Jan 5, 2014

Enjoyed traveling the country with her husband

Betty Jo “Jodi” “Joreen” Amos, 74, of Waynesburg, died at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 4, 2014, in her home, surrounded by her loving family. She had been a cancer survivor since 2000, until the cancer reappeared in October 2013.

She was born December 31, 1939, in Cameron, W.Va., a daughter of the late Arthur Glenn McCardle and Ethel Mae Hartley McCardle Howard. She resided in the Wind Ridge area, prior to moving to Waynesburg in 2001.

Mrs. Amos was a member of American Legion Post 18 Auxiliary, Cameron.

She enjoyed traveling the country with her husband during his overland trucking career.

On June 26, 1959, she married Clifford Earl Amos, who died April 9, 2013.

Surviving are four daughters, Sharon Amos, with whom she shared a home for several years, Regina Amos of Wind Ridge (Ryerson Station) and Leigh Ann Amos of Waynesburg; a son, Eric, husband of Lorri Amos, of Wind Ridge; four grandchildren, Gina McDiffitt, Travis McFadden, Clinton B. Amos and Andrew Grim; two great-grandchildren, Destiny and Haven Statler; two sisters, Carol Mason and Kathryn Neely, both of Moundsville, W.Va.; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to her parents and husband, are a brother, Arthur G. McCardle Jr., and her stepfather, Howard “Hallie” Howard.

Friends will be received from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Rush Funeral Home Inc., Rogersville, where funeral and committal services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 8, with Pastor Phillip Campbell Jr. officiating. Interment will be private and held at the convenience of the family.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the funeral home. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences at www.rushfuneralhomeinc.com.

Horse lover involved in 4-H

Emma Charlene Ramage Caldwell, 61, of Claysville, died at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, January 4, 2014, in her home after battling a cancer-related illness for the past several months.

She was born February 14, 1952, in Washington, a daughter of the late Daunice Louise Clutter Ramage and Frank Linville Ramage of Claysville. She had been a lifelong resident of the Claysville area.

Ms. Caldwell was a member of Claysville Christian Church and a 1970 graduate of McGuffey High School.

She was employed as a secretary by Dependable Electric Co. in Washington for more than 25 years, prior to retiring in 2012.

Ms. Caldwell was an avid horse lover and was a founder and charter member of the former Bits & Boots Horse & Pony 4-H Club in Claysville, a former leader with Silver Bits 4-H Club in Washington, and a member of Washington County and Pennsylvania Draft Horse and Mule associations.

She raised and showed quarter horses and Belgian draft horses, and was a longtime exhibitor at Washington County Fair and many fairs in the tri-state area.

Surviving, in addition to her father, are two daughters, Shelly, wife of Greg Woods, of Claysville, and Rend’ee Leech of Elm Grove, W.Va.; a son, Judd Caldwell, companion of Audra, of Claysville; a granddaughter, Karae, wife of Sam Avolia; a great-grandson, Dakohta Avolia; and three sisters, Mary Hrobak of Warren, Ohio, Phyllis, wife of Donald Ryburn of Washington, and Janice Buckingham of Claysville.

Deceased, in addition to her mother, are a son-in-law, Brian Leech; and brothers-in-law, Albert Hrobak and Phillip Buckingham.

Friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Claysville Christian Church, Claysville, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 10, with the Rev. Meade Lacock officiating. Interment will follow in Claysville Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Funeral Home Inc., Rogersville. Family and friends may view the obituary and send flowers and condolences at www.rushfunealhomeinc.com.

Longtime Monongahela resident was sports fan

Francis J. Dutch, 90, a longtime Monongahela resident who liked to be called “Dutch” and who recently moved to Washington, D.C., died Saturday, January 5, 2014, in a nursing facility in Alexandria, Va.

Born Theodor Josephus Dorcynec, October 25, 1923, in Elizabeth, he was a son of the late Alec and Mary Kornish Dutch.

Mr. Dutch grew up on Park Avenue, and after his graduation from Monongahela High School in 1940, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, as a first class petty officer on an amphibious ship, LST 698, in the South Pacific Ocean, participating in the D-Day landings of Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa.

