Jul 31, 2013

Member of First U.M. Church in Waynesburg

Kathleen Fox, 93, of Springfield, Ohio, formerly of Waynesburg, died at 10:22 a.m. Monday, July 29, 2013, in her home.

She was born Saturday, April 17, 1920, in Mt. Morris, a daughter of the late Earl and Nettie Wade Fox.

Mrs. Fox was a member of First United Methodist Church in Waynesburg.

She had worked at Kridle’s Cleaners in Waynesburg and was a homemaker.

Surviving are daughter Sharon E. Robison of Springfield; three grandchildren, Jessica D. (Darrell) Gullette, Jason E. Robison and Kevin E. Robison; sister Madalon Fox of Springfield; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are three sisters, Margaret Marie Marshall, Aldene Hellstrom and Lela Catherine Fox, and brother Donald Fox.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home Inc., Daryl L. Throckmorton, owner/director, 197 North Maiden Street, Waynesburg, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 3, with Pastor Gary Grau officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Mt. Morris. Information is at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com.

Faithful member of Center Presbyterian Church

Laurel Earley Isager, 66, of McMurray, went to be with her Lord and Savior Friday, July 26, 2013.

She was born March 26, 1947, in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late Edward and Ruth Earley.

She was a proud graduate of West Penn Hospital School of Nursing.

Mrs. Isager was the beloved wife of 40 years to Peter Isager of McMurray; loving mother of Kristina (Pastor Michael) McCormick of McMurray and Jennifer (Chris) Purvis of Fort Mill, S.C.; sister of Patricia Popoleo, David (Joanne) Earley and Paul (Jackie) Earley; and adored grandmother of Jackson, Carson, Raegan, Brady, Jonas and Campbell. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

She was a faithful member of Center Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir since 1986 and enjoyed playing in the handbell choir.

Mrs. Isager was an avid reader who also loved the outdoors. Most of all, she cherished the time she spent with her family and friends.

Friends are welcome from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Cremation & Funeral Care, 3287 Washington Road, McMurray, 724-260-5546. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 3, in Center Presbyterian Church, McMurray. Interment will be in Center Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Isager’s name to Family Hospice & Palliative Care, 50 Moffett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15243, 412-572-8800, or Center Presbyterian Church Music Program, 225 Center Church Road, McMurray, PA 15317.

Please view and sign the family’s guest book at www.cremationfuneralcare.com.

WWII veteran

Caroline Kopolovich, 93, of Washington, formerly of Northgate, died Wednesday, July 31, 2013, in Humbert Lane Personal Care Home, South Strabane Township.

She was born April 5, 1920, in Burgettstown, a daughter of John and Mary Pirih.

Mrs. Kopolovich attended Washington Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

She graduated from Burgettstown High School in 1938 and from Washington Hospital School of Nursing and Pennsylvania State University. Prior to her retirement, she was a staff nurse at Washington Hospital.

Mrs. Kopolovich enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943, serving during World War II as a Women’s Army Corps recruiting officer.

She was the last of her immediate family and was the loving and caring mother of son Alex John Kopolovich of Pittsburgh and two daughters, Lois (Robert) Sakerka of Hernando, Fla., and Ruth (the Rev. James) Newman of Washington. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are three sisters, Mary Creo, Amelia Hardy and Leopolda Rozmus, and three brothers, John, Benjamin and Henry Pirih.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the time of service, Friday, August 2, in Hummell & Jones Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington, Thomas W, Hummell, supervisor, Douglas M. Jones, funeral director, with the Rev. C.D. Croscutt officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Prospect Cemetery, Hickory. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Washington Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 246 Sanitarium Road, Washington. Messages of condolence may be left at www.hummellandjones.com.

Washington woman was very social

Helen Austia Minor, 65, of Washington, died Wednesday, July 31, 2013, in Donnell House, Washington.

She was born February 14, 1948, in Canonsburg, a daughter of the late Ewing S. Minor and Helen M. Storrick Solomon.

Ms. Minor was very social and loved others unconditionally.

Surviving are two brothers, Dennis E. Minor of Washington and David C. (Celene) Minor of Washington; two sisters, Janice M. Anderson-Steinberg of Phoenix, Ariz., and Elaine Knotts of Washington; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased is a brother, Robert Minor.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 1 to 2 p.m., the time of service, Friday, August 2, in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, with Pastor Larry Leonard officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Donnell House, in care of Washington Health System Hospice Care, 155 Wilson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301.

