Mar 16, 2022

Franklin Roosevelt “Archie” Alderson, 81, of Washington, passed away peacefully Monday, March 14, 2022, with his family at his side.

He was born November 5, 1940, in Southview, a son of Thomas and Margaret Seaman Alderson.

Mr. Alderson was a 1958 graduate of Chartiers-Houston High School.

He entered into the U.S. Army in April of 1959 and served as a tank driver until his discharge in March of 1961. Mr. Alderson continued his service in the reserves until 1965.

Archie owned and operated Archie’s Body Shop, where he did body repair and custom paint work for close to 25 years. Prior to owning his own business, he had worked for Pliska’s Auto Body in Washington, where he opened and managed their second shop on Route 40.

Mr. Alderson enjoyed time with his family and spent several years coaching t-ball, baseball and football teams in S. Franklin Township. He enjoyed playing Scrabble, gardening, canning, cooking and he was most proud of planting and growing garlic that had been brought from Hungary by his maternal great-grandparents.

An avid sportsman, Archie loved hunting, both rifle and bow, fishing and trapshooting. He belonged to the Golden Pheasant Club, Claysville Sportsmen Club and he owned patents for a fishing pole holder and the Turkey Teaser turkey call.

On May 22, 1964, he married the love of his life, Maybelle “Dolly” Crow, who survives.

Also surviving are four children, Sheila Ann Moses (Timothy), Franklin R. Alderson Jr. (Adina), Perry “Rocky” Alderson Sr. (Jonna) and David J Alderson, all of Washington; 11 grandchildren, Justina, Zachary, Westley and Eli Moses (Arica), Christopher and Frankie Rose Alderson, Perry “Bud” Alderson Jr., Kayla Clayton (Clay), Olivia and Lexi McFadden, and Devine Alderson; eight great-grandchildren, Evelynn Moses, Karis Brownlee, Huey Szafranski, Maya Baer, Vivian and Wyatt Hart, and Adara and Lorna Clayton; a brother, Thomas Alderson Jr. of Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

Deceased are a granddaughter, Courtney Lynn Szafranski; a great-grandson, Michael Javon Szafranski; two brothers, Martin and Joseph Alderson; and a sister, Margaret DeRosa.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 17, in the McIlvaine-Speakman Funeral Home Ltd., Robert K. McIlvaine, owner/supervisor, 27 Cherry Avenue, Houston, PA 15342, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 18. Interment will follow in Prosperity Cemetery.

Condolences for the family may be left by viewing the obituary at www.mcilvaine-speakman.com.