Obituaries
Earl and Margaret Burnham Earl Norman Burnham, 90, of Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Carmichaels, passed on to his eternal life February 20, 2007, in Tucson. His wife, Margaret (Peg) Burnham, 94, of Tucson, formerly of Carmichaels, passed on to her eternal life July 2, 2009, in Tucson.
The couple married November 21, 1942, and for many years, operated The Dairy Bar in Carmichaels, where they enjoyed the townspeople. After selling their business, the couple moved to Tucson to retire.
Surviving are their children and their loved ones, Ben Burnham of Tucson and Jeffrey Burnham and wife Deann Neugehauer Burnham of Vail, Ariz.; a daughter, Patricia Ann Berkey and husband Scott of Hopkinton, Mass.; and twin grandchildren Elizabeth and Allison Berkey.
Joyce Shirley Hillsman
Joyce Shirley Hillsman, 76, of Carmichaels (Stringtown), formerly of Crucible, died at 11:25 p.m. Monday, August 3, 2009, in her home, surrounded by her family, following a lengthy battle with cancer.
She was born November 8, 1932, in Medesto, Calif., a daughter of Alfred D. and Doris Ann Wood Drum.
Mrs. Hillsman had been a resident of Crucible since 1965, having moved to Stringtown in 2004.
She retired as a cook from Curry Memorial Home in Waynesburg in 1979. Mrs. Hillsman then operated a day-care center in her home in Crucible from 1992 until 2004.
Mrs. Hillsman enjoyed cooking, baking and listening to country music.
Her family was the light of her life. On December 3, 1961, she married Michael Charles Hillsman, who died August 30, 1991.
Surviving are a son, William Daniel Davis and his wife, Kathy, of Crucible; six daughters, Luella Carpenter and her husband, Bruce, of Clarksville, Patricia Hopton and her husband, Ronald, of Carmichaels, Belinda Pyles and her husband, Edward, of Carmichaels, Myrtle Sine and her husband, Edward, of Wadestown, W.Va., Michele Davis and her husband, Charles, of Carmichaels (Stringtown) and Dolores Sapic of Crucible; 22 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Levonne Webber, and a brother, Russell Drum and his wife, Maxine, both of Chico, Calif.
Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.
Deceased, in addition to her parents and husband, are three sisters, Beverly Riley, Thelma Sturgist and Joanne Dutcher; a son; and a sister who died in infancy.
Also deceased are a granddaughter, Hilary Dawn Sine, and a son-in-law, Don Sapic.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Albert Gallatin Hospice, 20 Highland Park Drive, Suite 203, Uniontown, PA 15401.
Virginia Crow
Virginia Crow, 85, of Greensboro, formerly of Coal Center, died unexpectedly Tuesday, August 4, 2009, in Uniontown Hospital.
She was born September 21, 1923, in Centerville, a daughter of George and Maude Luzader Ball.
Mrs. Crow was a 1941 graduate of Centerville High School.
She was a homemaker.
Surviving are two sons, Charles Crow of Greensboro and Carl Crow and wife Robin of Charleroi; two grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased, in addition to her parents, are her husband, Charles W. Crow, who died in 1976; three sisters, Marcelle Gray, Delphia Paul and Genevieve Sargent; three brothers, Frank, Robert and George “Babe” Ball; and three other siblings who died in infancy.
Fred L. Iams
Fred L. Iams, 65, of Waynesburg, died unexpectedly of natural causes Tuesday evening, August 4, 2009, on his family farm in Sycamore, Morris Township.
He was born March 25, 1944, in Sycamore, a son of the late Fred Simpson and Helen Luella Inghram. He had been a resident of Greene County all his life.
Mr. Iams was a member and former trustee of Bates Fork Baptist Church.
He was a 1963 graduate of West Greene High School.
Mr. Iams enjoyed the time he spent with his grandchildren and operating the family farm.
He was a former employee of Wayne Lumber Co. and the late Hallie McCollum Sr. He also was employed as a pipeline operator with EQT (Equitrans/ Carnegie Gas) for the past several years.
On October 25, 1963, he married Linda L. Polen, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Craig Iams, companion of Sandy Rowan of Waynesburg; a daughter, Amy, wife of Roger Jaggie of Spraggs; a sister, Peggy Ruff of Monroe, N.Y.; three grandchildren; and a stepgrandson.
