2010-2019, PA, Compiled by James W. Blankenship jkblank1(at)sbcglobal.net
Allegheny
+2010, Pittsburgh,
Allegheny Co., PA, Obituary
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10337/1107818-122.stm
By Diana Nelson Jones, Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, Friday, December 03, 2010
Earl August Blankenship, Aug. 11, 1924 - Nov. 24, 2010. Earl Blankenship, fresh out of college with a forestry degree, married Pittsburgh
girl Betty Louise O'Dell in 1948 and moved here from Florida. The city's
forestry department hired him as a laborer. Seven years later, he was
supervising the forestry division, a job he held for 20 years.
Mr. Blankenship,
who died at age 86 on Nov. 24 in Springfield, Mo., is remembered for transforming
the forestry division and commanding respect for his persistence in doing so. Bob
Coyner worked as his assistant. He said Mr. Blankenship "was one of the most significant
people in arbor care in Western Pennsylvania." He went to the mat to get
appropriations, raises and needed equipment at a time when "we did
everything by hand," Mr. Coyner said.
"There was one chain saw and it took an act of Congress to use it. "In the 10 years I was there, he modernized the
division with all new equipment. We got a dozen chain saws, three brush
chippers, two bucket trucks and stump machines. He fought with city council
tooth and nail to get the equipment we needed."
One Saturday, Mr.
Blankenship rallied a crew to
help an elderly woman on the North Side who had a huge dead Carolina poplar in
her yard. They cut the tree on their own time at no cost to her. Louise Brown
directed parks and recreation when Mr. Blankenship
supervised forestry. "He was just a wonderful man, funny, very smart and
so responsive to the city neighborhoods," she said. "We had a
neighborhood tree planting program, and he was good at instilling that pruning
be done properly." When budget cuts came, she said, "he was able to keep things going, tighten the belt and get
the job done."
Joseph Natoli worked for the city for 35
years, some of it with Mr.
Blankenship. "He knew the
whole business about trees. He knew his stuff," said Mr. Natoli. "At that time he had four crews and ran a very
good department and had the respect of the city fathers. I enjoyed working for
him."
In 1985, the Blankenships
moved to Inverness, Fla., where Betty died in 1994. On a visit to a sister outside Springfield,
Mo., he met Mildred Crane Nelson, a widow, "and they wound up getting married,"
said a son-in-law, Tom Leonard. "He wasn't a big fan of Florida so he
stayed where she was."
"When I think
of my dad I always think of such a good man," said his daughter, Christine
Matviya of New Alexandria. "He was generally
cheerful and could forget anger quickly. "We all
grew up learning about trees," she said. "He gave us the Latin name.
We would be driving and he'd say, 'Check out that Kentucky Coffeetree,
and my mother would say, 'Keep your eye on the road, Earl.' "
Mr. Blankenship was
born in Jersey City, N.J., and raised in Longwood, Fla. He served on a Navy
destroyer in the Pacific during World War II. After service, he earned his
degree from the University of Florida. He was a founding member of the Society
of Municipal Arborists. After his retirement from the city, Mr. Blankenship operated the Earl Blankenship Tree Service.
In addition to Ms. Matviya, he is
survived by another daughter, Beth
Ann Covelli
of St. Charles, Ill.; two sons, Robert Blankenship
of Longwood, Fla., and Damon
Blankenship of Ross; and 11
grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 11 at the Community
Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon, 7501 Church Ave.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
2011, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA, Obituary
Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA) - August 12, 2011
Margaret Perry, 66, of Houston, died Thursday, August 11, 2011, in
Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. She was born November 23, 1944, in
Robinson Township, Allegheny County, a daughter of the late Edward Hack and
Alice Wishman Zimmerman Hack Schmidt. Mrs. Perry
enjoyed her dogs, Pee Wee and Furby.
Surviving are her husband of 35 years, Franklin D. Perry; seven
children, Robert Wooley (Roxanne) of Monessen,
Christine Whitley (Richard) and Debbie Wooley, both
of McKees Rocks, John Wooley
(Dee Dee) of Washington, Irwin Wooley of
Burgettstown, Tina Small (Don) of Turtle Creek and Joe Jones (Star) of
Aliquippa; three sisters, Lena Blankenship (Lark) of Brunswick,
Ohio, Carrie Wooley of North Hills and Dorothy Ward
of Coraopolis; a brother, Charles Hack of Mt. Washington; 22 grandchildren; 20
great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Deceased are her first husband, Jim Jones, and two brothers, Edward
Hack and Clyde Zimmerman.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in McIlvaine-Speakman Funeral Home Ltd., Robert K. McIlvaine, owner/supervisor, 27 Cherry Avenue, Houston,
where services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, August 15. Interment will follow
in Forest Lawn Gardens, McMurray.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
2012, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., PA Obituary
Butler Eagle (PA) - March 19, 2012
Carolyn J. Walker Howk, 79, formerly of
Butler, Port Charlotte, Fla., and Burr Oak, Mich., passed away Friday. She was
born in Nashville, Ind., on March 19, 1932, the daughter of the late Robah and Myrtle MaryBelle
(Jenkins) Walker.
