spencer of Baltimore, Md.; and a sister, Mrs. Richard (Jane) Sarver of Butler. Also surviving are nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother.
PRICE - Friends of William E. Price, who died Tuesday, May 21, 2002, will be received from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at LAING FUNERAL HOME, 2724 W. Church St., Eden. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at SS. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church, Hamburg. Burial will be at Immaculate Conception Cemetery , Eden.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service Inc., 15 Industrial Parkway, Cheektowaga, NY 14227.
Mary ‘Molly’ Christner
Mary “Molly” Smetak Christner, 77, formerly of Mount Pleasant and New Castle, died Tuesday morning after a long battle with a rare lung disease.
Born Dec. 8, 1924, in Tarrs, Westmoreland County, she was the daughter of Charles and Kathryn Perbonish Smetak.
Mrs. Christner had been a member of First United Methodist Church in New Castle before moving to Denver, Colo., where she resided for the past 22 years.
She is survived by her husband, Rex Everet Christner; a son, Rex Everet Christner Jr. of Denver; two daughters, Diana Lynn Christner Liszka of Colorado Springs Colo., and Patricia Lee Christner Monsour Bell of Butler; three grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Four brothers, Charles, Ronald, Robert and Frank “Dean” Smetak, all of Mount Pleasant; and two sisters, Kathleen Smetak Lambert and Bonnie Smetak Marne, both of Mount Pleasant also survive.
She was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.
CHRISTNER - Friends of Mary “Molly” Smetak Christner, who died Tuesday, May 21, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at CLYDE BROOKS FUNERAL HOME, Route 711 Melcroft, Fayette County. Services will follow at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with Deacon Shawn Malarkey and the Rev. Homer Miller officiating. The committal service and burial will be at 1 p.m. May 30 at Mount Nebo Cemetery , Saltlick Township, Fayette County.
Martha A. Christensen
Martha A. Christensen, 97, of Renfrew died Wednesday afternoon at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born in Liebhards, Germany, July 26, 1904, she was the daughter of Theodore and Josephine Weber.
After immigrating to the United States in 1928, she married Neal Christensen in 1930. He died in 1966.
She worked at the Nursery Tea Room in Middlesex Township for years.
Mrs. Christensen’s family remained in Germany, and she had taken nearly 50 trips there to visit them.
Surviving are two daughters, Chris Christensen of Saxonburg and Sharon Anderson of Renfrew, with whom she made her home; four sisters, Elizabeth Fiedler, Therese Weber, Maria Moslein and Anni Mawick, all of Germany; and a brother, Ernst Weber, also of Germany. She also is survived by nine grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, three sisters and two brothers.
CHRISTENSEN - Friends of Martha A. Christensen, who died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at McDONALD-AEBERLI FUNERAL HOME, 238 Crowe Ave., Mars. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church, Mars. The Rev. Charles Bober, church pastor, will officiate.
Leona E. Geibel Burns
Leona E. Geibel Burns, 87, of Chicora died at 2:42 a.m. today at her home after a short illness.
Born in Coraopolis, Nov. 14, 1914, she was the daughter of William T. and Margaret C. Morgan Coleman.
She had been a cook at Garden Gate Restaurant in Prospect for five years; and from 1968 to 1974, she owned and operated Leona Geibel’s Restaurant in Petrolia.
Mrs. Burns was a member of Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church of Chicora, the Altar-Rosary Society of the church and the Confraternity of Christian Mothers.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Dale (Vivian) Pennington of West Sunbury and Mrs. Stan (Louise) Hosick of Sharon; two sons, James E. Geibel of Chester, W.Va., and Earle Geibel of Karns City; five stepdaughters, Mrs. Catherine Robinson of Bath, Mich., Mrs. John (Martha) Berteotti of Petrolia, Mrs. Howard (Mary Ann) Clark of South Carolina, Mrs. Gertrude Berteotti of Chicora and Charlene Burns of Durham, N.C.; and three stepsons, Marcus Geibel of Butler, Patrick Burns of Evans City and John Burns of Chicora.
