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GAYLORD DUANE ALLEN
Gaylord Duane Allen, 61, of Avella, died Sunday, September 14, 2008, in Donnell House, Washington, following a brief illness.
He was born February 3, 1947, in Washington, a son of the late Gaylord and Verla Dinch Allen.
Mr. Allen was a graduate of Avella High School.
On March 14, 1966, he entered the U.S. Army, attaining a rank of specialist-grade E-5. He was awarded a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged November 5, 1968.
For more than 20 years, Mr. Allen worked at DGI Menard and was a shop steward for the labor union.
He was a member of North Buffalo United Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Allen enjoyed hunting, fishing with his grandchildren and watching their sporting events.
Surviving are two sons, Jeremy Duane (Shasta) Allen and Jay Darrell Allen, both of Avella; a sister, Marietta Brager of Avella; and five grandchildren, Derek, Paige, Blaze, Sidney and Brooklyn.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, with the Rev. Jack E. Emerick officiating. Interment will follow in West Alexander Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded by Bert C. Siders American Legion, Avella. The family suggests memorial contributions to Donnell House, c/o Washington Hospital, 155 Wilson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301.
***
ERVIN BAKER
Retired Monongalia
Hospital ICU nurse, Army vet
Ervin Baker, 72, of Jefferson, died Sunday, September 14, 2008, in Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va.
He was born November 9, 1935, in Hamilton, N.C., a son of Wesley and Winnie Reason Baker.
Mr. Baker entered the U.S. Army at 18 and served from October 1954 through May 1977. He served three tours of duty in Germany and one tour in Vietnam. He retired from the Army as a nurse in the medical corps. He later worked as a licensed practical nurse in the intensive care unit at Monongalia General Hospital in Morgantown, where he retired after 17 years.
He attended Jefferson Church of the Nazarene.
Mr. Baker enjoyed yard work and working with his flowers.
Surviving are his wife, Shirley Steinmiller Baker, whom he married March 3, 1956; two daughters, Melodie (Tom) Hodnik of Dunbar and Michele (Joe) Baker of Jefferson; four grandsons, Matthew (Kelly) Maple and Jesse, James and Jeremy Baker; three great-grandchildren, Brian, Sarah and Julia; and five sisters, Mary Alice Jost, Lizzie Whitaker, Frances Mogan, Doris Bland and Rachel Harris.
Deceased are two brothers, Noah and Raymond Baker.
Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Behm Funeral Home, 1477 Jefferson Road, Jefferson, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, September 19, with the Rev. Carl Kibler officiating. Interment will follow in Jefferson Cemetery with graveside military honors by American Legion Post 954 and the U.S. Army. Memorial contributions may be made to Jefferson Church of the Nazarene. Concolences may be expressed online at www.behmfuneralhomes.net.
***
LILY ELIZABETH
TAYLOR CRONIN
1946 Canonsburg
H.S. graduate
Lily Elizabeth Taylor Cronin, 79, of Anaheim, Calif., died August 6, 2008.
Born in Canonsburg to Howard and Helen Taylor, she was a 1946 Canonsburg High School graduate. Burial was in Riverside National Cemetery, Anaheim.
***
PAUL ROBERT DEVENNEY
Paul Robert Devenney, 39, of Wellsburg, W.Va., died Monday, September 15, 2008, in Trinity Medical Center West, Steubenville, Ohio.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc. A complete obituary will be published later.
***
KENNETH E. GRANDSTAFF
Korean War veteran was
retired Plasteel accountant
Kenneth E. Grandstaff, 77, of Prosperity, died at 9:45 a.m. Monday, September 15, 2008, in Donnell House, Washington, following a short illness.
He was born Thursday, September 18, 1930, in Chandlersville, Ohio, a son of James Dewey Grandstaff and Florence Frances Archer Grandstaff.
He was a member of Claysville United Methodist Church.
Mr. Grandstaff was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955.
He always enjoyed stamp and coin collecting, reading and watching old movies.
Mr. Grandstaff worked for 30 years as an accountant for Plasteel in Washington, retiring in 1980 to take care of his mother.
Surviving are a brother-in-law, Norman W. (Sonny) Richmond of Washington; two nieces, Norma D. Finch of Sycamore and Brenda L. Alexander of Durham, N.C.; a great-niece, Liberty-Mecca Smith of Core, W.Va.; a great-nephew, Jonathan Kerr of Winchester, Va.; a great-great-niece, Rhiannon Smith; and a great-great-nephew, James Smith II.
Deceased is a sister, Freda Elouise Richmond.
Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home Inc., Daryl L.Throckmorton, owner/director, 197 North Maiden Street, Waynesburg, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, with Pastor Paul W. Salosky Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Bethlehem Baptist Cemetery, Ruff Creek. The family suggests memorials to Donnell House, Hospice Care of the Washington Hospital, 155 Wilson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301.