She also was preceded in death by siblings Pauline
Blankenship, Ruth Stevens,
Burgess Walker and Carroll "Joe" Walker.
Carolyn is survived by her beloved husband, John Newton Howk; her two children, Susan (Dan) Pulliam and John Howk; two grandchildren, Jason Hagelgans
and Kelsey Hagelgans; and two brothers, Jack (Brenda)
Walker and Chuck (Cheryl) Walker. She was a devoted United Methodist Church
member and was employed for many years by Doerr
Products in Burr Oak, Mich.
A memorial service for Carolyn J. Walker Howk,
who passed away Friday, March 16, 2012, will be later.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
Berks
2011, Reading, Berks Co., PA, Obituary
http://obitsforlife.com/obituary/328898/Uhrinek-Felix.php
Felix J. Uhrinek, Colonel (Ret.) 91,
Reading, died April 13, 2011. He was the husband of the late Margaret F. Uhrinek who died on November 7, 2002. Born on December 13,
1919 in Catasaqua, Pa. he was the son of the late
Joseph M. and Mary Uhrinek.
A member of Holy Guardian Angels Church, he served in the US Army
during World War II as a Sgt Major in the 774th Tank
Battalion which fought in 5 major battles in Europe. He was awarded the Bronze
Star with Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, ETO with 5 Major Campaigns, WW II Victory Medal, and the
Army of Occupation Medal. Post WW II, he joined the Pennsylvania National Guard
and retired after 20 years as a Colonel where he achieved that rank on Jan.19,
1973. He was a Charter member of the Battle of Normandy Foundation, Battle of
Normandy Museum, WW II Memorial Society, Reading Artillerists, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. He was a Distinguished
Member of the 213th Regiment, Past Honorary Colonel of the 213th Regiment. He
was a member of the Berks Armed Forces Advisory Committee, having served as
President and Treasurer. He was the Parade Marshall for the 250th Anniversary
Parade for the City of Reading and a Reviewing Officer for the 54th Armed
Forces Day Parade. He had the distinguished honor of placing a wreath on the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery on November 12,
2003. He was also honored as a Holocaust Liberator in Washington, DC during the
60th anniversary of V E Day on May 4, 2005. He was a member and volunteer of
the American Red Cross for over 30 years. He received the MidAtlantic
Pride Award in addition to the National Outstanding Volunteer for Armed Forces
Emergency Service Award, which he received in May 1999 at the National
Conference.
He retired from United Gas Improvement Company after 40 years of
employment as Data Processing Manager. He was the past President of the Data
Processing Management Association. He received the UGI Community Volunteer of
the Year Award.
He is survived by a daughter, Jane Tranquillo, wife of Thomas
Tranquillo, Reading, Pa. and a son, Joseph Uhrinek,
husband of Dawn, Chesnee, S.C. In addition, he is survived by 5 grandchildren, Janelle Tranquillo Blankenship,
Indianapolis, IN, Gwen Tranquillo Andrews, Hershey, PA., Michael Uhrinek, Moore S.C., Darin Tranquillo, Atlanta, GA., and
Jessica Uhrinek Wilson, Kennesaw, GA. Also surviving
are 5 great grandchildren, Coby, Mattie, Gavin,
Chance, and Sadie.
Military Honors will be held Saturday at 11:30 AM in Henninger Funeral Home, Inc. 229 North 5th St., Reading.
Viewing will be from 10 AM to 12 Noon. Interment will be private.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
Delaware
2011, Springfield, Delaware Co., PA, Obituary
The Philadelphia Inquirer, (PA) - Saturday, May 21, 2011, Sally A.
Downey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Angelo J. Pennacchia, 85, of Springfield,
Delaware County, a mechanic and decorated World War II Army veteran, died of
renal cell cancer Wednesday, May 18, at home.
Mr. Pennacchia grew up in West
Philadelphia and trained as an auto mechanic. During World War II, he drove
tanks and motorcycles in the 773d Tank Destroyer Battalion under Gen. George S.