She also is survived by 20 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and several step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Raymond J. Geibel; her second husband, Charles W. Burns; four brothers; four sisters; two stepsons; and a stepdaughter.
BURNS - Friends of Leona E. Geibel Burns, who died Thursday, May 23, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at STEIGENER FUNERAL HOME, 111 E. Slippery Rock St., Chicora. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, 409 N. Main St., Chicora. The Rev. David DeWitt, church pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery , Herman.
Renee A. Shultz Wise
Renee A. Shultz Wise, 46, of 1004 E. Jefferson St. died Wednesday at her home.
Born Aug. 29, 1955, in Kittanning, she was the daughter of Patricia C. Zurney Shultz and Guy C. Shultz.
She was a homemaker and enjoyed watching TV, reading, crocheting and spending time outdoors.
She is survived by a daughter, Patricia M. Wise of Butler; her mother of East Brady; her father of East Brady R.D. 1; two sisters, Tammy J. Beham of East Brady R.D. 1 and Lorraine S. Tyner of Elverson, Chester County; three brothers, Richard G. Shultz of Amherst, N.H., Timothy L. Shultz of Moon Township and Tracy C. Shultz of Cowansville R. D. 1.
WISE - Friends of Renee A. Shultz Wise, who died Wednesday, May 22, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at SNYDER-CRISSMAN FUNERAL HOME, Cowansville. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with the Rev. Samuel Swick officiating Burial will be at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Cemetery , Chicora R.D. 1.
Margaret G. Thompson
Margaret G. “Peg” Thompson, 81, of Middlesex Township, formerly of Butler, died Friday morning at Valencia Woods Nursing Center.
Born in Wells Tannery, Fulton County, on Feb. 9, 1921, she was the daughter of Charles O. and Elva Feight Burkett.
She was a member of Nixon United Methodist Church, the Butler Women’s Club and the Butler Elks Auxiliary.
Mrs. Thompson had assisted her husband at his veterinary office, Suburban Animal Clinic on Route 8, for more than 50 years.
Surviving is her husband, Laird S. Thompson, whom she married Sept. 14, 1947.
Also surviving are a son, Wayne Thompson of Center Township; a brother, Donald Burkett of Altoona; three sisters, Mrs. Raymond (Wilma) Swab of Maryland, Mrs. Richard (Beverly) Neal of Warrior’s Mark and Mrs. Richard (Shirley) Stauffer of Altoona; and a grandson.
THOMPSON - There will be no visitation for Margaret G. “Peg” Thompson, who died Friday, May 17, 2002. A memorial service will be announced later.
Memorial donations may be made to the Butler Humane Society, 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053.
Arrangements were by MCDONALD-AEBERLI FUNERAL HOME in Mars.
Juanita E. Tasker
Juanita E. Tasker, 92, of Evans City died Friday at Passavant Hospital.
Born May 2, 1910, in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of Charles and Ann Ware Lambert.
Mrs. Tasker was a member of Old Union Presbyterian Church in Mars, and of the Willing Working Class.
Surviving are three daughters, Evelyn Neal Sinz of Evans City, Eileen Neal McCall of Portersville and Sharon Tasker Roy of Terra Alta, W.Va.; four sons, Delton Neal of Butler, Altan Neal of St. Louis, Ross Neal of Carson City, Nev., and Robert Tasker of San Francisco; and one brother, John Lambert of Cape May, N.J.
Also surviving are 21 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Junior Tasker, in 1969, and two sisters.
TASKER - Friends of Juanita E. Tasker, who died Friday, May 17, 2002, will be received from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME INC., 116 E. Main St., Evans City. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Old Union Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Peter C. DeVries officiating. Burial will be at the Terra Alta Cemetery , Terra Alta, W.Va.
Memorial donations may be made to the Old Union Presbyterian Church, 74 Old Union Church Road, Mars PA 16046.
