Joseph Anthony Binando
Retired from Conrail, WWII vet,
member of St. Francis RC Church
Joseph Anthony Binando, 79, of Luciusboro Road, Center Township died Saturday, March 27, 1999 at home.
Mr. Binando was born May 1, 1919 in Vandergrift, son of the late Victor and Mary Santus Binando.
He was a veteran of World War II, a life member of the VFW, an employee of Conrail, retiring after 38 years, and a member of St. Francis Roman Catholic Church, Graceton, where a funeral Mass was celebrated Monday by Fr. Elmer Kacinko.
Survivors include his wife Emma Guion Binando; two children, Ronald, Detroit, and Mrs. Melvin (Shirley Jean) Stella, Blairsville; two grandchildren; a sister and brother, Marian Bernini and Frank, both of Coral; numerous nieces and nephews.
Interment
was in SS. Simon and Jude Cemetery, Blairsville, Bowser Funeral Home, Homer City in charge.
Harry M. Bracken
Member of United Mine Workers,
Blacklick Community UM Church
Harry M. Bracken, 79, of Clyde died Sunday, March 28, 1999 at Lee Hospital, Johnstown.
Mr. Bracken was born April 2, 1919 in Wehrum, Pa., son of the late Elmer and Rhea Beard Bracken. He was a member of the United Mine Workers and Blacklick Community United Methodist Church, and attended Bethel Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his wife Donna James Bracken; children Mrs. Denny (Harriette) Bernabo, Robinson, Mrs. Thomas (Lisa) Carrick, Penn Run, Jay, Robinson, and Lana, Indiana; five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter;
Also surviving is his brother Murdick "Turk" of Armagh.
His brothers Ira and Wayne preceded him in death.
Services were held Wednesday at Stuart Funeral Home, Armagh, Rev. Sherman Ott officiating. Interment
was in Armagh Cemetery.
Romae J. Bailey Fatora
Retired LPN at Torrance St. Hospital,
member of Brenizer Assembly of God
Romae J. Bailey Fatora, 81, of Blairsville died Friday, March 26, 1999 at Indiana Hospital.
Mrs. Fatora was a retired (1980) licensed practical nurse at Torrance State Hospital and a member of the Assembly of God, Brenizer. She was born Jan. 8, 1918 at Blue Ridge, Ga., daughter of George and Martha Ledford Bailey.
Survivors include three children, George W. Jr., Blairsville, Dennis P William (Patricia) Houston, Punxsutawney; three grandchildren;
Also surviving are three great-grandchildren and six brothers and sisters, Elmer L. of Latrobe, Bessemer of Blairs-ville RD 2, Marvin of Blairsville RD 1, Tiny E. Carradine of Greensburg, Edna Stockdale of Arkansas and Erna Jones, Ligonier.
Her husband George William died in 1992. Also preceding her in death were were brother Carl and three sisters, Bernice Beaumariege, Minnie Lou Murray and Nellie Campbell.
Services were held Monday at Shoemaker Funeral Home, Blairsville, Rev. Charles S. Kitner officiating. Interment
was in SS. Simon and Jude Cemetery, Blairsville.
Merle E. Holby
Retired machinist, member of
Delmont Presbyterian Church
Merle E. Holby, 69, of New Alexandria, died Thursday, March 25, 1999 at Westmoreland Hospital, Greensburg.
Mr. Holby, born July 6, 1929 in Jeannette, was a retired machinist, having worked at Consolidated Gas. He was a member of Delmont Presbyterian Church who served in the armed forces and the Air National Guard during the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Huldah Semencar Holby; three children, Dennis, New Alexandria, Randy, North Port, Fla. and Mrs. Jonathan (Irene) Casteel, Greensburg; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren;
Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews and three sisters and a brother, Mrs. Robert (Hazel) Lockhart, Aliquippa, Mrs. Thomas (Rusty) Rouff, New Alexandria, Eileen Sturnick, Port Orange, Fla. and Wayne L., De Land, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Blair and Ethel Mae Cook Holby; three sisters, Rosella Neimeth, Dorothy Stewart and Violet Sari, and a brother, Edward.
