Nov 17, 2013

U.S. Navy veteran enjoyed golf, horse racing

Stephen B. Baloga, 90, of Burgettstown, died Saturday, November 16, 2013, in his home.

He was born August 15, 1923, a son of the late Adam and Mary Kobenick Baloga.

Prior to retirement, Mr. Baloga was employed by Weirton Steel Corp.

He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Burgettstown and Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Baloga enjoyed golf and horse racing, and he owned four horses in his early years.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran during World War II, serving at Pearl Harbor, and the Korean War.

On August 12, 1968, he married Jean McCoy, who survives.

Also surviving are his sons, Stephen (Dawn) Baloga Jr. of Bulger and Andrew (Nancy) Baloga of Columbia, S.C.; his daughters, Claudia (Dan) Rossero of Salem, Ohio, and Stephanie Schoch of Eldersville; and three sisters, Agnes Comis of Burgettstown, Josephine Baloga of Burgettstown and Cathy Baloga of Burgettstown.

Deceased are his brothers, John and Andy Baloga; and sisters Margaret Goldsboro, Ann Sarish, Helen Thomas and infant Leona Baloga.

Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Taucher Funeral Home, 23 Erie Mine Road, Burgettstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 20, in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Burgettstown, with the Rev. George Moneck, pastor, as celebrant. Interment will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil, with full military honors accorded by Slovan-Burgettstown Veterans of Foreign Wars.

 In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to Southwestern Pennsylvania World War II Memorial at www.swpawwii.org.

For further information or to leave a condolence, please visit www.taucherfuneralhome.com.

Jefferson Twp. equipment operator

Edward A. Basinger, 68, of Jefferson, died Saturday, November 16, 2013, in UPMC-Mercy hospital, Pittsburgh.

He was born July 23, 1945, in Jefferson, a son of the late Jesse S. and Virginia Mae Bungard Basinger.

Mr. Basinger was an equipment operator for Jefferson Township prior to his retirement.

He was a member of Waynesburg Moose Lodge 461, Jefferson Football Club, Jefferson Township Park Board and National Pike Steam, Gas & Horse Association. He was an honorary member of Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company, board secretary of Lower Ten Mile Sewage Authority and a social member of American Legion Post 954.

Mr. Basinger loved and enjoyed spending time with his grandsons and watching them play ball. He also enjoyed his hunting lodge in Graysville.

Surviving are three daughters, Tamara Lynne Morris of Waynesburg, Amy B. (Keith) Durbin of Millsboro and Rebecca (Scott) Morris of Waynesburg; two grandsons, Tyler Scott Morris and Logan Riley Durbin; his former wife, Lynne Radjenovic Morris of Waynesburg; two sisters, Mona Simmons of Waynesburg and Connie (George) Watson of Clarksville; three brothers, Charles (Bud) Basinger, Benny Dale (Karen) Basinger and Bill (Doris) Basinger, all of Waynesburg; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Basinger of Waynesburg.

Deceased are two brothers, Wayne Basinger and Richard “Dick” Basinger; a brother-in-law, Donnie Simmons; and a niece, Debra Faye Watson.

Family and friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Behm Funeral Homes Inc., 1477 Jefferson Road, Jefferson, Gregory P. Rohanna, supervisor, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 20, followed by interment in Greene County Memorial Park, Morgan Township. Condolences may be expressed at www.behm-funeralhomes.com.

Owner of Michele’s Hair Creations

Michele L. Charlier, 47, of Midway, Robinson Township, died Sunday, November 17, 2013, in her home, surrounded by her family.

She was born February 7, 1966, in Sewickley, a daughter of Paul “Butch” and Janet Woodcook Medved of Midway.

Mrs. Charlier was a member of Midway Baptist Church.

She was the owner of Michele’s Hair Creations in Midway.

Mrs. Charlier enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family.

She was the beloved wife of 18 years of David A. Charlier of Midway; cherished mother of Justin and Joshua Charlier of Midway; stepmother of Derek Charlier of Grove City; and sister of Paul (Mary) Medved of Castle Shannon.

Also surviving are her mother-in-law, Marlene Charlier of Midway; father-in-law, Albert “Tubby” and Bonnie Charlier of Cecil; and grandfather-in-law, William McClain of McDonald.

She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Josephine Pugh.

Friends will be received from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Thomas-Little Funeral Service Inc., 305 Main Street, Imperial, 724-695-2800, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 21. Interment will follow in Center Cemetery, Midway.

Please sign a guest book at thomas-littlefuneralservice.com.

Washington native owned consulting firm

William F. “Bill” Eastham, 78, of Woodlawn, Ill., passed away at 5:25 p.m. Saturday, November 16, 2013, in his home.

He was born July 27, 1935, in Washington, a son of William F. and Ada K. Perrino Eastham.

On May 28, 1955, in Washington, he married Donna L. Poland, who survives in Woodlawn.

He was vice president of operations for Roberts and Schaefer Construction Co., where he worked from 1957 until his retirement in 1990. He later started his own consulting firm, Hands On.

Mr. Eastham attended West Long Prairie Christian Church.

