Obituaries 5-11-12

Dean Larkin Dean Larkin, 90, of Trunkeyville, PA, died Sunday evening, April 29, 2012 at his home. He was born Jan. 19, 1922 in Etna, PA, a son of the late John Dean Larkin Sr. and Loretta Calderwood Larkin. During World War II, he served as a pilot in the US Air Force and served in the Air Force Reserve until being honorably discharged Sept. 20, 1957. He also had been a pilot with the United Air Lines, a salesman for the Jewel Tea Company, and prior to retirement had owned Dean's Hardware in Tidioute. He was a member of Saint Johns Roman Catholic Church of Tidioute, and was an Elder Statesman in the Golf League. In addtion to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters and four brothers. He is survived by his companion, Thelma Farmerie at home; a brother, Thomas Larkin, Pittsburgh, PA; and several nieces and nephews. At Deans request, he was cremated and there will be no visitation or service at this time. A memorial service will be held later in the summer at a time to be announced. The family suggests that Memorials be made to Asera Care Hospice, 1600 Peninsula Dr., Erie, PA 16505. The James M. Higgins Funeral Home, 3 Elm St., Tidioute handled arrangements. Edward Johns Jr. Edward Harry Johns Jr., 88, of Fayetteville, GA, formerly of Avalon, died Sunday, April 29, 2012. Mr. Johns attended Samuel Hamilton Elementary School and Perry High School. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He worked at PA Railroad and retired from Consolidated Rail Corp. (Conrail) in 1983. He served as legal representative for the Brotherhood of RR Trainmen Local #467 1954-69 and as local chairman 1964-68. He served as president of Western PA Association Locals 1966-76 and was a member of UTU Transportation Local #1414 1969-80. He is survived by his wife, Martha Flaig Johns; his daughter, Michele Ann Johns; his sister, Ardith Holtz; and his nephew, Mike Holtz. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Harry Sr. and Uarda Klink Johns; his brother, William Johns; and his niece, Jennifer Holtz. Friends were received at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon, until the time of services on Saturday.Margaret Kiefer Margaret R. Hallstein Kiefer, 98, formerly of Kilbuck Township, and wife of the late Augustine J. Kiefer Sr., died Tuesday, May 1, 2012 in Country Meadows Retirement Community. She is survived by five children, Patricia Ann Bachmann and her husband James of McMurray, PA, Augustine J. Kiefer Jr. and his wife Kathleen of Leeper, PA, Beverly E. Kiefer of Latrobe, PA, Raymond H. Kiefer and his wife Lucetta of Garnet Valley, PA and Robert C. Kiefer of Wilkinsburg; 13 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, William D. Kiefer; her parents, William and Helen Hallstein; and five siblings. Friends were received at the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in Sacred Heart Church in Emsworth on Saturday. Burial was in Christ Our Redeemer Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association, Four Gateway Center, 444 Liberty Ave., Suite 1300, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1207.David Kastory Sr. David Paul Kastory St., 61, of Avalon, died Thursday, May 3, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Mary Georgette Chmiel Kastory; four children, David Paul Kastory Jr. and his wife Angie, Nicole Miller and her husband Dustin, Heather Kastory and Amanda Kastory; his mother, Wana Rakita; his stepmother, Betty Jane Kastory; two sisters, Janice Kastory Arcari and Jane Kastory Simmon; his granddaughter, Zoey Miller; and his father-in-law, Joseph Chmiel. Friends were received at Rex T. Smith Funeral Home, North Side, where a blessing service was held on Saturday.Florence Ray Florence D. Ray, 84, of Ben Avon and Avalon, wife of the late Homer F. Ray Jr., died Friday, April 27, 2012. She is survived by four children, Homer F. Ray III and his wife Ellen of Nantucket, MA, Forrestt E. Ray of Avalon, Leon F. Ray and his wife Tammy of Augusta, GA and Virginia K. Ray of Port Hadlock, WA; three grandchildren, Homer Ray IV, Christopher Ray and Chloe Ray; her niece, Emma Ann Olsommer and her husband Robert of Lake Ariel, PA; her nephew, Gordon Engle and his wife Catherine of Dudley, MA; her grandniece, Terri Ann Mecca and her husband Karl of Cabot, AR; great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, Andrew and Jenna Mecca, William and Peter Engle; and a dear friend, Betty Haughin of Zelienople. She was preceded in death by her son, Todd A. Ray. A memorial celebration will be held later. Memorial donations are suggested to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018, Gateway Hospice, 9380 McKnight Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15237 or a favorite charity. Arrangements were made by McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon.Charles Meyer Charles W. Meyer, 95, formerly of Avalon and husband of the late Margrette E. Groetzinger Meyer, died Saturday, May 5, 2012 in Vincentian Home. He is survived by seven children, Karen Gaertner and her husband Richard, Mary Cubakovic and her husband Paul, Charles Michael Meyer and his wife Diane, Stephen Meyer and his wife Nadine, John Richard Meyer and his wife Betty, Elizabeth Janes and her husband Edward and David Meyer and his wife Mary Ruth; 18 