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Obituaries June 22

Lifelong member of United Methodist Church

Dora Mae Straight Bowling, 87, of Washington, formerly of Fairmont, W.Va., died Thursday, June 20, 2013, in her home, surrounded by her family.

She was born February 22, 1926, in Rivesville, W.Va., a daughter of the late Hood and Della Freeman Straight.

Mrs. Bowling was a graduate of Rivesville High School and attended Fairmont State University and West Virginia Business College.

On September 6, 1947, she married William K. “Bud” Bowling. On September 6, 2013, they would have celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. From this marriage came two daughters, Frances Elaine (John) Olshock and Joan Adell (Dan) Emmett, both of Washington.

She was a lifelong member of United Methodist Church and served her Lord as a Sunday school teacher, but her first love was working with the youth of the church. She influenced many youth for Christ while serving as youth director in her service to the Lord. She was a member of the United Methodist women’s group and served in several other positions. At the time of her death, she was a member of First United Methodist Church of Washington.

Mrs. Bowling was an artist and a member of the Washington Art Association. She loved to paint religious scenes. On one occasion, she painted Christ on the cross for a minister friend, to be used for his Good Friday services. She also painted pictures of Christ surrounded by little children now hanging in the children’s area in a church in Florida as well as one in the children/youth area of Central United Methodist Church, which she attended while living in Fairmont.

After raising her children, she returned to the workforce as a secretary to the principal of the Watson elementary school. She spent 13 years in this capacity and retired in 1986.

Deceased, in addition to her parents, are sister Frances Talbott and brothers William, Carl and Ralph Straight.

She was the last remaining member of her immediate family.

Surviving, in addition to her husband and two daughters, are five grandchildren, Matthew Neelen and Ryan, Katie, Andrew and Valerie Emmett; two stepgrandchildren, Jonathan Olshock and Elizabeth (Richie) Myros; four great-grandchildren, Zoe Frances and Teague Robert Neelen and Richie and Ellieanna Myros; a sister-in-law, Frieda Michael of Rivesville, W.Va.; and several loving nieces and nephews.

Her caregivers were Denise Puskarich, Kimberly Gibson and the hospice nurses.

Friends will be received from noon to 2 and 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday in Hummell and Jones Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington, Thomas W. Hummell, supervisor, Douglas M. Jones, director. Additional visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., the time of service, Monday, June 24, in Avery United Methodist Church, 1100 Gabby Avenue, Washington, with the Rev. Keith Simmons officiating. A luncheon will be served immediately following the service. Entombment will be held at 3 p.m. Monday in Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens, Morgantown, W.Va.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Building Fund of the First United Methodist Church, 29 North College Street, Washington, PA 15301. Condolences may be left at www.hummellandjones.com.

1940 – 2013

Sharon Knox Kuebler, 72, of Dunnellon, Fla., died Tuesday, June 18, 2013, in her home.

She was born October 18, 1940, a daughter of the late George L. and Virginia May Montgomery Knox. 

Mrs. Kuebler was a 1958 graduate of Washington High School, attended Penn Commercial College and went on to the National School of Aeronautics.

She worked for Eastern Airlines in Washington, D.C., and Miami, Fla. Later, she became part of the medical field as a medical secretary at South Fulton Hospital and Baptist Medical Center Mont Clair and joined the SW Oncology Group in San Antonio, Texas. She continued her career joining the San Antonio Cancer Institute and later worked as a director of clinical research for the Associates in Medical/Mental Health in Tulsa, Okla. 

Mrs. Kuebler partially retired and moved to Florida, where she joined the Florida Wellcare Alliance as a regulatory specialist and was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hernando, Fla. 

Deceased is a brother, George Knox Sr. and wife Dorothy Knox.

She leaves behind her dearly beloved husband, George W. Kuebler; wonderful daughter Stephanie Keck McCullough, John McCullough and three grandchildren, Megan McCullough, Kathryn Rose McCullough and Lucas McCullough; nieces Pamela Hessler and Debra Knox; and nephew George Knox Jr. 

