Earl R. Finley Sr.
U.S. Army veteran had a love for education
Earl R. Finley Sr., 92, of Vestaburg, passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2013, in his home, where he resided for 69 years.
He was born October 25, 1920, in Smithton, a son of the late Clayton and Bernice Rhodes Finley.
Mr. Finley was a 1940 graduate of East Bethlehem High School.
A U.S. Army Air Corp veteran, he proudly served his country as a First Lieutenant with the 349th Troop Carrier Group during World War II. Mr. Finley served as a pilot doing tours in the European Theater. While serving there, he flew a special operation to deliver gasoline to General George Smith Patton. He transported wounded troops in the United States and also flew missions to the Canal Zone, South America and Africa.
Upon returning from the service, Mr. Finley was employed by J&L Steel at Vesta 5 Mine and later went on to work at Metropolitan Life Insurance. While with MetLife, he received many awards as their top agent and also received the Veteran Association Field Service pin. He also served as a notary public for many years.
He was an active member of St. Oliver Plunkett Parish, Fredericktown, where he and his wife taught RCIA classes. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Hanson-Cole American Legion Post 391, Fredericktown, where he was a lifelong member.
Mr. Finley had a love for education and served for over 20 years on the Board of Education for Bethlehem Center School District and the Mon-Valley Vocational Technical School Board. He also served on the Washington County School Board and was instrumental in the establishment of Intermediate Unit I, servicing Washington, Fayette and Greene counties. During his time on these boards, he served as president and member.
Surviving are a daughter, Marianne F. (Charles) Pryor of Washington; granddaughter Chelsey P. (Jason) Burk of Canonsburg; two grandsons, Grant and Drew Finley of Fredericktown; two brothers, John and Gilbert Finley; a sister, Ruth Arnone of Vestaburg; and several nieces and nephews.
On January 18, 1940, he married Helen Shomock, who died October 31, 2011.
Deceased, in addition to his parents and wife, are a son, Earl R. Finley Jr.; a brother, Clayton Finley; and two sisters, Annetta Ricciuti and Marjorie Chenger.
Friends will be received from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday in Greenlee Funeral Home, 42 Bank Street at Crawford Road, Fredericktown, where a prayer service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 27, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. Michaels Archangel Catholic Church of St. Oliver Plunkett Parish, Fredericktown, with the Rev. Paul Grunebach and Deacon Thomas Raymond as celebrants. Interment will follow in Greene County Memorial Park, Waynesburg. Full military rites will be accorded graveside by Hanson-Cole American Legion Post 391 of Fredericktown. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Oliver Plunkett Parish, P.O. Box 638, Fredericktown, PA 15333. Online guest book and personal condolences may be accessed at www.GreenleeFuneralHome.com.