He was a life member of Frank Nowland AMVETS Post 148 of Waltonville, Ill. He had served in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He was a member of Sesser Goode Masonic Lodge 744 and was a 32nd degree Mason. He was also a member of Ainad Shrine in East Saint Louis and Jefferson County Shrine Club. He was a member of Green Hills Golf Club in Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Surviving are his wife, Donna L. Eastham; children Shlonda Horton and special friend Mark Stubbins and his daughter Haven Conner, Bill Eastham and wife Robin, Sabrina Wheatley and special friend Jerry Hale and Webb Eastham and wife Lori; grandchildren Seneca Horton-Tate and husband Colter, Willie Eastham and wife Jessica, Elizabeth Eastham, Salina Hilliard and husband Shane, Brock Wheatley and Sophie Eastham; great-grandchildren Carson Tate, Carter Barnes, Lilyanne Eastham and Huntley, Drake and Payton Hilliard; a sister, Louise Diett of Washington; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are his parents; grandson Wayman Thomas Eastham; two sisters, Loreina Bell and Doris Hughes; and two brothers, Frank Eastham and John Eastham.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Newell Funeral Home, Mt. Vernon, Ill., where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 20, with Pastor Carlton Binkley officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Woodlawn. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wayman Thomas Eastham Memorial Scholarship Fund and will be accepted at Newell Funeral Home, 2707 North Street, Mount Vernon, IL 62864. Visit www.newellfuneralhome.com or call the funeral home at 618-246-0100.

Mold maker for Ball Glass loved farming

Fred Richard Kuhn Sr., 78, of Claysville, died Friday, November 16, 2013.

He was born March 10, 1935, in Washington, a son of Martha Wick Kuhn McCracken of Claysville and the late Fred Arthur Kuhn.

Mr. Kuhn was a graduate of Claysville High School.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Mr. Kuhn was employed as a mold maker for Metro, Hazel and Ball Glass.

He was a member of Claysville American Legion, Loyal Order of Moose and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Kuhn loved farming.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are two sons, Fred R. (Cheryl) Kuhn of Claysville and Todd E. Kuhn of Panama City, Fla.; a daughter, Darlene Diane Coone of Defuniak Springs, Fla.; a sister, Beverly Sloane of Claysville; four grandchildren, Cassandra (Justin) Cox, Alicia Kuhn, Mikaylah Coone and Michael Kuhn; and four great-grandchildren, Sydney and Jay Cox and Allie and Hunter Clemens. He was expecting the birth of a fifth great-grandchild in March.

Deceased, in addition to his father, is his stepfather, Basil McCracken.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, November 21.

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

Theresa Thomas Mihalina, 94, of North Huntingdon, formerly of Richeyville, died Saturday, November 16, 2013.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by John B. Greenlee Funeral Home, 2830 Main Street, Beallsville. A complete obituary will be published in a later edition.

Observer Publishing Co. retiree

Donald E. Minor, 78, of Washington, died Saturday, November 16, 2013, in his home.

He was born October 22, 1935, in Washington, a son of the late William F. and Mary Jane Moore Minor Richmond.

Mr. Minor was a 1953 graduate of Trinity High School.

He was a member of the U.S. National Guard.

Mr. Minor served a five-year apprenticeship to become a newspaper pressman and was employed by Observer Publishing Co. from 1953 until his retirement in 1997.

He was always proud that during his entire 44-year tenure, he missed only one day of work.

Mr. Minor was most comfortable outdoors and loved hunting, fishing, mowing his grass and sports.

On June 3, 1956, in Washington, he married Nancy Paul, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Barry D. (Donna) Minor, and a daughter, Lori D. Caldwell, both of Washington; four grandchildren, Heath Clutter, Alexa (Dillon) Cowden, Daniel (Dana) Minor and Kimberly (Justin) Mankey; and four great-grandchildren, Leah and Allison Minor and McKenzie and Jacob Mankey.

There will be no public visitation, and all other services will be private.

Memorial contributions may be directed to a charity of one’s choice.

Condolences may be expressed at www.familyremembers.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors Inc., Charles L. Piatt, owner/supervisor, and Lawrence K. Donovan, funeral director.

May 30, 1930 – November 15, 2013

Florence Caputo Simpson, 83, died Friday evening, November 15, 2013, in Homewood at Martinsburg, following a brief illness.

She was born May 30, 1930, in Washington Hospital, a daughter of Ernest Jay Caputo and Mary George Caputo.

Mrs. Simpson was a 1947 graduate of Washington High School and was a member of its marching band for two years. During summer 1947, she traveled to Amherst, Mass., with 100 girls from Washington County to work for Dutchmaster Cigar Co. in the fields and the curing barns.

She attended Washington Seminary Junior College and Penn State and graduated from California State Teachers College.

On May 7, 1950, she married Jack P. Simpson of Williamsburg, who died December 5, 1955.

She taught in Washington School District for 35 years and was a member of Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees.

Mrs. Simpson was a longtime member of Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, where she taught Sunday school for several years. She also served as a den mother for the Cub Scouts.

She loved animals and was involved in animal welfare and rescue most of her life.

Surviving are two sons, Douglas (Joan) Simpson of Bedford and Daniel (Melody) Simpson of Key West, Fla.; two grandsons, Jeremy (Audrey) Burrow of Wichita, Kan., and Devin (Fallon) Simpson of Odenton, Md.; three great-grandchildren, Dylan, Ashleigh and Steven Burrow; and several dear nieces and nephews.

Deceased are a daughter, Mary Priscilla Simpson Wells; a brother, George Caputo; and a sister, Thelma Caputo, who died in infancy.

Mrs. Simpson loved her God, her grandchildren, her second-grade students and all God’s animals.

Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday in Sorge Funeral Home Inc., Hollidaysburg, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 19, by Pastor Roland Cadle. Interment will follow in Presbyterian Cemetery, Williamsburg. Memorials may be given to Pennsylvania Humane Society. www.sorgefuneralhome.com.