Obituaries 1-13-12

Helen Crooks Helen Reitz Crooks, 79, wife of the late William H. Crooks Sr., died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011. Mrs. Crooks enjoyed cooking and making cookies. She was an avid reader, enjoyed bowling, bingo, trivia games and traveling. She is survived by five children, William H. Crooks Jr. of O'Hara Township, Linda Ayres and her husband Jerry of Avalon, Robert Crooks and his wife Josephine of Allison Park, Beverly Anderson and her husband Michael Culpepper of Gainsville, FL and Gary Crooks and his wife Maggie of Virginia Beach, VA; four siblings, Sue Gratzinger, Virginia Auckland, Charles Reitz and his wife Pam and Robert Reitz and his wife Sue; nine grandchildren, Michelle Rua and her husband Rob Decker, John Ayres and his wife Rebe, Becki Daugherty and her husband Ted, Bill Ayres and his wife Shavonnee, Bobby Crooks, Kelley Anderson, Lauren Anderson, Parker Crooks and Paxton Crooks; six great-grandchildren, Casey Rua, Joey Rua, Tish and Nicky Ayres, Alyssa Ayres and Ethan Ingram; four adopted great-grandchildren, Grayson Wilde, Myra Billings, Ollie Culpepper and Aubrey Walkins; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Harry and Jeri Crooks, Jane and Bill Rech; five cousins, Pat Panner, Chris Bruscemi, Mary Lou Alford, David Reitz and Karen Poole; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Hilda Reitz; and two brothers, Thomas and John G. Reitz. Friends were received at Thomas M. Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, Blawnox, where services were held on Wednesday.Elsa Dickson Elsa J. Waag Dickson, 90, of Emsworth, wife of the late Joseph H. "Rome" Dickson, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2011. Mrs. Dickson was a 1939 graduate of Bellevue High School. She volunteered for many organizations, including Emsworth Volunteer Fire Dept. Auxiliary, the Boy Scouts and Emsworth United Presbyterian Church. She is survived by two sons, Joel S. Dickson and his wife Carolyn "Scotty" and Craig B. Dickson and his wife Jeanne McMahan; three brothers, Otto, Charles and Fred; two grandchildren, Eric D. Dickson and his wife Tamie and Andrea S. DeAngelis and her husband Brett; a great-grandson, Tony DeAngelis; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three siblings, Luise Kuhn, Jessie Steranka and Robert. Friends were received at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon, where services were held on Wednesday. Burial was in Allegheny County Memorial Park. Memorial contributions are suggested to her church at 73 Hiland Ave., Emsworth, PA 15202.Thomas Scholler Sr. Thomas E. Scholler Sr., 88, of Pittsburgh died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. Mr. Scholler was a U.S. Army veteran during World War II in the Yankee Infantry Division. He received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and recently, the French Medal of Honor for the liberation of France. He was past commander of VFW Post #2454. He is survived by his wife, Helen Huleka Scholler; his son, Thomas E. Scholler Jr.; his foster daughter, Helen McGraw; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Veronica Scholler; and four siblings, Herbert Nussbaum, Frances Trautman, George Scholler and Mary Knezovich. Friends were received at the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in St. Cyril of Alexandria Church on Thursday. Memorial contributions are suggested to Family Hospice, 50 Moffett St., Mt. Lebanon, PA 15243.Louis Miller Louis A. "Hawk" Miller, 78, of Avalon, husband of the late Audrey Miller, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012. Mr. Miller served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was an avid golfer. He is survived by two children, Arnold Miller and his wife Lisa and Beverly Dunlop and her husband Brian; his sister, Delores Girts; and three grandchildren, Louis Miller, Given and Lindsey Dunlop. He was preceded in death by his sister, Olga Miller Friends were received at the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon. Services and burial were private.Joanna Coxe Joanna "Jody" B. Coxe, 81, of Longwood at Oakmont, formerly of Ben Avon and Fox Chapel and wife of the late John Emery Coxe, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. Mrs. Coxe was a 1948 graduate of Avonworth High School in Ben Avon and a 1952 graduate of Allegheny College. She worked at the corporate headquarters of US Steel. She enjoyed the Pittsburgh Pirates and playing tennis, traveling and the arts. She was an active member of Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church and community. She is survived by three nephews in Colorado. She was preceded in death by her parents, William Kennedy and Marjorie Smith Breeze; her grandfather, Merle Smith; and he uncle, David Smith. A gathering was held at Longwood at Oakmont Chapel on Saturday. Donations are suggested to Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements were made by Thomas M. Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, Blawnox.Robert Levine Robert Caldwell Levine, 78, of Naples, FL, husband of the late Jean Bovill Levine, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. Mr. Levine was retired from JP Morgan Investments, where he was managing director. He is survived by five children, Jeananne Stine of Baltimore, MD, Robert B. Levine of Brussels, Belgium, Mary Levine of Naples, Ron Levine of New York City, NY and Jaime Levine of Mamaroneck, NY; and eight grandchildren, Eric,Levine, Maryruth Stine, Marc Levine, Sarabeth Stine, Terry Levine, Charles Stine, James Hickey and Ella Levine. Friends were received at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon, and previously at the Diplomat in Naples, where services were held on Saturday. Burial was in Uniondale Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to Bethany College, Erickson Alumni Center, Bethany, WV 26032.More Obituaries on Page 13John Bayer John A. Bayer, 87, of Avalon, formerly of the North Side and husband of the late Dorothy Bayer, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. Mr. Bayer was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the military baseball team in St. Lucia, FL. He is survived by three children, June Riggs, Earl Bayer