Patton's command in northern France and central Europe. He was wounded during
the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded a Purple Heart. After his discharge,
Mr. Pennacchia was a General Motors Corp. auto
mechanic before going to work at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. For 30 years,
he was an engineer mechanic for aircraft-carrier catapults. Occasionally he and
his team were flown to a ship at sea to make repairs.After
retiring from the Navy Yard in 1986, he worked for
Four D Electric, an electrical contractor in Havertown. He was an expert
mechanic who was always eager to help his children, friends, and neighbors. It
never took more than a phone call for him to arrive ready to install a set of
brakes or change a faulty light fixture, his family said. An avid sports fan,
Mr. Pennacchia was in the stands when the Phillies
won the World Series in 1980 and 2008. As an usher and later as a season-ticket
holder, he cheered on the Eagles at Franklin Field and Veterans Stadium, and he
attended the 2005 Super Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., with his two sons. He also
attended many 76ers and Flyers games. When their children were growing up, he
and his wife, Angelina Tulli Pennacchia,
vacationed in Wildwood. Later, they enjoyed summer vacations with their family
in Ocean City, N.J.
Mr. Pennacchia is survived by sons
Raymond and Angelo; daughters Linda
Schramm and Cynthia Blankenship; 10
grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters. His wife of 55 years
died in 2002.
A Funeral Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 23, at St.
Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, 136 Saxer
Ave., Springfield, Pa. 19064, where Mr. Pennacchia
was usher captain for many years. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul
Cemetery, Marple Township.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
Franklin
2011, Waynesboro, Franklin Co., PA, Obituary
The Record Herald, (Waynesboro, PA) - July 1, 2011
Frances E. "Skip" (Whitlock) Bovey, 95, of 32 Mount
Vernon Terrace, Waynesboro, Pa., passed away at 8:20 a.m. Thursday, June 30,
2011, in Quincy Village, Quincy, Pa. Born July 14, 1915, in Waynesboro, she was
the daughter of the late John E. and Mabel (Sheffler)
Whitlock.
Mrs. Bovey attended Waynesboro schools. She and her husband, the
late Mr. Ralph W. Bovey, were married May 9, 1935, in York, Pa. Mr. Bovey
passed away Sept. 9, 1981. She moved to Mount Vernon Terrace in 1990. Mrs.
Bovey was employed at Waynesboro Knitting Mill. Prior to her retirement in
1977, she was a nurse's aide at South Mountain Restoration Center, South
Mountain, Pa. She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church and Waynesboro
Hospital Auxiliary.
Mrs. Bovey is survived by her son, Ralph W. Bovey Jr. of Las Vegas,
Nev.; her granddaughter, Beverly E. Garber of Woodland, Calif.; three sisters,
Mabel Earle of Bel Aire,
Md., and Ruth McKissick and Blanche Earle, both of
Baltimore, Md.; two brothers, Donald L. Whitlock of Lutz, Fla., and Larry H.
Whitlock of Williamsburg, Va.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death
by four sisters, Alice Stymiest, Genevieve
Blankenship, Alvilda McFerren and June Myers;
five brothers, Paul Whitlock, Edward O. Whitlock, William H. Whitlock, Daniel
R. Whitlock and James R. Whitlock; and her longtime companion, James R. Moore.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 3, 2011, in
Green Hill Cemetery, 953 S. Potomac St., Waynesboro, with Pastor Mark R. Shover officiating.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
2012, Waynesboro, Franklin Co., PA, Obituary
Junnie Gaton
Blankenship, Jr., on April 14,
2012 in Waynesboro, PA.
Formerly of Washington, DC; the beloved husband
of Kathryn Reed Blankenship, father
of Vicki Oliver and husband Everett and Karen McMakin and husband Mark; grandfather of
Sean Robert McMakin, Erin Elizabeth McMakin, and Christian Edward Oliver; and brother of John Blankenship and wife Shirley.
He was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Reed
Blankenship. He served in the
US Air Force with the White House Communication Squadron during the Korean
Conflict and later retired from Western Electric - AT&T.
Services will be held at 10 a.m., April 17, 2012 at Calvary United
Methodist Church, Fayetteville, PA.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
Indiana
+2012, Homer City, Indiana Co., PA, Obituary
James Paul Blankenship, 90, of Homer City, PA, died Saturday, March 17, 2012 at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, Johnstown, PA. A son of
the late Arthur Govan and Mamie Viola Call Blankenship, he was born November 6, 1921 in Union
Grove, North Carolina.
