Obituaries March 7
Deacon of Center U.P. Church
Edna Laverne Bickel, 89, of Midway, died Thursday, March 6, 2014, in McMurray Hills Manor.
She was born August 5, 1924, in Midway, a daughter of the late Charles and Eliza (Felton) Burns.
Mrs. Bickel attended Midway High School and graduated with the Class of 1942. She was a member of Center United Presbyterian Church, the church’s Mariner’s Group and Women’s Association, served as a Deacon and worked at church dinners. Mrs. Bickel was also a member of Midway Area Senior Citizens. She worked for G.C. Murphy Co., Murphy’s Mart and Ames for 42 years, retiring in July 1987.
Surviving is her daughter, Darla (George) Protch, and grandson, Jeffrey Habbestad, both of Midway; a brother, Harry Dean Burns of Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are her husband, Carl G. Bickel, in 1990, whom she married June 12, 1948; a brother, Charles Burns; and a sister, Bertha Mae Albertini.
Friends will be received 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Thomas-Little Funeral Service Inc., 106 St. John Street, Midway, 724-796-3301, where a funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Monday, March 10. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Center U.P. Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 563, Midway, PA 15060. Please sign the guest book at thomas-littlefuneralservice.com.
Additional information was received for the obituary of Frances J. Chmiel, published Thursday.
The Christian Mothers of St. Patrick Parish will recite rosary at Sollon Funeral Home Friday at 3 p.m.
Nursing student enjoyed time with friends
Casey Mackenzie Davin, 20, of Waynesburg, died at 12:06 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at home.
He was born Wednesday, September 29, 1993, in Morgantown, W.Va., a son of John K. “Jack” Davin and Terri Gorby Davin of Waynesburg.
Mr. Davin was a member of St. Ann Roman Catholic Church in Waynesburg. He was a 2012 graduate of West Greene High School and a second-year nursing student at Washington Hospital School of Nursing. He was a member of the Student Nursing Association. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, cooking, working and going to the farmers market. He especially enjoyed spending time with his friends.
He worked as a short-order cook for Creekside Kitchen in Graysville. He also worked at Forever Greene House, the family tomato farm.
In addition to his parents, surviving are a sister, Kelsey Shaye Davin; his paternal grandmother, Ruth E. Davin of Waynesburg; two aunts, Polly Davin of Waynesburg and Shelley Lahew of Taylorstown; three uncles, Miles A.”Kissy” Davin Jr. and Keith Davin, both of Waynesburg, and Gary Gorby of Washington; and several cousins.
Also surviving is his longtime girlfriend, Codi Byers
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. 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 a prayer service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 10, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. at St. Ann Roman Catholic Church in Waynesburg, with Father Richard J. Thompson as celebrant. Burial will be private at St. Ann Cemetery, Waynesburg. More information is available at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com.
Kenneth E. Elliott, 78, of Amity died Thursday March 6, 2014, in Washington Health Systems.
Arrangements are incomplete at this time, and are being handled by Nichol Funeral Home, 1873 East Maiden Street, Washington. A complete obituary will appear in a later edition.
Founding member of VFW Post 191
John Franklin Johnston, 91, of Washington, died Tuesday, March 4, 2014, in Washington County Health Center.
He was born on June 18, 1922, in Beulah, a son of the late Swart and Valdie Rush Johnston.
Mr. Johnston was a graduate of Claysville High School and Pittsburgh Beauty Academy.
He was a World War II Veteran, serving with the U.S. Air Force in the 59th Bombardment Squadron, 397th Bombardment Group, and participating in the Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland campaigns. Mr. Johnstown flew 64 combat missions as a tail gunner in the B-26 Marauder. For his service, he was awarded the Air Medal, with 9 oak leaf clusters and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal. Mr. Johnston was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant August 10, 1945.
He worked for Annealing Box as a crane operator, was a truck driver for Suwak Trucking and also worked for Mac Plastics.
