Obituaries March 3
Canon-McMillan teacher
Edward Charles Allen, 83, formerly of Gladden Heights, McDonald, died Saturday, February 22, 2014, in Kindred Hospital, North Shore, Pittsburgh, with his loving family by his side.
He was a son of the late Charles and Margaret Allen, formerly of Pittsburgh’s South Side.
Mr. Allen was married for 50 years to Frances Serdi Allen, who is deceased.
He attended St. Cassimir’s School on the South Side and was a graduate of Duquesne University and University of Pittsburgh.
Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Air Force, where he obtained the rank of lieutenant.
Mr. Allen taught junior high school science, chemistry and biology for Canon-McMillan School District in Cecil Township. He was very respected and admired by his fellow teachers and the many students he taught throughout his long career. He had a captivating way of holding students’ interest and keeping them engaged.
He was very passionate and successful in his hobby of racing and breeding champion pigeons, which he won many races and awards. He was an outdoorsman, who loved hunting, fishing and trapping, and was an exceptional beekeeper. He adored children, especially his daughter, Janice.
Surviving is his cherished daughter, Janice (Lawrence) Watson of Mt. Lebanon.
Mr. Allen will be missed by those who have known him. He touched many hearts and lives.
Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 23, in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township.
Arrangements are entrusted to Beinhauer Funeral Home, 412-531-4000. Please read and add tributes at www.beinhauer.com.
Bernard Dolansky, 69, of Rices Landing, died Thursday, February 27, 2014, in Donnell House, Washington.
Arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Behm Funeral Home, Jefferson. A complete obituary will be published in a later edition.
Enjoyed reading and gardening
Gertrude Veryl Ford, 87, of Somerset Township, died Friday, February 28, 2014, in Standish Assisted Living, Washington.
She was born January 16, 1927, in Donora, a daughter of the late J. Foster Porter and Vera Bell Lawrence.
Mrs. Ford was a homemaker and enjoyed reading and gardening.
On April 23, 1946, she married Paul Vernon Ford, who died May 20, 2009.
Surviving are three sons, Dennis P. Ford, Jeffrey S. Ford and Barry S. Ford, all of Eighty Four; two daughters, Robynne L. Moessner of Washington and Marilynne S. Mancuso of Huntersville, S.C.; eight grandchildren, Scott Ford, Michael Moessner, Matthew (Marcie) Moessner, Nathan (Christine) Mancuso, Jaimee (Jay) Hagerman, Hannah Ford, Stewart Ford and Logan Ford; and five great-grandchildren, Chloe and Eli Mancuso, Ryan and Adam Moessner and Arden Hagerman.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 5. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Munntown.
Additional information and a guest book are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.
Avid outdoorsman
Samuel G. “Sam” Houston, 77, of Peters Township, passed away Thursday, February 27, 2014, in Country Meadows Connections memory support unit after a 13-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was born December 27, 1936, in Monongahela, a son of the late Alexander and Rebecca Brooks Houston.
Mr. Houston was a steamfitter, working out of Local 354 in Youngwood.
He was an avid outdoorsman, whose love of nature truly defined him. He spent 20 years as a deputy with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He loved hunting with his Labrador companion, Chance, trapping in Pennsylvania and Maine, and fishing anywhere there was water.
Mr. Houston loved spending time in Maine with his wife, Elly, and their dogs, Peck, Ty and Chance.
Surviving are his wife of 26 years, Eleanor Houston; two sons, Michael (Arzu) Rudar and Erik Rudar; a daughter, Heather Rudar; a sister, Dorla (the late David) Lusk; a grandson, Jet Rudar, who he adored; his children, Edward Houston, Rebecca Mealy, Samuel R. “Bobby” Houston and Sherri Houston; a sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Gale Lorenzi; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased, in addition to his parents, is a brother, Jack “Piney” Houston.
Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Beinhauer Funeral Home, 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, 724-941-3211, where a service to celebrate Mr. Houston’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 5.
Memorial gifts may be made to Gentiva Hospice, 190 Bilmar Drive, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15205, or Pennsylvania Game Commission, Dept. MS, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797. Please add tributes at beinhauer.com.
Retired florist, formerly of Mt. Pleasant
Richard Kucera, 86, of McDonald, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Saturday, March 1, 2014, in his home.
He was born June 24, 1927, in Mt. Pleasant, a son of the late Joseph and Rose Kucera.
Mr. Kucera was a U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II and was formerly employed for many years as a florist with Mt. Pleasant Floral. Upon retirement from the floral shop, he was employed with Lenox Crystal, Mt. Pleasant, as a molder in glass manufacturing.
Surviving are his daughter, Deborah Keslar and husband Rex of McDonald; grandchildren Jeffrey Keslar and wife Michelle of Imperial and Sean Keslar and wife Lindsay of McKees Rocks; great-grandchildren Reese, Gavin, Mason, Jaxson and Lincoln Keslar; and a sister, Nancy Shibilski of Penn Hills.
