Melvin J. Sally
Melvin J. Sally, age 91, of Brownsville, Pa., passed away Wednesday evening, October 16, 2013 at his home with his beloved wife of 69 years and all of his family by his side.
He was born on September 4, 1922 in Brownsville, Pa., the son of the late John J. (Salagovic) Sally and Alice H. Ferik Sally.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Delores A. Salvatore; and brother, William M. Sally
Melvin was a lifelong Roman Catholic, attended the former Saint Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Brownsville and was a member of The Historic Church of Saint Peter in Brownsville where he served as an Usher for 65 years.
He was a co-owner of the former Claybaugh & Sally Shoe Store and was a salesman for the Swift Meat Company and also KIWI Shoe Polish.
Melvin retired in 1984. He was a member of Fayette County Senior Golf Association.
He greatly enjoyed spending winters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with all of his many dear friends.
In Fort Lauderdale, he was a member and served as an Usher at Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church.
Melvin was a proud Veteran of World War II and was a Sergeant in the United States Army Air Force. He served in the Asian-Pacific Theatre as a member of the 8th Air Force.
He was a member of the American Legion Post 295 in Brownsville where he served as Past Commander of the Post, The Funeral Honor Guard, and The Firing Squad. He was also a past member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fraternal Order of Elks, and the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce.
Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of 69 years, Betty (Murphy) Sally; three sons: Melvin J. Sally II ‘Squeezie’ and his wife Susan, Brownsville, Pa., Dana M. Sally and his wife Rosemarie, Sylva, North Carolina Alan C. Sally and wife Rosalyn, Brownsville; and Robert Gerlack of Pittsburgh, Pa who was like a son to him; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Mitchell Sally and wife Smyth and their children Sloane and Eliza; Laura Blanke and husband Leslie; Jesse Sally and wife Shannon and their daughter Sofia; Leann Sally, Elliott Sally and special friend Angela Paula Stanley and her daughter Tessa; Rebecca Sally and special friend Andrew, and Christian Sally; his sister: Joan B. (Sally) Camino; sister-in-law, Barbara Roche and her husband Thomas; nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received in the SKIRPAN FUNERAL HOME, 135 Park Street, Brownsville, Pa., today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. and Monday until 10:30 a.m. where a prayer service will be held followed by Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at The Historic Church of Saint Peter in Brownsville, Pa., with Rev. Father James F. Petrovsky as celebrant
Interment will follow in LaFayette Memorial Park where full Military Rites will be accorded by American Legion Posts No. 295, 838 and 940.
A Wake Service will be held this evening at 6.
www.skirpanfuneral-home.com