Frank Richard Blazek Sr.
Frank Richard Blazek Sr., 78, of Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania, and formerly of Elizabeth, Pa., died Monday, December 30, 2002 in Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Jefferson Hills, Pa. Born January 28, 1924 in Masontown, Pennsylvania, he was the son of John Blazek and Mary Krofcheck Blazek.
Mr. Blazek was a retired Funeral Director. He owned Blazek Funeral Home in Elizabeth, Pa., during the 1970’s and early 1980’s.
He also was retired as an Electrician who worked for the Veterans Affairs Hospital in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Frank graduated from the former Masontown High School in Masontown, Pa., and served with the United States Army Air Corps in World War II for three and one half years.
He was captured by the Germans and first reported Missing In Action, and later it was learned that he had been taken as a Prisoner of War by the Germans. He was confined to concentration camps for 15 months and placed in Stalag 17 in Germany. He was also a Purple Heart recipient.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth and current member of the Board of Trustees, F. & A. M. Stephen Bayard Lodge No. 526, and Blaine Hill Chapter No. 3138 of the AARP.
Surviving are his wife, Gayle Pierce Blazek; children: Carol Blazek Mains of Jeannette, Pa., and Frank R. Blazek Jr. of Oviedo, Florida; grandsons: Brian Mains, Todd Mains, Mark Blazek and Eric Meyers; a brother, John Blazek of Masontown, Pa.; nieces and nephews.
The Family received Friends in the STEPHEN D. SLATER FUNERAL HOME, 1701 State Route 51 (Large), Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania 15025 on Friday from 1 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, January 4, 2003 until 10:30 a.m., the hour of Service. The Reverend Lori Smallwood officiated.
Interment followed in Round Hill Cemetery, Elizabeth, Pa.