Obituaries by LocationDaniel L. Kurtz Sr.
Daniel L. Kurtz Sr., 57, of Brownsville, Pa., died Thursday, March 29, 2001, in his home.
He was born Oct. 29, 1943, in Searights, Pa., he was the son of the late Joseph John Kurtz, who died in 1981, and also Julianna Yakubec Kurtz of the Cherry Tree Nursing Center, Uniontown.
Daniel retired in August, 1999, from Clairton Steel as a millwright after 32 years of service.
A U.S. Army veteran, he served in Germany. He was a former social member of the Hiller Volunteer Fire Company.
Besides his mother, he is survived by his wife of 34 years, Irene G. Kurtz; by a son, Daniel Lee Kurtz Jr., of Grindstone; by a daughter, Tami Lynn Kurtz Ratica and her husband, Mark and grandsons, Nicholas and Mark Ratica Jr., all of Brownsville; a sister, Shirley A. Kurtz Wadsworth of Brownsville; and many nieces, nephews and special in-laws.
The family will receive friends in the CONFER FUNERAL HOME, 515 Front St., Brownsville, on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Monday, April 2, 2001, from 10 to 11 a.m. Funeral Services will then be conducted with Pastor Scott Gallagher of St. Paul United Methodist Church of Denbo, officiating. Burial will follow in LaFayette Memorial Park, Brier Hill.
In addition to flowers, contributions may be made payable to: "Fayette Home Hospice", 100 Woodlawn Ave., Uniontown, PA 15401.
Domer C. Leighty
Domer C. Leighty, 71, of Jefferson R.D. 1, Pa., died Wednesday, March 28, 2001, in his home.
He was a retired coal miner from Gateway Mine.
On May 10, 1953, he married Genevieve Harsman, who survives.
Friends will be received in the Behm Funeral Home, 1477 Jefferson Rd., Jefferson, today from 7 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., where services will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m.
John H. Lowery
John H. Lowery, 51, of Republic, Pa., died Tuesday, March 27, 2001.
He was born July 2, 1949, in Brownsville, Pa., son of the late John (Jack) H. and Mary Lowery.
He is survived by three sons, John H. Lowery III, Esquire, of Grindstone, Pa., Mark A. Lowery of Leonardtown, Md., and Robert J. Gibson of Layton, Pa.; a sister, Ruth (Duchess) Thompson and Agnes Coughenour, both of Connellsville, LaQuita Frankhouser and her husband, Regis of Lemont Furnace, and Juanita Leapline of Bitner, Pa.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Rhodes; and his brothers, Russell, Lloyd, Donald, Harry "Bud", and Wilbur "Kite" Williams.
Friends will be received in the BROOKS FUNERAL HOME INC., 111 East Green St., Connellsville, on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday at 11 a.m., in the funeral home.
A committal service and interment will follow in the Green Ridge Memorial Park, Pennsville.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be given to the American Cancer Society, Southwest Region, 241 4th Ave., Pittsburgh PA 15222-1744, in Edward’s memory.
Harold E. Williams
Harold E. Williams, 89, of Uniontown, Pa., passed away Wednesday, March 28, 2001, in Beverly HealthCare Center.
He was born in Uniontown, Pa., on May 12, 1911, the son of the late Frederick L. and Grace Uhl Williams.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Michael Paul Williams Sr., who died on March 14, 2001; a brother, Samuel U. Williams; and a sister, Anna Mae Cone.
He was a member of the Third Presbyterian Church, was Past Elder and Deacon; an Honorary Member of Laurel Lodge 651 F & AM, Uniontown Lodge of Perfection, Pittsburgh Consistory, and Sylvia Shrine.
He was also a past president of the Uniontown Kiwanis Club, and was a former member of the Uniontown YMCA Board of Directors.
Mr. Williams was a graduate of Uniontown High School, Class of 1931, and was the retired owner of the Mayflower Transit Company, in Uniontown.
He is survived by his wife, Inez Bailey Williams; and three grandchildren, Cary Pascoe of Grand Rapids, Mich., Carla Williams of Hilton Head, S.C., and Michael Paul Williams Jr., of Uniontown; and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC., 180 Morgantown St., Uniontown, Pa., where friends will be received today from 11 a.m. to Noon, the hour of service, with the Rev. William D. Rodahaver officiating.