He was an ambulance driver for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 191, Canonsburg, where he was a founding member, a member of Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of the American Legion and a lifetime member of Canonsburg Elks.
On July 2, 1976, he married Margaret Bebout, who survives.
Also surviving are two stepsons, Joseph (Lynn) Daniels of Lagonda and Kevin (Diane) Daniels of Claysville; two stepdaughters, Ellice (Edward) McAdams of Washington and Lory (Charles) Hurst of Arley, Ala.; two sisters, Louanna (Vincent) Chmel and Lucille (Richard) Frank, both of Washington; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Deceased is a brother, Jack Johnston.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 10, with the Rev. Stephen Smythers officiating.
Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Full military honors will be accorded graveside by Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of the American Legion.
Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warriors, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or to any veteran-related charity.
Additional information and guestbook are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.
Loved singing, talking about her Lord
Pattie Sue Kelley, 76, of Waynesburg, formerly of Nineveh, died at 2:20 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 2014, in her home after being seriously ill the past two weeks.
She was born December 9, 1937, in Nineveh, a daughter of the late Kenneth Charles and Dorotha Alma Holbert Kelley. She resided in the Nineveh area most of her life prior to moving to Waynesburg.
Miss Kelley was a member of Cornerstone Covenant Church and formerly attended Nineveh United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the choir.
She was a 1956 graduate of the former Waynesburg High School.
Miss Kelley was a former salesperson with Esther Spanish Jewelry, Dorothy Stevenson Housewares, the former Taylor Pharmacy in Washington and was last employed as an adult caregiver for more than 20 years prior to retiring in 2002.
She enjoyed singing, cooking, puzzles, all children and talking about her Lord.
Surviving are a sister, Dean Roux of Washington; a niece, Jamie Lynn Hayes; a nephew, Kelley Kennedy; a great-niece, Kylee Jean Hayes; a great-nephew, Darreon Anderson; and her extended family, John and Wanda Kiger Wright of Waynesburg and their children, Saundra (Ian) McGrath, Brendan McGrath and Renee Wright.
Deceased in addition to her parents is a brother, Kenneth C. “Butch” Kelley Jr., who died in 1950.
There will be no public visitation. Family and friends will be received at 2 p.m. until the time of a memorial service at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9, in the Rush Funeral Home Inc., Rogersville. Interment will be private. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Center for Abused Children or the American Diabetes Association. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences at www.rushfuneralhomeinc.com.
Army veteran was carpenter, constable
Thurman T. Mitchner Sr., 85, of Bentleyville, died Wednesday afternoon, March 5, 2014.
He was born January 10, 1929, in California, a son of George Alroy Mitchner and Lilly Blanch Wells Mitchner.
A veteran, he with the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. Mr. Mitchner was a self-employed carpenter and served several years as a Pennsylvania state constable. He was a member of Polish Club in Bentleyville.
Surviving are his children, Thurman T. (Christy) Mitchner Jr. of Bentleyville, Murvian K. Roquemore of North Carolina, Theresa (Jerry) Wilson of Brownsville, Linda (Eric) Edwards of California, and Verleen Wonderly of Seattle, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Paul R. Mitchner of Kitchner, Ontario, Canada; three sisters, Mary B. Sebetich of Bentleyville, Patricia Thomas of Ellsworth and Alice Berdine; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are his wife, Johanna K. Gartner Mitchner; a grandson, Billy Roquemore; brothers, Donald G., Charles and William Mitchner; and a sister, Betty Mae Lutes.
Friends are welcome from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home Inc., 809 Main Street, Bentleyville, 724-239-2255, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 8, with the Pastor Terry Teluch officiating, followed by military rites by American Legion Post 165, Bentleyville, and the U.S. Army. Private interment will be held at a later date in Howe Cemetery, Long Branch. Visit www.thompson-marodi.com to leave a condolence message, order flowers and share photos.