He retired from the I.B.E.W. Local 5 Electricians Union, where he
had been employed as an Electrician. He was a member of the Smith Chapel
Methodist Church in Union Grove, NC, where he served as the Sunday school
superintendent, and attended the Independent Traditional Holiness Church in
Indiana. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #141. Mr. Blankenship served his country in the U.S. Army during
WWII in the Pacific Theatre, Panama and the Battle of Okinawa. He enjoyed
flower gardening, hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his wife
of 27 years, Anna Belle Fulmer
Henry Blankenship, Homer City;
two children: James Michael Blankenship and wife Gloria, Clyde; Rita Faye
Blankenship, Eugene, Ore.; two
step-children: Robert Blaine Henry and wife Iris, Clymer; Beverly Costlow and husband Clyde, Lilly; a brother, Charles
Blankenship, Woodleaf, N.C.; a sister,
Emily Dotson, King, N.C.; three grandchildren: Russell Thomas Blankenship, Sara Louise Blankenship and John Joseph Blankenship; six step-grandchildren: Tiffany Aloi,
Yvette Henry, Thad Henry, Heidi Church, Laura McConnell, and Candi Ike; numerous step great-grandchildren; one step
great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Louise Palmer Blankenship; three sisters: Lucy Page, Faye Williams and Mary Stuart; a grandson, James Andrew Blankenship, and a step-grandson, Ryan Robert Henry.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday with Rev. Sam
Childs officiating at Smith Chapel United Methodist Church and interment will
be in the church cemetery with military rites presented by the Harmony American
Legion Post # 113.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
Luzerne
2011, Hanover Twp., Luzerne Co., PA, Obituary
Published in Times Leader on April 27, 2011
Willie E. Blankenship, 79, a resident of ManorCare-Hampton
House, Hanover Township, died Monday, April 25, 2011, at ManorCare-Hampton
House. He was born in Huntsville, Ala., on February 26, 1932. He was employed by
the York County Public Works Department.
He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Lena Gipson Blankenship; granddaughter Lena Gipson; and brother, Lee Blankenship.
Surviving are his daughters, Cheryl Owens and
husband, William, Dolores Gipson, and Judith Blankenship and fiancé, Glenn White; 12
grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday in the First
Baptist Church, 48 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
2011, Swoyersville, Luzerne Co., PA, Obituary
The Citizen's Voice, & Sunday Voice (Wilkes-Barre, PA) - January 20, 2011
Lorraine K. Lisman, 74, a resident of
Swoyersville, died Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, in Geisinger
Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township, following an illness. Mrs. Lisman was born in Wilkes-Barre, daughter of the late
Andrew C. and Mary Bilohorka Kapral.
She was a graduate of the Class of 1953, Swoyersville High School,
and of the Wyoming Seminary Dean School of Business, Kingston. She had been
employed by several area businesses and, prior to her retirement, she had been
a bookkeeper with Falzone's Service Inc., Kingston,
for more than 20 years. Lorraine attended St. Nicholas Byzantine Rite Catholic
Church, Swoyersville, and always helped with the pierogi
making. She had also been a member of the Junior League and the Kingston Senior
Citizens. She was a loving mother and a compassionate grandmother.
In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by an
infant son and by her husband, Ralph J. Lisman Jr.
Surviving are her daughters, Laurie Lisman,
Swoyersville; Cheryl A. Falzone and her husband,
Paul, Mountain Top; and Jayne M. Lisman, Long Valley,
N.J.; her grandchildren, Brooke
Blankenship and her husband, Chris; Justin and Scott Teixeira; Michael A., Amy and Joey Falzone; a brother, Andrew Kapral
and his wife, Jean, Swoyersville; sisters, Barbara Coniglio
and her husband, retired Air Force Col. Joseph Coniglio,
Aurora, Colo.; and Gena Helmstetter
and her husband, Frank, Rochester Hills, Mich.; several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held at 9:15 a.m. Saturday from H. Merritt
Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 451 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, with Divine Liturgy at
10 a.m. in St. Nicholas Byzantine Rite Catholic Church, Swoyersville. The Very
Rev. James G. Hayer, pastor, Holy Assumption of St.
Mary Byzantine Rite Catholic Church, Wilkes-Barre, will be the celebrant.
Private interment will be in the parish cemetery, Swoyersville.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
Montgomery
2011, Lansdale, Montgomery Co., PA, Obituary
The Reporter, (Lansdale, PA) - May 27, 2011
Robert M. Farra, 86, of Lansdale, died
May 20, 2011, surrounded by loving family members, at his son's residence in Chapin, SC. He was the husband of the
late Jean Gaskill Farra.
Born December 14, 1924 in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Samuel Lewis
and Sarah Alice (Martin) Farra.