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, William Charles Meyer. Friends were received at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the Church of the Assumption on Tuesday.Memorial contributions are suggested to Vincentian Home, 111 Perrymont Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15237.Virginia Lipke Virginia A. Sens Lipke, 81, of Ingomar, formerly of Ben Avon, died Thursday, April 26, 2012. Mrs. Lipke had worked as a secretary for the FBI and also for PA Gunsmith School and Lemstone Books. She enjoyed reading, watching and feeding birds. She was a member of Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon and also attended Memorial Park Presbyterian Church. She is survived by her husband, Shannon E. Lipke; two daughters, Debbie J. Sowa and her husband Frank of Glenshaw and Cheryl A. Edwards and her husband Herb of Evans City; four grandchildren, Daniel Sowa, Tim, Ben and Gabe Edwards; her great-grandson, Lincoln Edwards; and four dear friends, Debbie Farbacher and her husband Charlie, Shannon Lipke and his wife Bonnie, Linda Siegler and Brian Lipke. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Norman C. Sens; her parents, William and Elizabeth Perret; and two siblings, William Perret and Jean Nelson. Friends were received at the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon, where services were held on Monday. Burial was in Highwood Cemetery. Donations are suggested to Good Samaritan Hospice, 146 Neely School Rd., Wexford, PA 15090 or Memorial Park Presbyterian Church,. 8800 Peebles Rd., Allison Park, PA 15101.Mary Kirkwood Mary C. Karlik Kirkwood, wife of the late Herbert R. Kirkwood, died Tuesday, April 24, 2012. She is survived by three daughters, Janice Markewinski and her husband Albert, Minnie Neugebaur and her husband Michael and Patrice Wasilco and her husband Andrew; two brothers, Bill and Bob Karlik; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph, Hank and Steve Karlik. Friends were received at Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home, North Side. A funeral mass was held in Risen Lord Church on Saturday. Contributions are suggested to SWPA Girl Scouts.Robert Bolsinger Robert F. Bolsinger, 79, of Ross Township, husband of the late Lois M. Bolsinger, died Saturday, April 28, 2012. Mr. Bolsinger was a member of Millwright Local #2235 for 52 years. He also was a member of North Hills U.P. Dartball League and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He is survived by three children, Mary Petri and her husband Ken of Ross Township, Nancy Potts and her husband John of McCandless Township and Butch Bolsinger of Ross Township; his brother, William Bolsinger and his wife Eileen of Brighton Heights; four grandchildren, Michelle and Steven Potts, Dan and Meghan Petri; his sister-in-law, Bernice Bolsinger of Ross; and his brother-in-law, Joseph Uhlmann of Chicago, IL. He was preceded in death by two siblings, John Bolsinger and Sarah Jane Uhlmann. Friends were received at Schellhaas Funeral Home, West View. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in St. Athanasius Church on Wednesday.Blanche Rodack Blanche G. Baumberger Rodack, 84, of Ross Township, wife of the late William B. Rodack, died Friday, April 27, 2012. She is survived by her brother, George H. Baumberger of Swissvale; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, George T. and Gertrude M. Kennedy Baumberger; and her brother, Robert P. Baumberger. Friends were received at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon. Funeral services were held in Northgate Church on Monday. Memorials are suggested to her church at 238 West View Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15229.Jean Ross Jean Burford Ross, 86, of Robinson Township, wife of the late Andrew Ross, died Wednesday, May 2, 2012 in Presbyterian University Hospital. Mrs. Ross was a member of Tetelestai Church in New Kensington. She is survived by three children, James A. Ross and his wife Mary Ann and Raymond B. Ross and his wife Joyce, all of Ohio Township and Patricia A. Ross and her husband Dave Bohn of Robinson Township; two sisters, Georgette Shooster of Kingston, TN and Wilma Wheeler of Lockport, NY; and five grandchildren, Jesse, Seth, Navah, Nathan and Benjamin. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Edith Rogers Burford; and her sister, Edith May Vogeley. Friends were received at Copeland Funeral Home, Moon Township. Funeral services were held in the First Baptist Church, Moon Township, on Monday. Burial was in Coraopolis Cemetery. Memorial donations are suggested to Tetelestai Church, 899 E. Hill Dr., New Kensington, PA 15068 or the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004.Dolores Klebanski Dolores M. Klebanski died Sunday, May 6, 2012. Mrs. Klebanski was a 1959 graduate of Ohio Valley School of Nursing. She is survived by her husband, Norbert Klebanski Sr.; three children, Norbert Klebanski Jr. and his wife Kathleen of Erie, PA, David Klebanski and Kristen Collingwood and her husband Kirk; and three grandsons, Christopher, Daniel and Timothy Klebanski. She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Helen Hredzak. Friends were received at Thomas P. Kunsak Funeral Home, North Side. A funeral mass was held in St. Cyril of Alexandria Church on Thursday. Contributions are suggested to St. Jude Hospital.