Services were held Monday in Delmont, Rev. Stephen M. LaSor officiating. Interment
was in Twin Valley Memorial Park, Delmont.
William L. Klauss Jr.
Elder of New Florence Jehovah's
Witnesses, employee of Conecomp
William L. Klauss Jr., 33 of Homer City (Brush Valley) died Friday, March 26, 1999 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Mr. Klauss, born April 2, 1965 in Pittsburgh, son of William Lawson and Lynn Bergman Klauss, who survive, served as an elder of the New Florence congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and was an employee of Conecomp Systems.
Survivors also include his wife Sandra Varner Klauss; his brother Chris and his wife Jennie, Altoona; his nephew Connor Klauss; his grandmother Agnes Dunnet, Greensburg.
A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the New Florence Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Interment
was in Armagh Cemetery, Stuart Funeral Home, Armagh in charge.
Virginia Bell Perna
Gray Station native survived by
a son, many nieces and nephews
Virginia Bell Perna, 90, of Derry died Wednesday, March 24, 1999 at St. Anne Home, Greensburg.
Mrs. Perna, who was born Nov. 3, 1908 in Gray Station, Derry Township, daughter of the late Paul and Carmello Cantello Bell, is survived by her son Salvatore P. of Latrobe and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husband John C. in 1974, seven brothers, Patsy, Peter, Solomon, Joseph, John, Carmen and Allie, her sister Mary LePore and her daughter-in-law Ruth Kuhn Perna, on Nov. 1, 1998.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday at SS. Simon and Jude Roman Catholic Church by Fr. Chester Raimer. Interment
was in the church Cemetery, Quinlisk Funeral Home, Derry in charge.
Memorial donations were suggested to St. Martin Church, New Derry, Pa. 15671, or SS. Simon and Jude Church, Blairsville, Pa. 15717.
George R. Sigafoes
Retired from Neal Trucking, war vet,
member of Latrobe VFW, White Eagles
George R. Sigafoes, 83, of New Alexandria died Sunday, March 28, 1999 at home.
An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, Mr. Sigafoes was born March 23, 1916 in New Alexandria, son of the late Frank P. and Blanche E. Rummell Sigafoes. He was a member of Latrobe United Presbyterian Church.
He was a former member of the UMWA and was retired from Neal Trucking, Blairsville. He was a life member of the Latrobe VFW and White Eagles, and a member of the Old Crabtree Sportsmen and Lloydsville VFD.
Surviving are his wife Mary Maschak Sigafoes; three children, James (and wife Diane), John R. and Mrs. Tom (Georgia) Sauers, all of New Alexandria; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews; four brothers and sisters, Harry T. of Blairsville, Clarence of New Alexandria, Dorothy Neppes of Nebraska and Garnet I. Riffle of South Carolina.
Preceding him in death were his son George Jr., his sisters Edna and Martha Roddy and his brother Frank W.
Services were held Wednesday in Latrobe, Revs. Don Graff and Terry Carnahan officiating.
Nellie Luchsinger Truxal
70-year member of Bl. Presby. Church,
30-year teacher in Blairsville-Saltsburg
Nellie Luchsinger Truxal, 92, of Tampa, Fla. died Friday, March 26, 1999 at University Community Hospital, Tampa.
Mrs. Truxal was born Oct. 16, 1906 in Blairsville, and lived 16 years in Florida. A 1926 graduate of Indiana Normal School, she belonged to Blairsville United Presbyterian Church since 1927, and taught 30 years in Blairsville-Saltsburg School District, re-tiring in 1972.
She earned bachelor's and master's de-grees at Indiana University of Pa., and did graduate studies at the universities of Pittsburgh and Dayton. She was a mem-ber of the NEA, PSEA and a life member of the Indiana County Retired Teachers Association.
She and her husband owned the Keystone School of Music, where she taught piano and violin for 15 years; she also taught privately over the years. Other memberships included the Pioneers Club at IUP and the historical societies of Blairsville and Hernando County, Florida.
