Obituaries by LocationJohn M. Martonik
John M. Martonik, 62, of Butler died Wednesday at his home after an extended illness.
Born Nov. 21, 1939, in McKees Rocks, he was the son of the late John R. Martonik and Olga (Malanchuck) Martonik of McKees Rocks, who survives.
He was a former member of St. John Catholic Church and was a state police corporal, retiring after 29 years. He was a member of the FOP Brady Paul Lodge 54, Slovak Society of Lyndora, and the Butler Quarterback Club. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and was an avid sports fan.
In addition to his mother, survivors in addition to his mother are his wife, Sandy (Schlentner) Martonik of Butler; a daughter, Mrs. Tim (Sandy) Fristoe of Virginia; a son, John J. Martonik of Fenelton; three sisters, Mrs. Ed (Barbara) Sweeney of Chicago Ridge, Ill., Mrs. George (Paula) Logue of Moon Township, and Mrs. Nancy Broda of Great Falls, Mont.; and a granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by a brother.
MARTONIK - Friends of John M. Martonik, who died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, 127 W. Jefferson St., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Fidelis Catholic Church, 303 Penn Ave., Lyndora, with the Rev. James Murphy officiating. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park.
Mary Kelly Legros
Mary Kelly Legros, 53, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., formerly of Bruin, died Tuesday at the Middle Tennessee Medical Center after an illness.
Born in Butler, Feb. 4, 1948, she was the daughter of Herbert and Geraldine Davis Kelly.
She graduated from Karns City High School and received a bachelor of arts degree from Geneva College.
Mrs. Legros was a homemaker and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Murfreesboro.
Surviving are her husband Jules Legros; a daughter, Natalie Fike of Columbus, Ohio; a sister, Karen Rukovena of Tallmadge, Ohio, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother.
LEGROS - Friends of Mary Kelly Legros, who died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, will be received from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at RICHARD D. HILLIS FUNERAL HOME, 102 Argyle St., Petrolia. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Terry Kennedy, pastor of Martinsburg Presbyterian Church of Bruin, officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Creek Cemetery , Petrolia.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Beesley Animal Humane Society, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Hoyle S. Howell
Hoyle S. Howell, 84, of Saxonburg died today at the Sugarcreek Rest in Worthington.
Born May 15, 1917, in Todd, N.C., he was the son of Robert and Kathleen (Houlk) Howell.
Mr. Howell retired after 42 years from Electromelt Corp. in Pittsburgh, where he was a welder. He also served in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression.
He was a member of the Zion Methodist Church in Todd and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He is survived by three sons, Don A. Howell and Stewart B. Howell, both of Saxonburg, and Samuel G. Howell of Butler; three sisters, Elma Hayes and Kathleen Miller, both of West Jefferson, N.C., and Ardna Lail of Todd; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise (Joyce) Howell, who died in 1981, and a daughter.
HOWELL - Friends of Hoyle S. Howell, who died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at FOX FUNERAL HOME, Saxonburg. Additional hours will be held at Boone Family Funeral Home, West Jefferson. Burial will be at Zion Church Cemetery , West Jefferson.
Steve Hoshak
Steve Hoshak, 81, formerly of Butler died Monday at Sunnyview Nursing Home.
Born April 24, 1920, in Butler, he was a son of Michael and Katie Opar Hoshak.
He was a retired crane leader in the silica department at the former Armco - Butler Works. He worked there for 31 years and retired in 1973.
He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Lyndora.
A World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, he had served as a sergeant in the 755th Anti-aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion.
He was a member of the VFW Post 249 in Butler, American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora, the Butler Elks Lodge 170, and the Slovak Club in Lyndora.
He enjoyed golf and bowling and participated in numerous leagues in Butler.
He is survived by two nieces and four nephews.
He was preceded in death by two brothers.
HOSHAK – Friends of Steve Hoshak, who died Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME, 201 E. Cunningham St. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Stefan Zencuch, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, officiating.
Parastas services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Diana R. Budner
Diana R. Budner, 68, formerly of Butler, died Sunday at her son’s home in Sharpsburg after an illness.
Born Sept. 11, 1933, in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of Lawrence and Antoinette Yelenti.
She was a homemaker and attended the Sharpsburg Worship Center.
Surviving are three sons, Bob J. Budner of Saxonburg, Sam J. Budner of Sharpsburg and Mike W. Budner Sr. of Butler; three daughters, Linda Right of Alabama and Annette Budner and Debbie Kabel, both of Butler; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Budner Sr.; her companion, Charles “Chuck” Pullen; and a son.
BUDNER - Friends of Diana R. Budner, who died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, will be received from noon to 2 p.m. today at WORRELL FUNERAL HOME, 820 Main St., Sharpsburg, where services will follow at 2 p.m. Private burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park, Butler township.
Memorial donations may be made to Sharpsburg Worship Center, 200 Ace St., Sharpsburg, PA 15215; or to Worrell Funeral Home, 820 Main St., Sharpsburg, PA 15215.
Edith M. Bartlett
Edith M. Bartlett, 94, of O’Hara Township, Allegheny County, died Wednesday morning at Harmar Village Care Center, Harmar Township.
Born March 3, 1908, in Mars, she was the daughter of George and Beatrice Miller Lawther.
Mrs. Bartlett was a homemaker and lived in O’Hara Township since 1940. She belonged to the Hoboken Presbyterian Church of Blawnox.
