Auto business owner
had a love of music
Phillip A. Detweiler, 74, of Uniontown, died Friday, May 16, 2008, in the hospice unit of Mt. Macrina Manor, Uniontown.
He was born May 13, 1934, a son of Berwyn S. and Mary Lyndall Jamison Detweiler.
Mr. Detweiler was a member of Uniontown High School, Class of 1952. He enjoyed the planning of celebration of each class reunion as well as the All-Fayette County and All-UHS graduate reunions in central Florida.
He was an active member in St. Peter's Lutheran Church.
Mr. Detweiler loved to share his love of music and participated in many area choirs and shows including performances with the Uniontown Chorale, SPESQUA (barbershop chorus) and Asbury Chancel Choir. He was a 50-year member of Laurel Lodge 651 F&AM, Uniontown Lodge of Perfection 14th degree AASR, Pennsylvania Consistory 32nd degree AASR, Syria Temple AAONMS and Caravan 9.
He inherited his father's love for people and passion for the automotive sales business. In 1966, he opened a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership in downtown Masontown and built its current location in June 1969. In 1970, GMC trucks were added, and he acquired Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile lines in 1980. With the dealership in the hands of his two sons, Mr. Detweiler retired in 1996, returning many days to visit with his customers, many of whom had become dear friends.
Surviving are his wife, Jeanne Sofchek-Arison Detweiler of Uniontown; three sons, Phillip Detweiler Jr. and wife Kathy of Kansas, James Detweiler and wife Doreen of Uniontown and Bruce Detweiler and wife Dayna of Hopwood; a daughter, Leigh Mansberry and husband Dave of Uniontown; eight grandchildren, Alicia, Christopher, Maria, Kelly and Amy Detweiler and Joshua, Jacob and Zachary Mansberry; four stepchildren, Chris Constantine and husband Bill of Uniontown, Peggy Warfield and husband Gene of Maryland, Bob Arison and wife Becky of Texas and John Arison and wife Lois of Uniontown; nine stepgrandchildren, Billy and Leah Constantine, Aimee Allamon, Jason and Jonathan Warfield and Rob, Brett, Ashley and Evan Arison; a great-granddaughter, Lexi Allamon; four brothers, Berwyn S. Detweiler Jr. and wife Lois, Herbert and wife Judy, Nelson and wife Jill and Alan and wife Sandy; and a sister, Marilyn Penney.
Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 19, in Andrew D. Ferguson Funeral Home Inc., 80 Morgantown Street, Uniontown, followed at 11 a.m. by services celebrating Mr. Detweiler's life in St. Peter's Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Bernard Carl officiating. Interment will follow in Jacob's Lutheran Cemetery, Masontown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory to St. Peter's Lutheran Church Building Fund, 121 Walnut Hill Road, Uniontown, PA 15401, or Albert Gallatin Hospice, 20 Highland Park Drive, Uniontown, PA 15401.
Laurel Lodge 651 F&AM will conduct funeral rites at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.
Memorial e-mails may be sent to the family at memorials@adferguson.com.
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LOIS LEE FARLESS
Lois Lee Farless, 50, of Strabane, died Saturday, May 17, 2008, in Donnell House, Washington. Arrangements are incomplete and being handled by Piatt & Barnhill Funeral Home. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition.
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FLORENCE E. LAZZARO
Longtime teacher at
Mon Valley Vo-Tech School
Florence E. Lazzaro, 78, died Friday, May 16, 2008, in Donnell House, Washington, with her family by her side.
She was born Sunday, April 13, 1930, in Charleroi, a daughter of John Arch Ellison and Roberta Dean Ellison.
Mrs. Lazzaro had a special love for life and people. She especially loved her husband of nearly 54 years, Dr. Anthony Lazzaro; her children, Dr. Anthony John Lazzaro and wife Paula and Judy Lazzaro and husband James McQuiston; and grandchildren Cara Beth Lazzaro, A.J. Lazzaro, Michael McQuiston and Jimmy McQuiston.
Mrs. Lazzaro enjoyed her time with friends in the Wednesday and Friday bridge groups as well as friends in Chippewa Ladies Golf League.
She graduated from Charleroi High School, Washington Hospital School of Nursing and California University of Pennsylvania. She was a night supervisor in Charleroi/Monessen Hospital and later an infirmary nurse at Clarion University. She developed the initial medical assistant program at Mon Valley Vocational-Technical School, where she taught for 22 years.
Friends will be received in Mariscotti Funeral Home Inc., Anthony N. Mariscotti, supervisor, 323 Fourth Street, California, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and until 10:30 a.m., the time of a blessing service, Monday, May 19, followed at 11 a.m. by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, California, with Father George Moneck as celebrant.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Lazzaro Scholarship fund, in care of Dr. Anthony Lazzaro.
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DAVID EDWARD POWELL
U.S. Army veteran
loved his faith, family
David Edward Powell, 68, of West Palm Beach, Fla., died Saturday, April 19, 2008, in his home, following an unexpected illness.
Born November 15, 1939, in Eighty Four, he was a son of John and Mary Milhoan Powell.
A 1958 Trinity High School graduate, he served in the U.S. Army from 1963 until 1965. Soon after, he moved to West Palm Beach, where he worked in facilities management in Rosarian Academy for more than 30 years.
Mr. Powell loved his faith, family, the outdoors and traveling. A longtime member of First Baptist Church, he brought religious teaching to generations of students as he exemplified the values of civility, respect, kindness, loyalty and service.
Surviving are two brothers, John Powell (Lois) of Eighty Four and Robert Powell (Betty) of Bentleyville; four sisters, Mary McDaid of Butler, Joanne Mounts (Harold) of Okeechobee, Fla., Virginia Lusk of Eighty Four and Lila King (Jim) of Berrien Springs, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held in First Baptist Church, West Palm Beach, with interment in South Florida VA National Cemetery, Lake Worth, Fla.
Contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Children's Ministry, 1101 South Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
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MAMIE WHYTE RUPPERT
Mamie (Mary) Whyte Ruppert, 90, died May 15, 2008.
She was the wife of William; sister of Magdalena Benintend, Veronica Benard, deceased; aunt to several nieces, nephews. Private services by Paul L. Henney Memorial Chapel.
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CLAIR VARNER
'47 Wash High grad
was musician, teacher
Clair Varner, born in 1930 in Washington, died Wednesday, April 16, 2008, in Lakewood, Colo.
A 1947 graduate of Washington High School, Mr. Varner was an accomplished trumpet player and teacher.