Additional information and guest book are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.

Sierra Jane Minor, 16, of Claysville, died Wednesday, July 31, 2013, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Behm Funeral Home Inc., Jefferson. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition.

Lifelong member of St. Barbara Church

Julia I. Rozmus Sray, 96, of South Fayette Township, died Tuesday, July 30, 2013.

She was born February 12, 1917, in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late Matthew and Frances Bonk Rozmus.

On June 14, 1947, she married Frank J. Sray Sr., who died September 19, 1985.

She was a lifelong member of St. Barbara Church and enjoyed baking and gardening.

Surviving are son Tom (Beckie) Sray of South Fayette Township; three grandchildren, Melissa (Jeremy) Bardo, Nikki (Sam) Bilodeau and Jason Sray; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Josephine Pirinak and Helen Cherok; and two brothers, Stanley and Joseph Rozmus.

Deceased are son Frank J. Sray Jr.; three sisters, Pauline Wysocki, Mary Czarnieki and Louise Yakima; and three brothers, John, Frank and Michael Rozmus.

Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday in Warchol Funeral Home, 3060 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, 412-221-3333. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 3, in St. Barbara Church, Collier Township, with the Rev. Richard E. Ward as celebrant. Interment to follow in St. Barbara Cemetery, Collier Township. View and add condolences at www.warcholfuneralhome.com.

Retired steelworker owned Spring Valley Restaurant

William Stanley Stankas, 79, of Canonsburg, passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in UPMC-Presbyterian hospital, Pittsburgh.

He was born November 5, 1933, in Canonsburg, a son of George and Catherine Godish Stankas.

Mr. Stankas graduated from Cecil High School in 1951 and later attended Penn Commercial for business.

He served with the U.S. Army as a specialist third class.

Mr. Stankas worked as a steelworker for Universal Cyclops from 1959 until retirement in 1994. In the interim, he also established Spring Valley Restaurant in 1974. It was a family-owned restaurant and bar that he and his wife enjoyed running until 1981.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed family gatherings, Steelers games and working on his farm. He was quite the history buff and enjoyed the outdoors, playing cards and going to the casino. He was a member of RFA of Bridgeville.

On July 19, 1962, he married his loving wife of 51 years, Valijean DiBiase, who survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Christina Ogden of Peters Township and Kathleen Jacobs and husband Norman of Cecil; four grandchildren, William Ogden III and Alessandra, Nathaniel and Juliana Jacobs; brother-in-law Ross DiBiase and wife Joann of Dunkirk, N.Y.; sister-in-law Donna DiBiase of Kent, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, deceased are brother George P. Stankas, brother-in-law Richard DiBiase, and son-in-law William Ogden Jr.

There will be no public visitation and services are private. Interment will take place in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Peters Township. Arrangements entrusted to Sollon Funeral Home Ltd., 30 East College Street, Canonsburg, J. David Sollon, supervisor, Phillip L. Sollon, director. Family suggests memorials in his name to Washington Health System, Wound and Skin Healing Center, www.whs.org. Please visit www.sollon.com for additional information and to view and leave condolences.

Bentleyville resident was avid gardener

Bruce H. Watson, 61, of Bentleyville, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, July 30, 2013, in Monongahela Valley Hospital Emergency Department.

He was born February 27, 1952, a son of the late Harley “Red” and Bernice Burger Watson.

Mr. Watson was a graduate of Bentworth High School and attended California University of Pennsylvania.

He retired from Consol Energy and was an avid gardener.

On June 28, 1975, in Bentleyville United Methodist Church, he married Karen S. Jones, who survives.

Also surviving are son Eric Watson of Bentleyville; daughter Wendy Valerio (Michael) of Wyckoff, N.J.; two grandchildren, Aiden and Olivia Valerio; two brothers, Jeff Watson (Linda) of Scenery Hill and Bob Watson (Marilyn) of Bear Rocks; and several nieces and nephews.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 163549, Columbus, OH 43216 (www.heart.org). Arrangements in care of Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home Inc., 809 Main Street, Bentleyville. Visit www.thompson-marodi.com to leave a condolence message and share photos.