Mary Ann Svitek
Formerly of Canonsburg
Mary Ann Svitek, 80, formerly of Canonsburg, died Sunday, February 22, 1998, at Oakwood Hospital, Beyer Center, Ypsilanti, Mich.
She was born September 21, 1917, in Canonsburg, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Fecjec Matyuf.
She worked for the American Food Corp. of Mich., retiring after 25 years.
Surviving are a daughter, Nancy Jobkar of Belleville, Mich.; three grandchildren, Joey Jobkar, Jody Wilson and Jamie Luft; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are her husband, Joseph Martin Svitek who died in 1973; two brothers; and one sister.
Nelva W. Thomas
Canonsburg native member of St. Paul AME Church
Nelva W. Thomas, 80, of Washington, died Tuesday, February 24, 1998, in the Presbyterian Medical Center, Washington, after a lengthy illness.
She was born August 21, 1917, in Canonsburg, a daughter of William "Buck" and Lena Vaughn Marshall.
Mrs. Thomas attended the Washington school system, and after the death of her mother, she moved to Philadelphia to live with her aunt, Leona Johnson.
She eventually returned to Washington to live with her stepparents, Morgan and Evon Thomas.
She was a member of St. Paul AME Church and was an active member of the Stewardess Board of the Church.
On January 6, 1941, she married R. Archie Thomas, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Alan Raymond Thomas; two grandchildren, Malcolm Raymond and Khalilah Thomas; a sister, June Prout of Philadelphia; and a niece whom she raised, Yvonne Denson.
Delbert M. Clair
Former Burgettstown resident was accountant
Delbert M. Clair, 78, formerly of Burgettstown, died Monday, February 23, 1998, in Newberg, Ore.
He was born June 28, 1919, a son of Carl and Harriette Scott Clair.
Mr. Clair was a 1937 graduate of Union High School in Burgettstown and worked as an accountant with various firms in California state.
He served with the U.S. Air Force during World War II, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, and was a member of the 19th Bombardment Group - the most decorated outfit in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Surviving are his wife, Marian Clair; a daughter, Nidel Elizabeth Day of Tracy, Calif.; three grandchildren, Richard, Lisa and Kristin; and two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Thelma Holliday of Pittsburgh and Ruth Lee Hook of Burgettstown.
Burial will be in Grandview Cemetery, Burgettstown, at the convenience of the family.
Audrey S. Coger
Member of Assembly of God Church, Waynesburg
Audrey S. Coger, 78, of Nemacolin died at 10:31 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 1998, at Greene County Memorial Hospital, Waynesburg.
She was born October 5, 1919, in Millcreek, W.Va., a daughter of Monroe and Cory Lambert Howard.
Mrs. Coger was a member of Assembly of God Church, Waynesburg.
She was married to Walter Coger, who died in December 1971.
Surviving are four sons, Robert Coger of Greensboro, Harry Denver Coger of Marianna, Frank Coger of Crucible and William Coger of Nemacolin; a daughter, Hilda Cameron of Waynesburg; 23 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; one brother, Vance Howard of Millcreek, W.Va.; and three sisters, Geraldine Coger of Englishtown, N.J., Ruth Parker of Pensacola, Fla., and Meryl Hoge of Millcreek.
Deceased are two sons, Denzil and Samuel Paul Coger; a brother, Vane Howard; and a granddaughter, Candy Coger.
Nick Dittore Sr.
A coal miner for 32 years
Nick Dittore Sr., 83 of Spotsylvania, Va., died Wednesday, February 25, 1998, at Mary Washington Hospital.
He was born March 31, 1914, in West Virginia.
Mr. Dittore was a coal miner for 32 years for Buckeye Coal Co., Nemacolin.
He was a member of UMWA Local 6290.
He was married to Alba Dittore, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Nick Dittore Jr. of Fauquier County, Va.; a sister, Helen Dittore of King George, Va.; and three grandchildren.
Thomas Allen Douglas
Former Houston resident owned a salvage company
Thomas Allen Douglas, 70, of St. Augustine, Fla., died Monday, February 23, 1998, at St. Luke Hospital, Jacksonville, Fla.
He was born in Houston and had been a resident of Miami, Fla., and St. Augustine since 1960.
He was president and owner of Douglas Freight Salvage Co., Miami.
He was a member of Chartiers Lodge No. 297, F&AM in Canonsburg, and a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies. He held memberships in several Shrine Clubs, including St. Augustine Shrine and was past-potentate of Mahi Temple in Miami. He was a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, St. Augustine Elks Lodge 829 and Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Augustine.