Mr. Dutch worked for 20 years as a mason at the former U.S. Steel Donora Works, and served as vice president of Local 1758, United Steel Workers. In 1961, he was elected city controller of the city of Monongahela. He retired in 1984 as an employment relations representative for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Charleroi.

Mr. Dutch was a charter member of the first social service union in Pennsylvania, where he was the state treasurer of Local 675, Service Employees International Union. He was also a member of Monongahela and Carroll Township American Legion posts, Monongahela Elks Lodge 455, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1409, the former ICC Club in Monongahela, Mid-Mon Valley Shipmates and other social clubs in the Monongahela area.

Mr. Dutch was active in youth programs in Monongahela and served as president of Monongahela Pony League, as well as a Pony League coach, and Monongahela Boosters Club. He also helped start the Monongahela youth midget football and youth soccer leagues.

When he was younger, he enjoyed playing fast-pitch softball and golf with friends.

Mr. Dutch was an avid Pittsburgh sports fan. As a youth, he saw Babe Ruth’s last game at Forbes Field, where Ruth hit three home runs, including one on his last at bat. Mr. Dutch also witnessed Bill Mazeroski’s ninth-inning home run to win the World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960. He was also at the Pittsburgh Steelers game for Franco Harris’ Immaculate Reception against Oakland, and attended four Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl victories.

Upon retirement, Mr. Dutch and his wife spent their winters in Fort Myers, Fla., and summers in Monongahela, where he was an avid gardener, feeding his neighbors with fresh vegetables.

He was married for 60 years to the former Bertha Balogh, from Charleroi, who passed away in 2004.

Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Dennis E. and Jackie Dutch of Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Francean Brown of Mt. Vernon, Wash.; seven grandchildren, Lauren and husband Greg Ryan, Emily and husband Brad Dunn, Lindsay Dutch, Samantha Revetta and Amber, Paul and Nate Brown; and five great-grandchildren, Marley Hostetler, Paul Brown Jr., Hudson Walker, Maeve Ryan and Claire Ryan.

Deceased, in addition to his wife and parents, are three brothers, John, George and Thomas Dutch.

Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Marshall Marra Funeral Home, 216 Chess Street, Monongahela, 724-258-6767, marshallmarrafuneralhome.com, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 9, with Pastor Thomas Ravasio officiating. Interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery, where Mon-Valley Honor and Firing Squad will conduct military honors. Mid-Mon Valley Shipmates will also conduct a two-bell service in the funeral home at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Dutch’s name to Monongahela Area Library, 813 West Main Street, Monongahela, PA 15063.

Devoted in her faith

Mary Elaine Gladish, 65, of Morgantown, W.Va., passed away Saturday, December 28, 2013, in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, with her family at her side.

She was born in Bentleyville September 1, 1948, a daughter of the late William Coulson and the late Mary Evanosky Coulson.

Mrs. Gladish was devoted in her faith and was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Star City, W.Va. In her free time, she enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening and the outdoors.

Surviving are her husband of 42 years, Frederick John Gladish; a son, Nathaniel Eric Gladish of Morgantown; and a brother, William Coulson and wife Barbara of Bentleyville.

In keeping with Mrs. Gladish’s wishes, cremation services will be provided by Hastings Funeral Home in Morgantown. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 122 South High Street, Morgantown, WV 26505.

Condolences may be made at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.

Corrected information was received for the obituary of Margaret “Peg” Heirendt, published Saturday.

Also surviving are a daughter-in-law, Mary Heirendt of McDonald, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Lifelong resident of Cross Creek

Martin A. Laurich of Cross Creek died at 4:25 a.m. Sunday, January 5, 2014, in Kindred Hospital, Oakdale.

He was born June 8, 1937, in Cross Creek, a son of the late William and Elizabeth “Lottie” Zakulec Laurich.

Mr. Laurich was a 1955 graduate of Union High School.

He was employed by J&L Steel, now LTV Steel, as a supervisor for 30 years, retiring in 1985.

Mr. Laurich was a lifelong resident of Cross Creek. He loved his dog, Susie.

On April 7, 1960, he married Mary Ann Newman, who died February 21, 2010.