He also leaves a very special extended family friend, Melinda Dille Roberts, wife of Brian Roberts of Ligonier; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased, in addition to his parents, are two grandchildren who died in infancy.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to United Cerebral Palsy of Southwestern Pa., 130 Bill George Drive, Waynesburg, PA 15370; or Bates Fork Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1, Sycamore, PA 15364.
William Bolz
William Bolz, 85, of Carmichaels, died Tuesday, August 4, 2009, in his home.
He was born August 15, 1923, in Bochum, Germany, a son of Otto Bolz and Anna Wolff Bolz.
Mr. Bolz was a 1942 graduate of Carmichaels High School and a graduate of Waynesburg College.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
After the war, he worked at Crucible Mine for a while. Then Mr. Bolz became a schoolteacher and taught school in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
On June 13, 1964, he married Margaret Olds, who died January 25, 2002.
Surviving are a sister, Frieda Ann Stajnrajh of Carmichaels; and a brother, Carl Bolz of Sun City West, Ariz.
Kathleen Salva Falcon
Kathleen Salva Falcon, 59, of Fredericktown, died Thursday, August 6, 2009, in Washington Hospital.
She was born June 15, 1950, in Waynesburg, a daughter of the late John and Louise Cottle Salva.
Mrs. Falcon had worked in the produce department at Fredericktown Butcher Shop.
On September 7, 1973, she married Robert (Bob) Falcon, who died March 12, 2002.
Surviving are three daughters, Mary Lou Wellman of Bentleyville, Bobbi Jo Falcon of Fredericktown and Kelley Falcon of Millsboro; and a granddaughter.
Deceased are two brothers, Jack Salva and Forrest “Buddy” Salva.
Ellen Eddy
Ellen Eddy, 71, of Pittsburgh, formerly of Greene County, died unexpectedly Thursday, August 6, 2009, in her home.
She was born January 30, 1938, in Pentress, W.Va., a daughter of Mary Jane Wise Eddy. She resided in the Pine Bank area of Greene County prior to moving to Pittsburgh in 1959.
Mrs. Eddy was formerly employed in the housekeeping department of Ohio Valley Hospital in Pittsburgh, and was last employed as a nurse’s aide at the former Sycamore Creek Nursing Home in Coraopolis.
Surviving are three daughters, Edna Tate, Dolly, wife of James Marchiniak of Pittsburgh, and Sarah Kimble of Ft. Lewis, Wash.; three sons, Clyde William, husband of Patricia Kimble of Latrobe, Richard L. Kimble of Pittsburgh and John, husband of Diane Kimble of Avalon; five sisters, Mary Jane and Bonnie Yeager and Aldine, Freda and Betty Wise; two brothers, Charles Eddy and Clarence (Tucker) Wise; 14 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Wilson C. Stoneking
Wilson Carl Stoneking, 86, of Gilbert Ridge Road, New Freeport, died Saturday, August 8, 2009, in Washington Hospital.
Mr. Stoneking was born September 9, 1922, in Big Run, W.Va., a son of John Melvin Stoneking and Delilah Rose Hutt Stoneking.
He moved to Southwestern Pennsylvania at the age of 13.
Mr. Stoneking worked in the oil fields and installed air shafts for the coal mines. He also worked for Preston Oil Co. He also worked as a timber cutter and was a farmer.
He was a member of Grandview United Methodist Church of Garrison.
Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Ruth Naomi Roupe Stoneking; two sons, Larry Stoneking and Albert Stoneking, both of New Freeport; two sisters, Wilma Lee Kiger of Waynesburg and Eileen Lemasters of Garrison; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Deceased, in addition to his parents, are three sisters, Agnes Dulaney, Martha Wade and Mamie Dulaney; and two brothers, Bill Stoneking and Alfred Stoneking.
Hans Wolff
Hans Wolff, 86, of Clarksville, died Sunday, August 9, 2009, in Southwest Regional Medical Center, Waynesburg.
He was born November 1, 1922, in Arnau, Germany, a son of Hermann and Emma Sablottny Wolff.
Mr. Wolff was a graduate of Carmichaels High School.