Memorial services will take place at 3 p.m. Monday, June 24, Roberts Funeral Home chapel, Dunnellon, with the Rev. Kenneth C. Blyth, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hernando, officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in her memory to Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org, Deptartment of Development, 4500 San Pablo Road, Davis 1, 160 West, Jacksonville, FL 32224, or National Jewish Health, www.nationaljewish.org, P.O. Box 17169, Denver, CO 80217-0169. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.robertsofdunnellon.com.

Cokeburg homemaker

Mary Petronka Skirchak, 92, of Cokeburg, died peacefully Thursday, June 20, 2013, in her home.

She was born December 10, 1920, in Washington, a daughter of the late Paul Sr. and Helen Gimon Petronka.

A homemaker, she was a member of Nativity of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Monongahela.

Her husband, Andrew Skirchak Jr., died December 19, 1983.

Surviving are four sons, Paul (Denise) of Surfside Beach, S.C., Michael of Fredericksburg, Va., Peter, with whom she resided in Cokeburg, and Charles (Raietta) of Rochester, N.Y.; a sister, Ester Gallo, and two brothers, Charles (Chas) Petronka and Michael Petronka, all of Bentleyville; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are her beloved grandson, Chapen Paul Skirchak; brothers Paul Jr., Steve “Shorty,” James “Andy” and John; and sisters Tillie Suwak, Helen Belloti and Ann Matus.

Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Greenlee Funeral Home, 619 Main Street, Bentleyville, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 24, with the Rev. Peter Suwak officiating. Entombment will follow in Mon Valley Memorial Park Cemetery, Donora. A guest book and personal condolences may be accessed at www.GreenleeFuneralHome.com.

Member of Brave U.M. Church

Betty Lou Auvil Teets, 66, of Maidsville, W.Va., died at 12:50 a.m. Thursday, June 20, 2013, in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va.

She was born Monday, August 5, 1946, in Rowlesburg, W.Va., a daughter of the late Jesse T. Sr. and Elizabeth Bolyard Auvil.

Mrs. Teets was a member of Brave United Methodist Church.

She loved doing house cleaning and baking. She was a former Cub Scout Master for Troop 1286. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

Mrs. Teets had worked for Central Greene School District as a substitute caller and was a homemaker.

On October 14, 1961, she married Jack L. Teets, who survives.

Also surviving are a daughter, Tina (Rustin) Swaniger of Core, W.Va.; three sons, Ricky A. Teets of Waynesburg, Scott M. (Kerri) Teets of Kingwood, W.Va., and Frankie E. Teets of Pittsburgh; seven grandchildren, Breanna Swaniger, Taylor Swaniger, Emmielou Harding, Liz Higgins, Joyce Ann Savage, Kori Teets and Dylan Teets; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Dolly Griffith of Rowlesburg, W.Va., and Silva Teets of Spraggs; three brothers, Jesse Auvil Jr., Lee Auvil and Carl Sigley, all of Rowlesburg; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are two sisters, Ethel Sigley and Mary Moats.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home Inc., Daryl L. Throckmorton, owner/director, 197 North Maiden Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, June 24, with Pastor Kevin Arkola officiating. Burial will be in Greene County Memorial Park, Morgan Township. Information is available at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com.

U.S. Navy veteran enjoyed woodworking

Theodore C. “Ted” Tucker, 79, of Bentleyville, died Friday, June 7, 2013, in Annalisas Personal Care Home.

He was born September 6, 1933, in Lancaster, Ohio, a son of the late Theodore S. and Mildred M. Botts Tucker.

Mr. Tucker was a 1951 graduate of Newark High School in Newark, Ohio.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving in the Korean conflict. For his service, he received the National Defense and Good Conduct Medals.

Mr. Tucker was an exterminator for Brays Pest Control and, for several years, was a shoe salesman.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in New Port Richey, Fla., and Masonic Lodge in Lancaster. At the time of his death, he was a member of Masonic Lodge 337 of Monongahela.