She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph Knox and Emma Park Luchsinger; her husband Karl M. in 1980; her brother William "Lucky;" two sisters, infant Maxine and Leone Maurer.
Survivors include her daughter Dorothy Skoyec, Brooksville, Fla.
Also surviving are three grandchildren, three great-grandsons, a great-granddaughter and a step-great-grandson; her brothers Robert, North Ridgeville, Ohio and Leonard "Jack," Hamilton, Ohio; several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Wednesday at Shoemaker Funeral Home, Blairsville, Dr. Darrell D. Knopp officiating. Interment
was in Blairsville Cemetery.
Memorial donations were suggested to the Blairsville United Presbyterian Church or the Blairsville Historical Society.
Henry Frank Yancy
Navy veteran, ex-Derry Twp. resident
survived by two children, four sisters
Henry Frank Yancy, 72, of Sacramento, Calif., formerly of Snydertown, died Friday, March 26, 1999 at home.
Mr. Yancy, a Navy veteran, was born July 12, 1926, son of the late Julia and Thomas Yancy.
Survivors include two children, Richard, and Janice Jones, California; two grandsons; a granddaughter; a special friend, Dorothy Bly;
Also surviving are seven sisters, Veronica Hill, New Derry, Pauline Johnston, Latrobe, Dorothy Mareschi, Hadden Heights, N.J., Catherine Slezak, Loyalhanna, Margaret Halbohm of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Rosalie and Helen Gozdick, both of Snydertown.
He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn; four brothers, Victor, Raymond, John and Andrew; two sisters, Mary Peterson and Anna Kaminsky.
Bertha Patz Almond
Native of Cokeville survived by husband of
61 years, three sons, a brother and a sister
Bertha Patz Almond, 81, died Sunday, March 21, 1999. She was born Dec. 8, 1917, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Patz of Cokeville, Derry Township.
After graduation she moved to Detroit, Mich. and on June 12, 1937 married Norman Almond, who survives.
Also surviving are three sons, Robert, Allen and Bruce, a granddaughter and a grandson, her brother John of Blairsville RD 2 and her sister Julia Gorton.
Interment
was in Accacia Park Cemetery, Birmingham, Mich.
Joseph 'Smokey' Connell
Machinist for FMC, graduate of Indiana HS,
survived by three children, brother and sister
Joseph R. "Smokey" Connell, 58, of Homer City died Sunday, March 28, 1999 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, McKeesport.
Born Feb. 8, 1941, Mr. Connell worked for 27 years as a machinist at FMC, Homer City. He graduated from Indiana High School in 1959, and moved to the Homer City area in 1963. He was a member of the Army Reserves.
Survivors include three children, Robert and Kevin, both of Indiana, and Mrs. Lee (Laurie) Brinton, West Newton; six grandchildren; a brother and sister, John, Indiana, and Mrs. Robert (Emma Kay) Knight, Kernville, Calif.;
Also surviving are six grandchildren and a special friend, Betty Yvonne Ray.
His parents Raphael J. and Ruth M. Eckenrode Connell preceded him in death.
Services were held Thursday in Indiana, with interment
in St. Bernard Cemetery there.
Robert C. Conrad
Indiana County farmer, member of Dilltown
Sportsmen, attended Community Bible Ch.
Robert C. Conrad, 71, of Homer City RD 1 died Wednesday, March 24, 1999 at home.
Mr. Conrad was born Aug. 31, 1927 in Buffington Township, Indiana County, son of the late Russell F. and Linda M. Wilkie Conrad. He attended the Community Bible Church of Bolivar.
He lived all his life on the family farm, where he was a self-employed farmer. He was a member of the Senior Extension and Agriculture Club of Indiana and various other agriculture groups, and the Dilltown Sportsman Club.
Three children survive, Robert, Hom-er City, Mrs. Joseph (Rebecca) Arcurio, Armagh and Mrs. George (Judy) Yeck-ley, Barnesboro; his sisters, Mrs. Daniel (Shirley) Nelius, Richland, Linda Eileen Eamigh, Johnstown and Anna Mae Hoover, Indiana.