He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.
Mr. Wolff retired from Oakdale Military Base, after 40 years of service, as a civilian employee.
He was a life member of Clarksville Fire Department and a member of American Legion Hanson-Cole Post in Fredericktown.
His wife, Audrey Dougal, died October 15, 2006.
Surviving are two sons, Gary Wolff of Jefferson and Merle Wolff of Loudonville, Ohio; four grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; two sisters, Gertrude Busti of Crucible and Ruth Blaker of Waynesburg; and a brother, Leo Wolfe of Jefferson.
Deceased are a brother, Tom Wolff; and two sisters, Meta Stacy and Helen Santelle.
James “Jim” Kushner
James “Jim” Kushner, 51, of Dilliner, Pa., died Thursday, August 6, 2009.
He was born September 28, 1957 in Greene County, PA a son of Christine Paroda Kushner of Dilliner and the late John Kushner.
Jim was the owner of Kushner’s Body Shop and was a former coal miner. He loved painting cars, fishing, and was a Pentecostal by faith.
In addition to his mother, Jim is survived by two daughters: Mary Layman of Maidsville and Rebecca Demidovich of Morgantown; one son, James Allen Demidovich of Morgantown; one sister, Linda Reyes; two brothers: John and Joe Kushner; and six grandchildren.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Mcculla Funeral Home, 770 Fairmont Road, Morgantown, WV.
Larry E. West
Larry E. West, 61, of Point Marion, Pennsylvania, died Sunday, August 9, 2009 at his home following a lengthy illness, with his loving family at his side.
Born September 18, 1947 in Waynesburg, Pa., he was the son of Ruth Eleanor Floyd West of Point Marion and the late William Delmon West.
A 1966 graduate of Albert Gallatin High School, he was a veteran of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict.
After the service, Larry was employed as an electrician in Blytheville, Arkansas.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 499 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 747 both in Point Marion where he served on the Burial Detail and also the F.O.E. No. 1932 and the 40/8 Voiture 18.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by two children: Michael Shane West and Morrow West both of Blytheville, Arkansas; three grandchildren; his sister, Mrs. Ronald (Bonnie) Leitter of Point Marion and her children and their spouses who all helped with Larry’s care during his illness, Ralph and Jackie Fowler and Tim and Marsha Fowler all of Point Marion, and Tammy and Kevin Grubb of Morgantown, West Virginia.
Roy L. Montgomery, Sr.
Roy L. Montgomery, Sr., 84, of Jeannette, passed away peacefully at his home Saturday, August 8, 2009, after a courageous battle against cancer. He was born October 8, 1924, in Waynesburg, a son of the late William Russell Montgomery and Mabel (Adamson) Montgomery.
He was a proud veteran of World War II serving in the Naval Armed Guard in the Pacific Theatre. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Irwin, and previously served the Lord with the Disciples of Christ in Greensburg. Recently he was attending the Alwine Church of Christ. Roy was a dairy farmer after the war and then worked 33.5 years for Consolidated Natural Gas at the Oakford Storage facility in Delmont. He retired as a shift leader in 1985.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Roberta; a daughter, Charlotte Louise; and a granddaughter, Laura Christine Montgomery.
He is survived by his wife, his “forever” love of 63 years, Emily (Jacobs) Montgomery; his four children; daughter, Sandra L. Kemp and husband Larry, of Beaver, son, Roy L. Montgomery, Jr., his companion, Charles, and former wife and friend, Jo Ann Montgomery of Westfield, NY, daughter, Barbara S. Holmes and her husband, Tom, of Smithville, OH, and James R. Montgomery and his wife Debbie, of Jeanette; his nine grandchildren; and his nine great-grandchildren.
Roy grew up on a farm and in his youth enjoyed exhibiting his animals in Greene and Washington County shows. He joined the Navy during the war and served as gunner’s mate 3rd class aboard the ship, the M. S. Sabine Sun.
The family gives thanks for all the wonderful caregivers that blessed Roy during his illness. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a donation in Roy’s name would do so to: Excela Health Home Care and Hospice, 134 Industrial Park Road, Suite 1600, Greensburg, PA, 15601, or to: Action for Animals, PO Box 814, Latrobe, PA, 15650.