Orville Porterfield
Orville Lockard Porterfield, 83, of Meadville, formerly of Edinboro, died Friday at Beverly Healthcare in Meadville.
Born in Butler March 22, 1919, he was the son of William and Blanche Locked Porterfield.
He had worked for the American Bridge Company in Ambridge and at Butler Coke, Meadowbrook Dairy and Jack Lovett Aluminum Contracting.
He owned and operated Porterfield Appliance Service from 1960 until 1977.
Mr. Porterfield served with the Navy during World War II.
He was a Scoutmaster for the Edinboro Boy Scout Troop from 1952 to 1955 and was a member of Oasis Lodge 419 F&AM, the Zem Zem Shrine, the Edinboro American Legion and Edinboro-McKean VFW Post 740.
Surviving are two sons, Robert Porterfield of Edinboro and James Porterfield of State College; two sisters, Lucille Love of Butler and Twila Kaiser of Juneau, Alaska; a close friend, Elaine Lovett of Edinboro; three grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sara Murphy Porterfield, who died in April 1991, and a sister.
PORTERFIELD - Friends of Orville Lockard Porterfield, who died Friday, May 17, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at GLUNT FUNERAL HOME, 210 Erie St., Edinboro. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. John Dietz officiating. Burial will be in Edinboro Cemetery .
Memorial donations may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 1645 W. 8th St., Erie, PA, 16505.
Margaret Grace Leonard
Margaret Grace Leonard, 88, of Cabot died at 4:55 a.m. Friday at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Born Jan. 12, 1914, in Prospect, she was the daughter of Marion Curtis and Minnie Weitzel Grossman.
She was a member of Saxonburg Memorial United Presbyterian Church, the Senior Citizens of Butler and a life member of Tanglewood.
Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. William (Jeanne C.) Lawson, Mrs. William (Jacquelyn E.) Elentri and Mrs. Theodore (Dorothy M.) Langa, all of Butler; a son, Thomas L. Leonard of Cabot; a stepbrother, Robert Gallagher of Prospect; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Larry (Jean) Stanley of Chicago and Mrs. Glenn (Florence) Herold of Butler; and two stepsons, Howard L. and Allen Leonard, both of Kentucky.
Also surviving are 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and 14 step-grandchildren.
Her husband, Howard T. Leonard, died April 17, 1964.
A daughter, two brothers, her twin sister, three stepsisters, one stepbrother, a grandson and a step-grandson, also preceded her in death.
LEONARD - Friends of Margaret Grace Leonard, who died Friday, May 17, 2002, will be received from noon to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at WILLIAM F. YOUNG JR. FUNERAL HOME, 127 W. Jefferson St., Butler. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. David Brewer, pastor of Saxonburg Memorial United Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment
will follow at Greenlawn Burial Estates.
Allen L. Harriger, Sr.
Allen L. Harriger, Sr., 63, of Ford City died Friday at his home.
Born July 25, 1938, in Manorville, he was the son of Kenneth and Frances Donhiser Harriger.
He was a laborer at Castle Rubber Co. in Butler and was a pastor of the Curry Run Reformed Presbyterian Church in Shelocta.
Mr. Harriger was a veteran of the U. S. Army and enjoyed baking, camping and spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Surviving are his wife, Judith Anne (McCollim) Harriger; three sons, Allen Harriger, Jr., of Ford City, Gary Harriger of Aliquippa and Dennis Harriger of Kittanning; two sisters, Mrs. Richard (Agnes) Buzard of Manorville and Mrs. Lynn (Hope) Millward of Colver, S.C.; a brother, William Harriger of Mercer; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter.
HARRIGER - Friends of Allen L. Harriger, Sr., who died Friday, May 17, 2002, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at WELCH FUNERAL HOME, 1032 Fourth Ave., Ford City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Jack Peters, pastor of Mount Union Bible Church, officiating. Burial will be at the Ford City Cemetery .