Also surviving are two grandchildren, Robert A. Conrad and Megan R. Yeckley; a number of nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sunday in Indiana, Rev. Robert Boughner officiating. Interment
was in Armagh Cemetery.
Martha Jane M. Dillon
Derry Area teacher's aide, deacon at Derry
Presbyterian Church survived by 3 children
Martha Jane Dillon, 64, of Derry died Tuesday, March 30, 1999 at the home of her daughter in Plum.
Mrs. Dillon, a former teacher's aide in the Derry Area School District, was a member of Derry Presbyterian Church, where she had served as a deacon. She was born Jan. 28, 1935 in Kingston, Derry Township to James and Florence Mitchell.
Survivors include three children, Mrs. Kerry (Cheryl) Irons, Polk, Pa., Mrs. Ernest (Lori) Gribschaw, Plum, and Thomas, Derry; brothers and sisters James, Plymouth, Mich. and Robert, Mary Trump and Rose Derek, all of Latrobe.
Also surviving are five grandchildren, Troy, Brad, Sean, Drew and Erin, and several nieces and nephews.
Her husband Thomas B. died on July 1, 1996; she also was predeceased by four sisters and a brother, Bessie Matthews, Florence Betz, Frances, Gertrude and Joseph.
Rev. F. Neal Galley will officiate at services at 11 a.m. today at McCabe Funeral Home, Derry, with interment
in Unity Cemetery, Unity Township.
Memorial donations were suggested to McGuire Memorial Home, 219 Mercer Road, New Brighton, Pa. 15066, or Derry Presbyterian Church.
Helen Marie Foutz Foust
Member of Homer City United Pres. Church
and Order of the Eastern Star 299 of Indiana
Helen Marie Foust, 88, of Homer City died Wednesday, March 24, 1999 at Beacon Manor, Indiana.
Mrs. Foust was a member of the Homer City United Presbyterian Church and Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 299 of Indiana. She was born Oct. 16, 1910 in Shelocta, daughter of the late Frank and Daisy Peelor Foutz.
Survivors include her husband Delmas P.; her brother Frank Eugene and his wife Betty of New Brighton; three grandsons, Mark Moore, Pottstown, Todd Moore, Denver and David Moore, Boyertown, and seven great-grandchildren.
Services were held Saturday at Bowser Funeral Home, Homer City, Rev. Robert Shaw officiating. Interment
was in Greenwood Cemetery, Indiana.
Grace Myrtle Baker Long
Member of Somerset First Methodist Church,
Somerset Historical and Genealogy Society
Grace Myrtle Long, 92, of Blairsville, formerly of Derry Township, died Tuesday, March 30, 1999 at Latrobe Area Hospital.
A member of Somerset First United Methodist Church and a life member of the Somerset Historical and Genealogy Society, Mrs. Long was born March 22, 1907 in Black Township, daughter of the late Isaiah and Catherine Weimer Baker.
She is survived by her children Mrs. Robert (Doris) Rayman, Somerset, James, Allentown and Mrs. James (Sandra) Smen, Blairsville; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother and sister Kenneth, and Pauline DuPont, Rockwood.
She was predeceased by her husband Telford L., on March 8, 1958; brothers Charles and Clarence and sisters Mae Pletcher-Wigfield, June Walker and Ruth Gindlesberger.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Hauger-Zeigler Funeral Home, Somerset, Rev. Patricia Nelson officiating, assisted by Dr. Arthur Gotjen. Interment
will be in St. John's Cemetery.
Memorial donations were suggested to the First United Methodist Church, 149 W. Patriot St., Somerset, Pa. 15501.
Ruth E. S. Schrecengost
Season-All employee, member of Zion
Lutheran Church enjoyed baking, cooking
Ruth E. Schrecengost, 73, of Indiana died Sunday, March 28, 1999 at Latrobe Hospital.