Private interment will be in Sylvan Heights Cemetery.
Agnes I. Bayza
Agnes Irene (Ries) Bayza, 84, of Granville, Coal Center, Pa., died Wednesday, March 21, 2001, in Jefferson Hospital.
Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Jean Fayak and husband, Jack of Belle Vernon, and Janice Lee Venezia and husband, William of Springhill, Fla.; one son, Samuel Paul Bayza and wife, Rosemarie of Cameron, W.Va.; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great great-granddaughter.
Friends will be received in the Ed Melenyzer Funeral Homes Inc., 1008 Furlong Ave., Roscoe, on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Monday, March 26, 2001, from 10 to 11 a.m., the hour of service, in the Roscoe United Methodist Church.
Clara B. Chambers
Clara Belle Critchfield Chambers was the first child of five live born children of William Grover Critchfield and Sarah Mae Herbert Critchfield.
She was born in Vanderbilt, Pa., on Sept. 21, 1904. She departed this life on Thursday, March 22, 2001. Her father was a carpenter all his working life, and he lived for 96 years. Her mother, who lived for 88 years, was a homemaker raising six of her children and seeing five of them graduate from high school and begin their adult lives. Clara "Happy" Chambers is predeceased by her husband; brothers, William G. "Brother" Critchfield II and Clarence "Critchy" Albert Critchfield; and a sister, Irene Lou Critchfield Kramer.
Her sisters, Elizabeth "Betty" Critchfield Boemke of Bloomington, Minn., and Barbara Jean Critchfield Neely of Kennewick, Wash., survive her. Clara had no children.
Clara, who was known as Happy, was raised in Uniontown, Pa., and lived with her parents in several rental homes before moving to their own home on 71 Johnson Ave., Uniontown. All five children lived on Johnson Ave. However, "Brother" did not live to see his fourth birthday. Happy was the first to graduate from Uniontown High School, in 1922. She then began working for the Madore Lumber Company, for about five years. After the Madore Lumber Company, Happy worked for a short time for Hankins-Paulsen Lumber for something less than a year. At both lumber companies, Happy would estimate and bill carpenters and builders for lumber orders and other supplies to build homes. She said that her typing course at Uniontown High School paid off even if the teach was an "old witch" and not a friendly type.
Happy married Raymond Sturgis Chambers on Nov. 29, 1927. Ray worked in the small loan business and they set up housekeeping for a time in a small apartment on Gallatin Avenue, in Uniontown. Then the loan business took Ray to Pittsburgh, and they moved there for the next 15 years. Ray joined and moved up in the administration to become Vice President of Credit Life Insurance Company, located in Ohio. He had to travel to a number of the mid-Atlantic states to take care of the many small loan company life insurance accounts, and it was then that Happy and Ray bought a house in North Arlington, Va., to be near the Washington/Reagan National Airport and Union Station for easy transportation to his business appointments.
Happy took care of her home and Ray for many years at 3106 North Peary St. She lived in her home for 45 years. After her husband’s death, she continued to live in her home until moving to Kingshire Manor Assisted Living at the Shady Grove Adventist Healthcare nursing facility in Rockville, Md., during the summer of 2000, as her health was failing. She needed an assisted living situation with nursing to manage her medications.
Happy loved her home and took great interest in her family. She was a steadfast foundation for her husband, brother and sisters and her extended family of eight nieces and nephews. She was always interested in her family and their welfare was extremely important to her. Any member of her family can attest to her caring and generosity. In addition, she joined a group of other older women and made many hundreds of heart shaped pillows over the years for open-heart surgery patients from Arlington Hospital at the Madison Senior Center near her home in Arlington.
She will be buried next to her husband in LaFayette Memorial Park at Brier Hill, Pa., joining her father, mother, sister, sister-in-law, brother and brother-in-law. At her request, her burial will be a simple graveside ceremony with her family.
Arrangements are under the direction of the JEROME W. SHELL FUNERAL HOME, Uniontown, Pa.
