Feb 12, 2014

Longtime Conrail employee loved relaxing

Robert A. Dowler, 83, passed away peacefully Monday, February 10, 2014, in his home, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

He was born in Midway, a son of Robert A. and Ella “Birdie” Dowler.

Mr. Dowler worked for Conrail for 44 years, and retired as a signalmen inspector.

He was a member of Lakeside Presbyterian Church in West Palm Beach.

Mr. Dowler was married to his devoted and loving wife, Joan Hookey Dowler, for 62 years.

Left to cherish his memory are his adoring children, Susan Kingcade (Tom), Bobby Dowler (Robbi) and Lynn Edwards (Chip); grandchildren Nicole Heran (Sean), Bobby Dowler (Marsha), Jeremy Dowler, Chad Angelocci (Nuria) and Lacey Preston (Ryan); his pals/great-grandchildren, Michaela Salvucci, Lilly Heran, Ryan Heran, Chloe Dowler, Ava Dowler and Natalia Dowler; and many nieces and nephews.

Deceased are two sisters, Mona McQuillan and Vera McGregor, and an infant son, Robert Vern Dowler.

He loved to chill on his dock, bowl every Tuesday, watch NASCAR on weekends, landscape his yard, tinker in the garage, watch the Steelers win and was lucky enough to spend 22 relaxing years of retirement with his family.

A private celebration of his life will be held in his home February 16.

Cumberland Mine retiree

Richard B. Lapping, 73, of Waynesburg, died Wednesday, February 12, 2014, in Washington Hospital.

He was born June 23, 1940, in Waynesburg, a son of the late John F. and Mildred Pettit Lapping.

On August 4, 1962, he married Stephanie Topor Lapping, who survives.

Mr. Lapping was a retired heavy equipment operator for Cumberland Mine in Kirby.

He was a lifetime resident of Waynesburg. He was Methodist.

Mr. Lapping was a member of United Mine Worker of America and a life member of American Motorcycle Association.

He enjoyed dining out with his family and exercising at the Foundation for Wellness.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a son, Richard B. Lapping Jr. of Waynesburg; a granddaughter, Amber Danne Lapping of Brownsville; and two brothers, John Allen Lapping of Binford, N.D., and Phillip L. Lapping of Graysville.

Friends will be received 4 to 8 p.m. Friday in Behm Funeral Homes Inc., 182 West High Street, Waynesburg, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 15, with the Rev. David Earnest officiating. Interment will follow in Oakmont Cemetery.

Condolences may be offered at www.behmfh.com.

Lived for her children

Helen Matiyasic, 93, of Fredericktown, died Tuesday, February 11, 2014 in Mon Valley Hospital.

She was born March 22, 1920, in Hendersonville, a daughter of the late Nicholas and Mary Hession Radnich.

A homemaker, Mrs. Matiyasic was a member of St. Oliver Plunkett Parish in Fredericktown, Ladies Auxiliary Post 391 and Fredericktown American Legion.

She lived for her children and family and enjoyed reading.

On December 26, 1951, she married Emil Matiyasic Jr., who died May 24, 2010.

Surviving are three daughters, Marjorie Brown (Jerome) of Fredericktown, Anna Marie Mikalik (Michael) and Bernice Skobel (Marc) of Fredericktown; a son, Stephen Matiyasic (Dorothy); 24 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to her parents and husband, are two daughters, Mary Ann Sherry and Virginia Valenzuela; four sons, Nicholas and Peter Prodash, Gerald and Thomas Matiyasic; and a sister, Margaret Massimiani.

Friends will be received from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Greenlee Funeral Home, 42 Bank Street at Crawford Road, Fredericktown, where a Blessing Service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 14, with the Rev. Paul Grunebach officiating. Interment will be in Greene County Memorial Park, Morgan Township.

A guest book and personal condolences may be accessed at www.GreenleeFuneralHome.com.

Member of Hickory Evangelical Church

Roberta Rae Stevenson Novick, 73, of Hickory, died Tuesday, February 11, 2014, in Kindred Hospital, Oakdale.

She was born August 31, 1940, in Washington, a daughter of the late Andrew Stevenson and Helen Littrel Stevenson.

Mrs. Novick was a graduate of Uniontown High School and Washington Hospital School of Nursing and attended Washington & Jefferson College.