A Homer City native, born Feb. 2, 1926 to Garfield and Mary Etta Stewart, Mrs. Schrecengost lived most of her life in Indiana, where she worked as a laborer at Season-All and belonged to Zion Lu-theran Church. She enjoyed cooking and baking.
Survivors include her daughter Mrs. Louis (Sandra) Yanni Jr., Indiana, her sister Rachael Gallo, Homer City, and two grandchildren, Tina M. Yanni and Louis "L.J." Yanni III.
She was preceded in death by her husband Roy E., six brothers, Homer, Dean, Mabon, Mack, John and Walter, and four sisters, Mary, Martha Betts, Hazel Choma and Gaye Wise.
Services were held Wednesday in Indiana, Pastor Roy P. Washill officiating. Interment
was in Greenwood Cemetery, Indiana.
James Eugene Shearer
Retired molder at National Roll, member of
Molders union, hunter, fisherman, cyclist
James Eugene Shearer, 69, of Saltsburg RD 1 (Young Township died Tuesday, March 30, 1999 at Latrobe Area Hospital.
Mr. Shearer was born in Olivet, Pa. in January 1930, son of the late Elijah E. and Virginia L. Matson Shearer. Prior to retirement in 1980 he was a molder at National Roll, Avonmore, and be-longed to United Molder and Plastic Local 46.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and motorcycling.
Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Sarah; children, Mrs. Robert (Rhonda) Reed, and Mrs. William (Deborah) Reed, Saltsburg RD 1, Mrs. Richard (Marsha) Swartz, Avon-more, Jeffrey, Clarksburg, Christopher, Murrysville and Harold, New Alexan-dria;
Also surviving are four brothers, Earl and Leslie, both of Saltsburg, Raymond of Turtle Creek and William of Apollo; his sister Irene Birge of Shady Plain, Pa.; 27 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren.
His brother Norman preceded him in death.
Services were held Thursday in Avonmore, Rev. George Rugh officiating. Interment
was in Elders Ridge Cemetery.
George L. Troska
Shift supervisor at Seward power plant,
Navy vet of WWII, Methodist church member
George L. Troska, 75, a retired shift supervisor at the Seward power plant, died Tuesday, March 30, 1999 at Lee Hospital, Johnstown.
Mr. Troska, of Cramer, was born April 30, 1923 in Johnstown, son of the late Charles and Ethel May Wadsworth Troska. He was a member of Cramer United Methodist Church and a World War II Navy veteran, serving on the USS Stoddard.
Surviving are his wife Dorothy; children James, and Mrs. Keith (Sandra) Skavang, Cramer, and Carol Ann King, Johnstown; five grandchildren; five great-grandchild-ren; sisters Janet Mack, Armagh, Mary States, Homer City and and Barbara Wil-son, Indiana.
He was preceded in death by his brother Maurice, sister Roberta Cox and an infant sister.
Services will be held today at 11 a.m. at Cramer UMC, Rev. Keith Lohr officiating. Interment
will be in Armagh Cemetery.
John L. Tutokey
Retired Bethlehem Steelworker, Army WWII
vet, member of Holy Family Catholic Church
John L. Tutokey, 77, of Seward died Friday, March 26, 1999 in Johnstown.
Mr. Tutokey, an Army veteran of World War II who served in the Pacific, was retired with 30 years' service at Beth-lehem Steel. An avid fisherman, he was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and a life member of the VFW, both of Seward.
He was born Sept. 6, 1921 in Hawk Run, Pa., son of the late Joseph and Anna Tondra Tutokey. Also preceding him in death were his sons Brian and Mark and his brothers Joseph and Albert.
Survivors include his wife Shirley; two children, Matthew, and Mrs. William (Michelle) Bouch, both of Seward; five grandchildren; a great-grandchild; six brothers and sisters, Andrew, and Anna Mae Keener, Phil-ipsburg, Eddie, Manville, N.J., George, Johnstown, Mary Snyder, Pampas Bay, Fla., and Betty Gura, Troy, Mich.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday at Holy Family Church by Fr. John Wilt. Interment
was in Armagh Cemetery, Meese Funeral Home, Seward in charge.