Graveside military rites will be accorded by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4793, James Farrell American Legion Post 330 and Disabled American Veterans 123, all of Waynesburg, and representatives from the U.S. Navy Mid-Atlantic Region. Information is online at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com.
***
GEORGE HADANICH
George Hadanich, 94, of Washington, died Monday, September 15, 2008, in his home.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors Inc. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition.
***
CAROL V.
WUYCHECK KNIESS
Washington resident known as talented cook, seamstress
Carol V. Wuycheck Kniess, 74, of Washington, died Sunday, September 14, 2008.
She was born Friday, June 15, 1934, in Heidelberg, a daughter of James and Cecelia Skaris Hillen.
Mrs. Kniess was a loving wife to George, a great mother to her children and "world's best Nana" to her grandchildren.
She was a great cook and talented seamstress.
Surviving are her husband, George P. Kniess of Washington; a son, Jon Eric Wuycheck (Lisa) of Bethel Park; three daughters, Cheryl Ullrich (Jeff) of Germantown, Tenn., Terri Brown of North Strabane Township and Diane Dunleavy (Michael) of Bethel Park; and eight grandchildren.
Deceased are her first husband, John Wuycheck, who died June 5, 1985; and a sister, Joann Rupnik.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Sollon Funeral Home Ltd., 30 East College Street, Canonsburg, J. David Sollon, supervisor, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 18, with the Rev. Phil Lavery officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray.
The family requests memorial contributions to American Parkinson's Disease Association, 490 East North Avenue, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Visit www.sollon.com for online condolences.
***
DELORES ANN LIGHTFOOT
Apostolic Temple member, Washington Hospital volunteer
Delores Ann Lightfoot, 65, of Washington, died Sunday, September 14, 2008, in Kindred Hospital, Oakdale. She had been ill since March 2008.
She was born July 16, 1943, in Washington, a daughter of the late Edward and Dorothy Minor Chandler.
Mrs. Lightfoot attended Trinity schools and previously was employed as a certified nursing assistant with Presbyterian Medical Center for 10 years.
Mrs. Lightfoot enjoyed bingo and spending time and talking with her friends and family.
She was a volunteer with Washington Hospital and a member of Apostolic Temple, formerly Bethlehem Temple.
Surviving are her companion, Leroy Booker; a son, Michael Lightfoot of Pittsburgh; four daughters, Sharon Lightfoot (Robert) Dyson of Waldorf, Md., Sydney Lightfoot of Pittsburgh, Brenda Lightfoot of Washington, D.C., and Stacey Lightfoot of Washington; two brothers, James and Joseph Chandler, both of Washington; a sister, Thelma Watson-Davis of Washington; six grandchildren, Stuart Jr., Serena, Chante, Amari, Landi and Lynzi; and a great-grandchild, Shamar.
Deceased are three brothers, Lawrence, William and Rory Chandler; three sisters, Dorothy Chandler, Helen Chandler and Margaret LeGrande; and two grandchildren, Sidney Johnson and Orlando Anderson.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Additional visitation will be held from noon to 1 p.m., the hour of service, Thursday, September 18, in Apostolic Temple, 164 West Wylie Avenue, Washington, with the Rev. William I. Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Additional information and guest book are online at www.NealFuneralHome.com.
***
LAWRENCE M.
MAGNETTA JR.
Former resident
of Washington area
Lawrence M. Magnetta Jr., 62, of Moore, Okla., formerly of Washington and Buffalo Township, died unexpectedly Friday, September 12, 2008, in his home.
He was born April 10, 1946, in Washington, a son of the late Lawrence M. and Emma H. Craig Magnetta.
Mr. Magnetta attended local schools in Washington and graduated in 1964 from McGuffey High School.
While serving in Scotland with the U.S. Navy, he married Elizabeth Sherlow of Glasgow. After military service, he returned home and worked for Jessop Steel, prior to relocating to Oklahoma, where he was employed by Tinker AFB.
He enjoyed Steelers football games and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a son, Michael J. Magnetta of Moore; a brother, Nelson (Gary) Magnetta of Tuttle, Okla.; three grandchildre; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held Wednesday, September 17, in John M. Ireland Funeral Home, Moore, followed by burial in IOOF Cemetery, Norman, Okla.
***
LAWRENCE PAIGE
Plum resident
Lawrence Paige, 61, of Plum, died quietly Saturday, September 13, 2008.
He was the beloved husband of Jean (Gigi) Paige; father of Matthew Lawrence and Nathan Thomas Paige; stepfather of Ryan Keith (Monica) Hamlin; and brother of the Rev. Delano (Laura) Paige, Dr. Kenneth (Lynn) Paige, Rose (Reginald) Tucker, Deloris (Millard) Moye, Beverly (Carter) Campbell and Carolyn Paige.