She worked as a registered nurse at Washington Hospital and Beverly Health Care, from where she retired after 20 years of service.

A member of Hickory United Evangelical Presbyterian Church, she enjoyed church activities, as well as flower gardening.

On March 3, 1962, she married Charles Alvin Novick, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Charles A. Novick (Sue), Christopher A. Novick and Matthew A. Novick, all of Hickory; a daughter, Cathleen A. Davidson of Sewickley; a brother, John Stevenson (Carol) of Mooresville, N.C.; a sister, Frances Breakwell (Bob) of Uniontown; and four grandchildren, Christian Novick, Alex Novick, Ian Davidson and Kyle Davidson.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Services will be held at noon Saturday, February 15, in Hickory United Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 210 Main Street, Hickory, with Pastor Bob Schull officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Prospect Cemetery, Hickory. Those attending the service should go directly to the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202, or Wounded Warrior Project, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.

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

Served in Korean War

Monie Carl “Bill” Parker, 80, of Valparaiso, Ind., died February 6, 2014, in Porter Regional Hospital, of heart problems.

He was born March 25, 1933, in Jakes Run, W.Va., a son of the late Monie Dee and Nellie Elizabeth Eddy Parker.

Mr. Parker was a 1951 graduate of Clay-Battelle High School.

He worked for 31 years at Bethlehem Steel in Burns Harbor, Ind., as a planning engineer. He was a co-owner of Insulation Specialties in Wanatah, Ind.

Mr. Parker was a 32nd degree mason and a member of Orak Temple, American Legion, Scottish Rite and United Methodist Church.

He served his country from 1953 to 1955 in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Surviving are his wife, Carol Ruth Cummins Parker, to whom he was married to for 62 years; two children, Monie Owen Parker and wife, Kim of Valparaiso and Mary Elizabeth Koontz and husband Brent of Woodbridge, Va.; four grandchildren, Michael Koontz and wife Michelle of Yorktown, Va., Benjamin Koontz and wife Katie of Newark Del., Justin Parker and wife Holly of Wheatfield, Ind., and Stephanie Parker Kennon of Eldon, Mo.; 10 great-grandchildren, Logan and Lance Koontz, Kayla, Collin, Mia and Jorja Kennon, Brody Koontz, David, Kylie Grace and Connor Parker; a sister, Helen Louise Suder and husband Milford of Rivesville, W.Va.; a nephew, Ronald Powell and wife Kathy of Homosassa, Fla.; brothers and sisters-in-law James and Nancy Cummins of Jakes Run, Joseph and Linda Cummins of Ft. Washington, Md., John Cummins of Valparaiso and Robert Copeland of Fairview, W.Va.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to his parents, are a sister, Betty Simmons, and a niece, Patricia Powell.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday in Owen-Neely Funeral Home, 5894 Mason-Dixon Highway, Blacksville, W.Va., where services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 15, with Pastor Rob Bennett officiating. Interment will follow in Eddy Chapel Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Jakes Run Assembly of God.

Memorial contributions may be made to Clay-Battelle High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Mona Tennant, 9195 Mason Dixon Highway, Wana, W.Va. 26590, or Salvation Army, 1224 University Avenue, Morgantown, W.Va. 26505.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.tennantfuneralhome.com.

1954-2014

Stanley M. Walsh, 59, of Marianna, passed away February 12, 2014, in his home.

He was born April 21, 1954, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., an only son to the late Stanley John and Marie T. Walsh.

Mr. Walsh was a 1972 graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, and a 1977 graduate of a University of Pittsburgh.

He was a school teacher before working in restaurant management for many years.

Mr. Walsh enjoyed gardening, following his favorite football team, the Miami Dolphins, and visiting Sanibel Island, Fla., every year with his loving fiancée, Julie. He made a lasting impression with those he met and was loved by many.

Surviving are two children, Jennifer and Michael; his loving partner of 13 years, Julie Cecchine of Marianna; stepchildren, who looked at him as a father, Amber and Tyler Cecchine of Houston; three sisters, Pamela, Mary and Kathy; and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday in Nichol Funeral Home, 1728 Main Street, Marianna. Services will be held privately at the family’s convenience. A guest book may be signed at www.nicholfuneralhome.com.