In addition to his parents, deceased are his wife, M. Kathryn Kucera; a daughter, Gayle Kucera; brothers Andrew, Joseph, William and James Kucera; and sisters Alice Fencil, Helen Potoka, Pauline Pfrogner and Olga Van Estenberg.
Private service and interment will be held in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Saloom-Rega Funeral Service, 730 West Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, 724-547-2122, Richard Rega, funeral director. Please visit www.saloom-rega.com to send a condolence.
1945-2014
Nancy L. Marth, 68, of Canonsburg, died Friday, February 28, 2014, in Canonsburg Hospital.
She was born November 20, 1945, in Canonsburg, a daughter of the late Lawrence and Marie Miller Young.
Mrs. Marth worked as a clerk at the Gas and Go, formerly Co-Go’s, in Canonsburg, for more than 22 years.
She enjoyed scratch-off lottery tickets, going to the casino, spending time on Facebook and loved her dog, Missy.
Surviving are two sons, Charles Marth Jr. and wife Donna Sekura of Strabane and Robert Marth and wife Sylvia Markle of Canonsburg; a sister, Patricia Ann Sheppard of Oregon; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two nieces; and a nephew.
Deceased, in addition to her parents, is her husband, Charles Marth Sr.
Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Sollon Funeral Home Ltd., 30 East College Street, Canonsburg, J. David Sollon, supervisor, Phillip L. Sollon, director. Services and burial will be private in Finleyville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the funeral home. Please visit www.sollon.com for additional information and to view and leave condolences.
Marie C. McCarty, 87, of Silver Spring, Md., formerly of Rices Landing, died Friday, February 28, 2014, in Onley, Md.
Arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Behm Funeral Home, Jefferson. A complete obituary will be published in a later edition.
1915-2014
Louise J. Moss, 98, of Washington, formerly of Carroll Township, died Wednesday, February 26, 2014, in her home.
She was born Saturday, August 28, 1915, a daughter of the late Louis and Rose Demar Maras.
Surviving is a daughter, Audrey L. Moss of Washington.
A private service was held February 28 in Anthony L. Massafra Funeral Home and Cremation Service Inc., 40 Second Street Extension, Donora, PA 15033, with the Rev. James Bailey officiating. Interment followed in Mon Valley Memorial Park, Donora.
Loving mother, adored grandmother
Betty L. Stephens Sargent, 85, passed away February 14, 2014, in Downers Grove, Ill.
Deceased is her loving husband, Richard J. Sargent.
She was the loving mother of Beth (Steve) Trusty, Richard J. Sargent Jr. and Sally (Bill) Hedrick and adored grandmother of Molly (Sergey) Belyankin, Hannah and Trevor Booth, Andrea, Rich and Katie Hedrick and Elaine Sargent.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 15, in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1125 Franklin Street, Downers Grove. Interment will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29, in Trinity Episcopal Church, 550 South Main Street, Washington.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Salvation Army, ARC 2250 Park Avenue, P.O. Box 12546, Cincinnati, OH 45212, or St. Andrew Episcopal Church.
Lifelong member of United Christian Church
Martha Belle Turturice, 89, of California, died Sunday, March 2, 2014.
She was born Tuesday, September 2, 1924, in California, a daughter of the late Franklin and Mary Ellen Miller Whitehill.
Mrs. Turturice was a lifelong member of United Christian Church in California. She was also a member of Center in the Woods, where she assisted in the adult day care and the California Historical Society.
She served six years on the California Area School Board, and was a judge of elections for more than 30 years.
Deceased, in addition to her parents, are her husband, Dominic F. Turturice, in 1999; a son, Eugene Turturice, in infancy; a brother, Arthur V. Beatty; and her stepfather, Jesse V. Beatty.
Left to cherish her memory are sons Guy Turturice of California, Jesse V. Turturice and wife Brenda and Dean Turturice and wife Marsha, all of Rogers, Ohio; a sister, Mary E. Brown of Sun City, Ariz.; nine grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; two nieces; and two nephews.
Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Mariscotti Funeral Home Inc., Anthony N. Mariscotti, supervisor, 323 Fourth Street, California. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 6, in United Christian Church, with the Rev. Jana Quinsenberry officiating. Everyone attending the funeral is asked to meet at the church. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery, California.
In lieu of flowers, at the request of the deceased, contributions may be made to United Christian Church, P.O. Box 429, California, PA 15419, or Center in the Woods, 130 Woodland Court, Brownsville, PA 15419.
Harry E. Ziegler, 88, of Canonsburg, died Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Consulate Health Care of North Strabane.
Arrangements are incomplete and entrusted to Sollon Funeral Home Ltd., Canonsburg. A complete obituary will be published in a later edition.