Mr. Tucker enjoyed woodworking, music, playing the keyboard and was an art collector.

Surviving are two daughters, Traci Tucker of Tampa, Fla., and Kari Beckett and husband Brian of Scenery Hill; three grandchildren, Alex Germain of Tampa, Fla., and Wyatt and Lauren Beckett of Scenery Hill; a stepbrother, Robert Tucker of Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased is his wife, Mary V. “Ginny” Tucker, who died April 26, 2013.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 23, in Davidson United Methodist Church, Washington. Arrangements are under the direction of Greenlee Funeral Home, 619 Main Street, Bentleyville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Allegheny District Chapter, 1501 Reedsdale Street, 105 Cardello Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15233, or American Cancer Society, 320 Bilmar Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-4620. A guest book and personal condolences may be accessed at www.GreenleeFuneralHomecom.

Loved taking care of her grandchildren

Ellen M. Pratt Walters, 73, of Nemacolin, died Thursday, June 20, 2013, in her home.

She was born January 3, 1940, a daughter of the late Myers and Edna Sharpnack Pratt.

On April 14, 1958, she married Thomas Walters, who died September 6, 1992.

Surviving are two children, Jerry Walters (Martha) and Kimberly Kron (Paul), both of Carmichaels; seven grandchildren, Crystal Kehoe (Jacob), Thomas J. Walters (Keri), Aerial Walters (John Miller), Gregory T. Walters, Jerry T. Walters (Heather Glacken), Natasha M. Walters, and Michelle L. Wise (Michael); seven great-grandchildren; four sisters, Shirley Opel of Waynesburg, Janet Pratt of Eastlake, Ohio, Darlene Skully (Ronald) of Aurora, Ohio, and Linda Chepes (Joseph) of Masontown; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to her parents, are a son, Gregory Allan Walters; a sister; and three brothers.

Mrs. Walters was a member of American Legion Post 400 Auxiliary in Carmichaels.

She loved taking care of her grandchildren and the kids from her neighborhood.

Friends will be received from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the time of service, Sunday, June 23, in Lesako Funeral Home, 204 Dowlin Avenue, Carmichaels, PA 15320, 724-966-5100, Paul M. Lesako, director/supervisor/owner, with the Rev. Vincent Winfrey officiating. Interment will follow in Laurel Point Cemetery, Carmichaels.

McCracken Pharmacy employee

Mary Elizabeth Worch, 60, of Waynesburg, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2013, in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va., after a brief illness.

She was born September 16, 1952, in Carmichaels, a daughter of the late Michael and Mary Stofcheck Worch.

Ms. Worch was a 1970 graduate of Carmichaels Area School District.

She was formerly employed at Carmichaels Area School District, Shannopin Mine and, most recently, at McCracken Pharmacy.

Ms. Worch had resided in Florida, Tennessee and recently moved back to Greene County and resided in Waynesburg.

Surviving are two sisters, Michele (Russell) Clark of Carmichaels and Celestine (Richard) Kalist of Waynesburg; four brothers, Michael of Ravenna, Ohio, Jerome of Alhambra, Calif., Cajetan of Crucible and Celsus of Foothill Ranch, Calif.; and a sister-in-law, Penny Worch of Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Deceased is a brother, Marcel Worch.

Also surviving are the families of several nephews and nieces, Dr. Christopher Clark and Regina Mata, Renee Kalist, Chad, Sean and Toby Worch, Carrie Canales and Tracy Diaz, Reynold Shilling, Marcel “Ito” Worch and Lynette Beechler, Kitzie Baily, Tyrerei Ashcraft and Nikkolette Falvo, Heath Worch, Heather Hiner and Macahan and Dustin Worch.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lesako Funeral Home Inc., 204 Dowlin Avenue, Carmichaels, PA 15320, 724-966-5100, Paul M. Lesako director/supervisor/owner.

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