Surviving are four sons, Raymond E. Bartlett of Prospect, Robert T. Bartlett of Texas, Howard M. Bartlett of Saxonburg, and Samuel M. Bartlett of O’Hara Township; a brother, Harry Lawther of Mars; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandsons.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward M. Bartlett, and three brothers.
BARTLETT - Friends of Edith M. Bartlett, who died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at THOMAS M. SMITH FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, 930 Center Ave., Blawnox. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hoboken Presbyterian Church, 921 North Ave., Blawnox.
Hilda M. Tackett
Hilda M. Tackett, 88, of Butler died at 5:21 p.m. Wednesday at her home after an illness.
Born Feb. 11, 1913, in Mars, she was the daughter of William and Minne Werner Thielemann.
She was a member of St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Surviving are five daughters, Mrs. Donald (Florence) Domhoff of Renfrew, Mrs. Vic (Shirley) Walowen of Butler, Mrs. William (Judith) Parker of Boiling Springs, Cumberland County, Mrs. James (Mary) Minton of Cabot and Mrs. Richard (Debby) Newell of Butler; and a sister, Florence Rounce of Mars. She also is survived by 18 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
Her husband, James A. Tackett, whom she married June 4, 1937, died Sept. 25, 1997. A sister also preceded her in death.
TACKETT - Friends of Hilda M. Tackett, who died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, will be received from noon to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, 127 W. Jefferson St. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Philip Williams, her church pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park, Butler Township.
W. Ralph McCracken
W. Ralph McCracken, 84, of Sun City, Ariz., died of pneumonia Tuesday at Boswell Memorial Hospital, Sun City.
He was born in 1917 on the family farm near New Castle .
In his early 20s, he moved to Butler, where he worked for Eastern States Farmers Exchange, now Agway. He also owned a farm, where he operated a sod business and bred riding horses.
He retired in 1972 and moved to Wickenburg, Ariz., where he lived for 19 years before moving to Sun City seven years ago.
In Sun City, he did volunteer work at Royal Oaks Life Care, where he made his home and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
He enjoyed playing the banjo and was a member of the Banjo Band. He also enjoyed writing limericks and playing billiards.
Surviving are his wife, Anna Mae McCracken; a daughter, Jane Herlihy of Oakland, Calif., a son, Thomas McCracken of Baltimore, Md.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Three sisters and two brothers, all of Pennsylvania, also survive.
He was preceded in death by a daughter and a grandson.
McCRACKEN - A memorial service for W. Ralph McCracken, who died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Sun City.
Memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 12225 N. 103rd Ave. Sun City, AZ 85351.
Helen E. Keefer
Helen E. Keefer, 78, of North Washington died at 5:45 a.m. Thursday at United Community Hospital, Grove City.
Born Aug. 16, 1923, in Baltimore, Md., she was the daughter of Charles and Bettie Kriss Walker.
She was a Methodist.
Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Jack (Linda) Sutton of Oklahoma, Mrs. Clint (Betty) McDowell of Tennessee and Mrs. Bruce (Lillian Marcia) Bailey of Ellwood City; and three sons, David Keefer of Hilliards, Donald Keefer of Butler and Ralph Card of New Castle. She also is survived by 14 grandchildren.
Three sisters preceded her in death.
Services were today at YOUNG FUNERAL HOME, West Sunbury. The Rev. Robert Mathias, pastor of North Washington Presbyterian Church, officiated. Burial was at Greenlawn Burial Estates, Mount Chestnut.
Donald R. ‘Sam’ Greggs
Donald R. “Sam” Greggs, 87, formerly of Erie, died Sunday evening at the Orchard Manor Nursing Home in Grove City after an extended illness.
He was born in Franklin, April 4, 1914, a son of Carl and Gertrude Mushrush Greggs.
Mr. Greggs worked as a welder and fabricator for A.O. Smith Co. in Erie, the former Erie Meter System, for 36 years until retiring in 1976. He also did plant maintenance while working there.
He was a square dancer and belonged to the Squaws ’n Paws Square Dancing Club in Erie.
Mr. Greggs also was a member of the Club 14 of Gusty’s Hall, the A.O. Smith Retirees Association and the Perry Keystone Lodge 392 F. A.&M. He also bowled, enjoyed dogs, reading and woodworking.
He is survived by his wife, Grace B. Shafer Greggs of Boyers, whom he married in Ripley, N.Y., on Dec. 9, 1933; a daughter, Nancy Ferrere of Boyers; three sons, Donald L. Greggs of Clarence, N.Y., Richard C. Greggs of Dothan, Ala., and Gerald B. Greggs of Geneva, Ohio; several nieces and nephews, including Ruthie Bertelsen of Erie, whom he raised; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Mr. Greggs was preceded in death by a son, a grandson, three brothers and an infant sister.
GREGGS - Friends of Donald R. “Sam” Greggs, who died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2001, will be received from 10 a.m. Wednesday at the RUSSELL C. SCHMIDT & SON FUNERAL HOME, 2926 Pine Ave., Erie, until noon when services begin. Services will be at the funeral home. The Perry Keystone Lodge 392 F. & A.M. will hold Masonic services at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery .
Memorial contributions may be made to the Orchard Manor Nursing Home, 20 Orchard Drive, Grove City, 16127.