He was married to Jane Rhea Douglas, who survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Steven A. Douglas and Brian A. Douglas, both of Miami and Kirk A. Douglas of St. Augustine; two sisters, Mary Sherwood of Plantation, Fla., and Joan Taper of Canonsburg; and nine grandchildren.
Services and interment will be held in St. Augustine. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Shriners' Hospitals for Crippled Children, 12502 North Pine Drive, Tampa, FL 33612-9499.
Mary M. Hoffman
Arrangements Incomplete
Mary M. "Flora" Hoffman, 65, of Delmont, died Wednesday, February 25, 1998, in UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh. Complete funeral arrangements will be announced by the Ed Melenyzer Co., FUNERAL HOME at TWIN VALLEY, 463 Athena Drive, Delmont, Kevin P. Altman, supervisor, in charge.
Della M. Kimmel
Retired from Celanese Corp.
Della M. Kimmell, 87, of Greenwood Street, Ellerslie, Md., died Tuesday, February 24, 1998, at her home.
She was born September 19, 1910, at West Finley, the daughter of Lee Reuben and Goldie Marie Nelson Stollar.
Mrs. Kimmell was a member of Ellerslie United Methodist Church.
She was retired from the Amcelle Plant of Celanese Corp. of America in Cumberland, Md.
She was married to Byron E. Kimmel, who died July 12, 1989.
Surviving are a nephew, L. Ronald Stollar of Pomeroy, Wash.; a niece Joyce Stezer of Portland, Ore.
Her caregivers were Lulu Belle and Leroy Kennell of Ellerslie and Carol and Larry Huffman of Hyndman R.D.1.
Ferne L. Kuhn
Pastored churches from 1954 to 1987
Ferne L. Kuhn, 76, of Summerville R.D.1, Jefferson County, died Tuesday, February 24, 1998, in Montifiore Hospital, Pittsburgh.
She was born December 2, 1921, at San Diego, Allegheny County, the daughter of James R. and Olive V. Shaffer Dillon.
The Rev. Kuhn was a member of the Hawthorn Church of the Nazarene. She attended Eastern Nazarene College and pastored four different Nazarene Churches with her husband from 1954 to 1987, when she retired.
On March 25, 1943, she married the Rev. John C. Kuhn, who survives.
Also surviving are one son, John G. Kuhn of Washington; five daughters, Judy Glasgow of Beaver Falls; Patricia Summers of Tidioute; Hope Shoemaker of Canonsburg; Kathy Wheeler of Washington and Doris Davis of Canonsburg; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four sisters, Dolores Beatty, Joanne Spence and Shirley Chilton of Beaver Falls and Arlene Lindenberg of Uniontown; three brothers, Raymond Dillon of Mt. Pleasant, Richard Dillon of Brownsville and Lanny Dillon of Beaver Falls.
Deceased, in addition to her parents, are five brothers; and one grandson, Shon Harden.
Thomas X. Luketich
Retired as electrician from Bethlehem Mines
Thomas X. Luketich, 80, of Cokeburg Junction, died Wednesday, February 25, 1998, in Colonial Meadows, Charleroi.
He was born November 25, 1917, in Cokeburg, a son of Michael Sr. and Mary Shepacs Luketich.
In 1980, he retired from Bethlehem Mines, Mine 51, Ellsworth, where he worked as an electrician.
Mr. Luketich was a member of Ave Maria Parish.
Surviving are two daughters, Becky Oblak of Ellsworth and Veronica Olson of Charleroi; three brothers, Andrew and George Luketich, both of Bentleyville and Frank Luketich of Beallsville; five grandchildren, Richard and Denise Oblak, Lori Wade, Renee Lepori and Ronald Olson Jr.; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are his wife, Ann Chmura Luketich, who died July 7, 1994; two brothers, Michael Luketich Jr. and Mathew Luketich; and three sisters, Mary Luketich, Katherine Alexander and Ann Zemencik.
Amelia Marino
Member of St. Patrick Parish in Canonsburg
Amelia M. Marino, 90, of 822 First Street, Canonsburg, died at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 25, 1998, in Washington County Health Center.
Born December 20, 1907, in Brookville, Somerset County, she was a daughter of Urbano and Marie Antoniette LoBuono Maffio.
Mrs. Marino, a homemaker, had lived most her her life in Canonsburg, where she was a member of St. Patrick Parish.
On November 27, 1927, she married Michael Angelo Marino, who died August 17, 1975.