Deceased are three brothers, Willard, Edward and Thomas Paige.
Visitation will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church, 6111 Rodman Street, East Liberty, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 18. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beyonder's Fund c/o Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church. Professional services entrusted to Coston Funeral Home Inc., 412-661-5916. Information is online at www.costonfuneralhome.com.
***
PATRICIA J. SAWICKY
Active church member
enjoyed flower gardening
Patricia J. Sawicky, 67, of Marianna, died peacefully Sunday, September 14, 2008, in Washington Hospital, surrounded by her family, following a brief illness.
She was born May 4, 1941, in Marianna, a daughter of Joseph and Ann Dankovich Sawicky.
Having attended West Bethlehem Township schools for 11 years, she graduated from Bethlehem-Center High School in 1959.
She worked as a secretary for S.A. Meyer Co. and Webers National Store, both in Washington, for many years. For the past 17 years, she was secretary/treasurer for West Bethlehem Township.
She was a member of Sts. Mary and Ann Roman Catholic Church, St. Oliver Plunkett Parish, in Marianna, where she acted as director for CCD for many years and also for St. Michael Archangel Church, Fredericktown, St. Oliver Plunkett Parish.
She received a Manifesting of Kingdom award from Pittsburgh Diocese, of which she was proud.
She and her sister, Arlene, were inseparable and enjoyed working in the flower garden and going to The Meadows. She was talented in arts and crafts and enjoyed painting stained glass.
Surviving are a brother, Joseph (Sack) Sawicky; a sister, Arlene Sawicky, with whom she made her home; two nieces, Denise (John Kadonick) Monica and Lori (Bob) Puskas; a nephew, Joey (Melissa) Sawicky; two great-nephews, Frank Monica Jr. and Rob (Kristen) Puskas; two great-nieces, Tiffany Monica and Alissa Puskas; and an uncle and several aunts.
Family and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Nichol Funeral Home, 1728 Main Street, Marianna, where transfer prayers will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 18, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in Sts. Mary and Ann Roman Catholic Church, St. Oliver Plunkett Parish, with Father Paul Grunebach as celebrant. Interment will follow in Horn Cemetery, Marianna.
***
BRANKO STUPAR
Retired lawyer specialized in construction contract litigation
Branko "Brownie" Stupar, 85, a retired lawyer in Washington, D.C., who specialized in construction contract litigation, died July 27, 2008, of pancreatic cancer, in his home in Potomac, Md.
He was born in Washington, a son of Millie and Anna Dubinsky Stupar.
Mr. Stupar enrolled in Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, in 1941. He transferred during his junior year to Ohio Wesleyan University, where he signed up for the Navy V-12 program. He completed his midshipman training at Columbia University and served in the South Pacific during World War II, participating in the invasion of Okinawa.
After the war, he returned to Muskingum, where he received his undergraduate degree in political science in 1946. He received a law degree from American University in 1951 and practiced law with the firm of Faulkner, Shands and Stupar for almost a half-century.
A member of the Naval Reserve, he served as commanding officer of several intelligence units and, in 1969, was in charge of operational control at an air base in Portugal during North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercises. He retired as a captain in the Naval Reserve in 1982.
He also was owner of V-Par Co., a real estate holding company with interests in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Vermont. He was a member of several professional organizations as well as University Club and Military Order of Carabao. He also served on the board of governors of Congressional Country Club and as chairman of the club's legal committee and was on the board of trustees at Muskingum College.
Mr. Stupar was involved in sports throughout his life. He loved golf and played often at Congressional Country Club. He was an avid Washington Redskin fan and cherished his annual Thanksgiving "Turkey Bowl" game with friends and family.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Helen Amundson Stupar of Potomac; four children, Peter Stupar of Alameda, Calif., Marlys Rixey of Cabin John, Md., David Stupar of Rockville, Md., and Brian Stupar of Arcata, Calif; a sister, Helen Stupar Tatalovich; and a granddaughter.
Please sign and view the family guest book at www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com.
***
ELIZABETH M.
LORCH SWEITZER
Baldwin Borough resident
Elizabeth M. Lorch Sweitzer of Baldwin Borough died Sunday, September 14, 2008.
She was the wife of the late Clifford M. Sweitzer; mother of James C. (Alma) Sweitzer; sister of Mildred Kohl, the late John Lorch and Mary Frobe; and grandmother of Lisa (Brian) Gierl and Kevin (Rebecca) Sweitzer.
Also surviving are her great-grandchildren, Shelby and Austin Sweitzer.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in John F. Slater Funeral Home Inc. (412-881-4100), 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood, where funeral prayers will be held at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Church, Pittsburgh. If desired, the family suggests contributions to Washington Area Humane Society, P.O. Box 66, Eighty Four, PA 15330.
Please send condolences to www.johnfslater.com.