Mr. Farra served in General George S.
Patton's Third Army during World War II, helping to liberate Northern France.
He took three bullets, but survived to live a long, productive, and faithful
life. After the war, Robert ("Bob") with this wife, Jean, became
missionaries to Northern Brazil. When they had to return for health reasons,
Bob became a popular teacher in two different Bible Colleges. After serving as
the Pastor of a Baptist Church, Bob became a successful business consultant. He
was awarded the coveted Circle of Excellence Award by the consulting firm,
National Utility Service. In his retirement years, Bob served as Chairman of
the School Board for Grace Christian School, and served as volunteer property
inspector and chief proof-reader for the Morgandale
Council. Bob always loved singing, praying, church ministry, photography,
family celebrations, and fishing.
He is survived by his sister, Ann and her husband, Vic, of Duarte,
CA; his son, Stephen Farra and his wife, Sharon, of
Chapin, SC, his sons Bob and Bill Farra of Port
Richey, FL; his nephew, Skip (Shirley) Blankenship of Absecon, NJ; his grandchildren, Laura,
Jonathan (Rae), David (Brandi), Daniel (Sarah), James, Matthew, Jesse, Kristin,
and Joshua; and his great-grandchildren, Rosalee and
Tristan.
A memorial service will be held at 10 AM Saturday, June 4 at Penn
Valley Grace Brethren Church, 320 N. Third St., Telford, PA 18969, where the
family will receive friends from 9 to 10AM. Interment will be in Red Clay Creek
Church Cemetery, Wilmington, DE.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
Northumberland
2011, Shamokin, Northumberland Co., PA, Obituary
Intelligencer Journal-Lancaster New Era (PA) - May 19, 2011
Elizabeth Amanda (Yeager) Wiest, 95,
passed away at the E.C.C. Towne Centre Retirement Village on Tuesday, May 17,
2011 after a lingering illness. Born on September 18, 1915 in
Shamokin to the late Eugene and Helen Kerstetter
Yeager.
She was the wife of the late Allen A. Wiest
who preceded her in death in 1980. She moved from Shamokin to Lititz in 1990 to
live with her son and his family. While in Shamokin, she was a member of the
7th St. Primitive Methodist Church and after moving to Lititz attended the Womelsdorf
Evangelical Fellowship Church.
She is survived by two children: a son, Rev. Kenneth Wiest, husband to Mary (Sock) Wiest
of Lititz, and a daughter, Helen Louise Lehner, wife
to Ronald Lehner of Mifflinburg. In addition to her
children, she is survived by six grandchildren:
Barbara Batts, Judith Shreiner,
Sandra Campbell, Debra Wiest, David Wiest and Stacy Blankenship, and
eleven great grandchildren: Pierre,
Patrick, Camille, Keira Batts,
Tabitha Rodriquez, Luke Shreiner, Carly and Owen
Campbell, Andre Wiest, Mackenzie Wiest
and Mark Blankenship and one great-great grandchild, Patrick Batts, Jr.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Eugene, Robert and
Kenneth Yeager.
Private interment took place in Oddfellows
Cemetery, Trevorton Road, Shamokin, at the
convenience of the family.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com
2011, Sunbury, Northumberland Co., PA, Obituary
The Daily Item, (Sunbury, PA) - December 10, 2011
Mary Ann Keefer, 79, of 500 Airport Road, Sunbury, passed away at
her residence on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. She was born Jan. 31, 1932, in
Shamokin, a daughter of the late Andrew and Stella (Budniak)
Shepos.
She was married to Robert T. Keefer who preceded her in death in
2001. Mary Ann was formerly employed by the Arrow Shirt Company and the Rifkin
Shirt Company and was last employed by Mountian View
Manor in the activities department. She was a member of St. Monica Church,
Sunbury. Mary Ann enjoyed sewing, gardening, cooking, crafts and going to
casinos and loved spending time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by three daughters
and sons-in-law, Karen A.
Blankenship, of Houston,
Texas, Joan and Victor Barvitski, of Coal Township,
and Sharon and Joseph Moyer, of Winfield; six grandchildren, Dawn Cantrell,
Tara Burrell, Victor Barvitski, Jr., Greg Barvitski, Bret Moyer and Daniel Moyer; four
great-grandchildren, Justin, Adrian, Jacob and Zachary; one brother, Joseph Shepos, of Harrisburg; and her faithful dog, Baby.
She was preceded in death by one son, Robert Keefer Jr., and one
grandson, Joseph Moyer Jr.
A private memorial Mass is planned for a later date.
From: Diane Renfrow
dhrenfrow(at)yahoo.com