Surviving are a son, Angelo "Baker" Marino of Canonsburg; two daughters, Betty Jane Bevec and Michele North, both of Canonsburg; a brother, Victor Maffio of Canonsburg; two sisters, Anna Maffio of Claysville and Toni Strnisa of Canonsburg; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are six brothers, Lawrence, Mike, Angelo, Fred, Joseph and Ben Maffio.
Dale Miller
Tree surgeon from Washington
Dale Miller, 70, of McKee Road, Washington, died unexpectedly at 3:17 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 1998, in Washington Hospital.
He was born September 17, 1927, in Morgan Township, Greene County, a son of Glenn and Mary Madlock Miller.
Mr. Miller was employed as a tree surgeon for many years.
On April 29, 1953, he married Betty B. Johnson, who survives.
Also surviving area a son, William D. Miller of Bentleyville; three daughters, Connie Brown of Malone, Ill., and Linda Miller and Diane Miller, both at home; a sister, Marcella Hricik of Pittsburgh; three grandchildren, Tanaya, Shelly and Sherry Brown; a great-grandchild; and several nephews.
Deceased are three brothers, Wallace, Donald and Kenneth Miller.
Ruth Ann Penn
Native of Waynesburg
Word has been received of the death of Ruth Ann Hoskinson Penn, 81, of Tallahassee, Fla., formerly of Waynesburg, who died Monday, February 16, 1998, at Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center.
She was born November 10, 1916, in Waynesburg, a daughter of G.W. and Faye Fuller Hoskinson.
Mrs. Penn was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Tallahassee.
She attended Waynesburg public schools and graduated from Waynesburg College in 1938, with a bachelor of arts degree. She taught school in Pittsburgh and Dade County, Fla., and retired from teaching in 1982. Mrs. Penn was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority.
She was married for 54 years to William C. Penn Sr., who survives.
Also surviving are a daughter, Victoria Penn Zimmaro of Marietta, Ga.; a son, William C. Penn Jr. of Tallahassee; four grandsons, William Craig Zimmaro, Kevin David Zimmaro, William Charles Penn III and Joseph George Penn.
Deceased is a daughter, Susan Kay Penn.
Services and interment were held in Tallahassee.
Stella R. Polinski
Retired nurse from Atlasburg
Stella R. Polinski of Atlasburg, formerly of Carrick, died Tuesday, February 24, 1998, in Presbyterian Medical Center, Washington.
She was born in Cherry Valley, a daughter of Stanley and Catherine Sarnecki Polinski.
Miss Polinski was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, Burgettstown, and was a retired licensed practical nurse.
Surviving are a sister, Mary McClements of Atlasburg, with whom she made her home; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are a brother, Stanley Polinski; and two sisters, Helen Polinski and Anne Robinson.
Theresa L. Popp
Burgettstown resident born in Pittsburgh
Theresa L. Popp, 80, of Cross Creek, Burgettstown, died Tuesday, February 24, 1998, in Washington Hospital.
She was born in Pittsburgh, a daughter of Anthony and Sabina Markowski Dobroski.
Mrs. Popp was a member of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Avella, and was a homemaker.
Surviving are a son, Mike Popp of Poulsbo, Wash.; a daughter, Theresa Hilliard of Burgettstown; four grandchildren, Michael Popp, Richard, Michael and Amy Hilliard; a brother, Harry Dobroski Sr. of Burgettstown; and several nieces and nephews
Deceased are her husband, Mike Popp, who died September 1, 1986; a brother, Zigmund Dobroski; and a sister, Barbara Antkowski.
Arlene F. Stout
Member of Mt. Morris Gospel Tabernacle
Arlene F. Stout, 68, of Mt. Morris R.D.1, died at 1:46 a.m. Wednesday, February 25, 1998, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va., after a brief illness.
She was born July 3, 1929, in Davis, W.Va., a daughter of Earl H. and Velma Bertha Stump Sponaugle.
Mrs. Stout was a member of Mt. Morris Gospel Tabernacle.
On November 12, 1946, she married Cleave Blaine Stout, who died December 27, 1987.
Surviving are two sons, Dennis Blaine Stout and Delmas Lee Stout, both of Mt. Morris; three grandchildren, Rhonda Michelle Stout, Delmas Lee Stout and Dennis James Stout; four sisters, Freda Stout of Granville, W.Va., Wandalea Hicks of Morgantown, Macel Spacht of Morgantown and Bernice Tomer of Westover, W.Va.; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are an infant sister, Bertha Jean Sponaugle; and two brothers, Earl H. "Bloxie" Sponaugle and Willis H. Sponaugle.