and his wife Mimi and Deborah Buggey and her husband Chuck; six grandchildren, Julie, Chuckie, Kristin, Rachel, Angela and Danny; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by five siblings, Ermina, Walt, Delores, Martha and Edward. Friends were received at the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the Church of the Assumption on Saturday. Burial was in Christ Our Redeemer Cemetery.Gary Stein Gary R. Stein, 52, of Shaler Township, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. Mr. Stein was a 1976 graduate of North Hills High School and received a B.S. degree from Slippery Rock University in business administration. He worked for U.S. Tool and Die Nuclear Products for 22 years. He then started Liberty Land and Waterscapes and also co-owned Grandstand Cafe in Shaler. He enjoyed collecting sports memorabilia, especially Pittsburgh Pirate collectibles. He was a member and volunteer of Friends of Gettysburg. He enjoyed animals, especially his dog, Mandy. He volunteered at Animal Friends. He is survived by his father, Robert A. Stein of Ross Township; two brothers, Thomas M. Stein, M.D. and his wife Janet and Kurt Stein and his wife Janice, all of Franklin Park; four nieces and nephews, Courtney, Ryan, Jonathan and Paige Stein; and three uncles and an aunt, Richard Stein, James Stein and his wife Cathy and William Stein; and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Mae Cox Stein; his brother, James P. Stein; his grandparents, Joseph and Margaret Comer Stein and John and Olivia Hertwick Cox; his aunt and uncle, Mary Katherine Stein and James Cox and his wife Matilda "Tillie" Cox. Friends were received at the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue. A Mass of Christian Burial was held in St. Athanasius Church, West View, on Saturday. Burial was in Christ Our Redeemer Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to Animal Friends Pet Adoption and Resource Center, 562 Camp Horne Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237.Robert Lockerbie Robert W. Lockerbie, 72, of Avalon, formerly of Coraopolis, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Patricia "Trish" Boyle-Lockerbie; two sons, Robert Lockerbie and his wife Kimberly and James Lockerbie and his wife H.J., all of Coraopolis; three sisters, Deanna Sawyer, Olive May Morris and Rosemary Packinack; and his grandson, Robert Lockerbie. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Mary Katherine Lockerbie. Services and burial were private. Memorial contributions are suggested to Free Care Fund, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Arrangements were made the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue.Betty Breckenfelder Betty Z. Breckenfelder, 96, of Metowers in Avalon, wife of the late Fred Breckenfelder, died Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. Mrs. Breckenfelder had worked at Kaufmann's department store in downtown Pittsburgh. She was a member of the Ladies Red Hat Society. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Carol Lloyd; her grandson, James Blair Lloyd; two great-grandchildren, Matt Lloyd and his wife Brittany and Sarah Lloyd; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Jim Lloyd; her granddaughter, Leslie Lloyd; and two siblings, Homer Zapf and Adelaide Bossong. Services and burial were private. Arrangements were made by the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon.Marie Hartman Marie E. "Maw" Eckert Hartman, 94, of Sewickley, wife of the late Bernard Hartman, died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. She is survived by six children, William and his wife Carmella of Saxonburg, Shirley Lipscomb and her husband Rodney, Charles and his wife Gina, Lois, Donald and his wife Mildred and Richard and his wife Jill, all of Sewickley; nine grandchildren, Dwayne and his wife Lori, Belinda Sirianni and her husband Michael, Eric Lipscomb and his wife Amy, Kurt and his wife Kelly, Jason Lipscomb, Dana Wilhelm and her husband Trever, Kimberly, Chet and Deborah Verdi and her husband Dominic; 16 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by five siblings. Friends were received at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, Avalon, where services were held on Thursday. Memorial contributions are suggested to Good Samaritan Hospice, 3500 Brooktree Road, Wexford, PA 15090 or a favorite charity.Evan Schneider Evan L. Schneider, 30, of Mt. Washington died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012. He is survived by his parents, John Schneider and Janice Miale Kenneally; two siblings, Ryan "RJ" Schneider and Shiari "Shari" Lamison; his aunt, Susann Schneider; and aunts, uncles, nephews and cousins. There was no visitation. Services and burial were private. Arrangements were made by the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon.Christopher Cammarata Christopher M. Cammarata, 50, of Ross Township, husband of the late Lisa Cammarata, died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. Mr. Cammarata was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He is survived by his daughter, Amy Cammarata; his mother, Frances Seleinshick Cammarata; three siblings, Cassie Cammarata and her husband Joe Drotar, Michael Cammarata and Gia Cammarata; his niece, Grace; and aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Albert E. Cammarata. Friends were received at the Lawrence T. Miller Funeral Home, Bellevue, where services were held on Friday. Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.orgDaniel Buetzow Daniel B. Buetzow, 56, of Bellevue, died Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. Mr. Buetzow was a longtime employee of NAES Power Contractors. He was a longtime member and coach of BAGAA softball league. He is survived by his wife, Diane Uebele Buetzow; three children, Dena Metz and her husband Michael, Annie and Mark Buetzow; two siblings, David Buetzow and his wife Debbie and Dawn Labanics and her husband Larry; two grandsons, Mason and Bryce Metz; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Daniel J. Buetzow; and his parents. Friends were received at the Orion C. Pinkerton Funeral Home, Avalon, where services were held on Friday. Burial was in Mt. Royal Cemetery.