Surviving are two daughters, Rhonda (Bill) Heckman of Burgettstown and Cheryl “Sherry” (Russ) Clemens of Burgettstown; a son, Martin A. Laurich Jr. and fiancée Mary Ann Dietz of Negley, Ohio; five grandchildren, Cole Heckman, Ashley (Glenn) Lowe, Kayla Laurich, Kylie Dietz and Chelsey Dietz; a great-grandchild, Glennie Lowe; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Diane and Rich Pillow of Pittsburgh.

Deceased, in addition to his wife and parents, is a brother, William “Butch” Laurich.

At the request of the family, there will be no public visitations. Funeral services are private. Memorial contributions can be made to American Cancer Society, 331 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301.

Arrangements are being handled by Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home Inc., Avella. Condolences can be expressed at www.stefkovichfuneralhome.com.

Joan Rowene Lewis, 80, of Houston, died Saturday, January 4, 2014.

Arrangements are incomplete and entrusted to Sollon Funeral Home Ltd., Canonsburg. Visitation will be Wednesday and funeral Thursday. A complete obituary will be published in a later edition.

Martha “Murph” Mast, 91, of Washington, died Sunday, January 5, 2014.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Hummell & Jones Funeral Home, Washington, in a later edition.

1970 – 2014

Marcilene Belle Grey Sestric, 43, of Burgettstown/Hanover Township, passed away unexpectedly Sunday morning, January 5, 2014, in Weirton (W.Va.) Medical Center.

She was born October 19, 1970, a daughter of Gary and Joyce King Atkison of Linesville.

A Roman Catholic, she attended Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church in Burgettstown and enjoyed camping, fishing and collecting angels.

Her husband, Jeffrey A. Sestric, whom she married in 2001, survives.

Surviving, in addition to her parents and husband, are her children, Dylan and Cheyenne Sestric, at home; three brothers, Lee Grey of Midland, Mike Grey of Butler and Tim Atkison of Gibsonia; a sister, April Grey Sanjur of Rochester; her grandmother, Marcilene Brown of Ridgway; her mother-in-law, Lillian Marie Sestric of Allison Park; five sisters-in-law; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Lee & Martin Funeral Home, 73 Highland Avenue, Burgettstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 8, in Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church, 1109 Main Street, Burgettstown.

If so desired, memorial donations may be made in her memory to American Cancer Society, 320 Bilmar Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-4620.

Corrected information was received for the obituary of Harold Melvin Stockdale, published Saturday.

Surviving is a daughter, Marietta “Met,” wife of Worthy Fox of Rogersville.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Rogersville U.M. Church, Rogersville, PA 15359.

Owned E.E. Thomas Paving Co.

Edward E. Thomas, 75, of Somerset Township, Bentleyville, died Sunday morning, January 5, 2014, in Monongahela Valley Hospital.

He was born June 16, 1938, in New Eagle, a son of Ernest E. and Ruth E. Black Thomas.

Self-employed, Mr. Thomas owned and operated E.E. Thomas Paving Co. He was a member of the Haymakers Association, New Eagle.

On April 4, 1964, in Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church, Eighty Four, he married Gloria A. Pallai, who survives.

Also surviving are three children, Shayne Edward Thomas and Erik Irwin Thomas, both of Bentleyville, and Tina Louise Covalesky (Brian) of Mt. Pleasant; grandchildren Christopher and Lindsay Thomas; a brother, Robert L. Thomas (Terrie) of Waynesburg; sisters Evelyn L. Wilson of Bentleyville and Mary Ellen Thomas of New Eagle; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are a brother and sister-in-law, Harry I. and Nancy Thomas, and a niece, Darla Sue Thomas.

Family and friends are welcome from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 7, in Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home Inc., 809 Main Street, Bentleyville, 724-239-2255. There are no services.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Washington Area Humane Society, P.O. Box 66, Eighty Four, PA 15330. Visit www.thompson-marodi.com to leave a condolence message, order flowers and share photos.

Phillip Stephen Wolanski, 43, of Weirton, W.Va., died unexpectedly Sunday, January 5, 2014, in Burgettstown.

Arrangements are incomplete and in the care of Taucher Funeral Home, Burgettstown. A complete obituary will be announced in a later edition.