Nov 24, 2012

Esther C. Garner, 91, of Canonsburg, died Friday, November 23, 2012.

She was born October 24, 1921, in Milltown, N.J., a daughter of the late George and Emma Christ.

Mrs. Garner attended Drew University in New Jersey, prior to graduating from Washington & Jefferson College in 1975.

In addition to being a homemaker, she also was employed by Goodwill Industries.

She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in McMurray.

Mrs. Garner invested much of her time volunteering for various organizations including the Literacy Council of Washington County, Canonsburg Hospital and the Blood Bank.

On September 1, 1951, she married the Rev. Lawrence E. Garner. He passed away February 17, 1969.

In addition to her husband, deceased are her siblings, Ernest Christ, Lorna Smith and Edith Hall.

Surviving are four children, Lawrence E. Garner of Washington, Phyllis L. Pirnik of Canonsburg, Lorna E. Turon of Finleyville and Carol L. Worstell, also of Canonsburg; six grandchildren, Jennifer Scears, Suzanne Pirnik, Holly and Kylie Garner, Eric Kochanski and Rachel Rogers; and three great-grandchildren, Emily, Alyssa and Ainsley.

Friends are welcome at Beinhauer-Bogan Funeral Home, 164 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-5810, from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, in First United Methodist Church, 161 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, with the Rev. Tate Fulton officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Spring Cemetery. Please add or view tributes at www.beinhauer.com.

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Catherine “Kat” Bolick Helton, 86, of Sycamore, formerly of Hickory, N.C., passed away at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2012, in Golden Living of South Hills.

She was born April 27, 1926, in Hickory, a daughter of the late Wesley Sr. and Etta Davis Bolick.

Mrs. Helton lived most of her life in Hickory and had been a member of Concord Baptist Church, Granite Falls, N.C., where she enjoyed many trips with the church.

She had been a leader in the cutting department of Bassett Furniture, where she was employed for 35 years. She was last employed in environmental services at Frye Regional Hospital.

On March 30, 1945, she married Clyde Franklin Helton, who died September 2, 1994.

Surviving are a daughter, Carla Helton (David Harden), with whom she made her home in Sycamore, Greene County; two sons, Wayne (Nelda) Clark of Hickory and Michael (Jane) Helton of Shelby, N.C.; a daughter-in-law, Vivian Helton of Hickory; a brother, Wesley Bolick Jr. of Bethlehem, N.C.; three sisters, Peggy Lane of Conover, N.C., Joyce Smith of Hickory and Doris Keller of Texas; 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to her husband, are a son, Donald Helton; a brother, Robert David Bolick; and a grandson, Ronald.

Friends are welcome from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Hickory Funeral Home, 1031 11th Avenue Boulevard SE, Hickory, NC 28602, 828-322-3010. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, November 26, in Concord Baptist Church, Granite Falls, N.C. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Hickory, N.C. To view or extend condolences, please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.

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Betty Ann Moore of Cherry Valley died Friday evening, November 23, 2012, following a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was able to beat breast cancer and put up a hard fight with ovarian cancer for two years before it finally took her life.

She was born March 5, 1943, a daughter of the late Stanley and Elizabeth Ruskowski of Cherry Valley.

Ms. Moore devoted her life to helping others. She would always give something to someone else before doing something for herself. Even while fighting cancer, she would put others before herself and never once complained about what she had to endure. Until the very end, when asked how she was, she always said “OK, I will be OK.”

She raised her four children, and once they were grown, she worked at the Tonidale Comfort Inn as a housekeeper before becoming disabled from total hip replacement surgery.

Ms. Moore loved to crochet and was always making baby blankets, hats, afghans, scarves and other creations for her family and those she knew.

Gardening was a passion of hers. Whether it was her vegetable garden or one of her many flower gardens, she spent much of her time tending to them. She also liked to can and freeze the vegetables, and her family always anxiously awaited the first jar of pickles to be ready each summer.

Playing Scrabble was another way she liked to spend her time. She was always eager to play a game with anyone who stopped by to visit, and would usually win by a landslide.

She was the beloved mother of Richard Moore of Cherry Valley, Susan Johnson of Imperial, Betsy Fischer of South Fayette and Michael Moore, who still lived at home with her in Cherry Valley. She will be greatly missed by her seven grandchildren, Maddie Johnson, Samantha Johnson, Matthew Johnson, Haley McGuane, Cole McGuane, Crystal Krynak and Hannah Fischer.

Surviving, in addition to her children and grandchildren, are two sisters, Justine (Sam) Markish of Cherry Valley and Shirley Crowley of South Carolina; a brother, Stanley Ruskowski of Cherry Valley; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 27, in Lee & Martin Funeral Home, 73 Highland Avenue, Burgettstown, with the Rev. Doug Reinard officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Prospect Cemetery, Hickory.

Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, 2501 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 435 Dallas, TX 75219, www.ovariancancer.org.

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Donald E. Morgan, 76, of Lawrence, died Friday, November 23, 2012, in Townview Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Arrangements are incomplete and are entrusted to Sollon Funeral Home Ltd., Canonsburg.

A complete obituary will be published in a later edition.

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Alexander Murdoch Jr., 77, of Cincinnati, Ohio, formerly of Washington, died Friday, November 23, 2012, in Friendship Village of South Hills, Upper St. Clair.

He was born March 24, 1935, in Washington, a son of the late Alexander Sr. and Elizabeth Grayson Murdoch.

Mr. Murdoch attended East Washington schools and graduated from Westtown High School, Philadelphia, and Washington & Jefferson College.

He was a college administrator at Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio, from 1963 to 1975, and then at the University of Cincinnati from 1975 until 2000.

Mr. Murdoch was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Surviving are a brother, Joe (Jan) Murdoch of East Washington; a sister, Liza (Jim) Ervin of Glastonbury, Conn.; two nieces, Elizabeth Davies and Lowrie Deegan; two nephews, Trip Ervin and Andrew Murdoch; and a sister-in-law, Karen Murdoch.

Deceased is a brother, Grayson Murdoch.

All services will be private, at the request of the family. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy at 800 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or at www.paconserve.org. Condolences may be expressed at www.piattandbarnhillfh.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor, and Lawrence K. Donovan, funeral director.

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Richard Pentuk, 55, of Peters Township, formerly of Arnold, passed away Friday, November 23, 2012, at Donnell House hospice care center in Washington.

He was born July 20, 1957, a son of the late Walter and Helen Pentuk.

Mr. Pentuk was the beloved husband of Alice Dolinar Pentuk; adoring father of Heleyna Lyn Pentuk and stepson Max Stillwagon; and brother of Carolyn Banichar (Robert Reczynski) and Robert Pentuk (Ellen Spiegel). Also surviving are a nephew, Jeffery Pentuk; a niece, Brianna Pentuk; and aunts, uncles, cousins and lifelong friend John Valasek.

He had many accomplishments throughout his life, including graduating from Purdue University while serving six years in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan. He was a navigator on B-52 bombers and achieved the rank of captain. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, earning his master of business administration degree, and accepted the vice president position with Wells Fargo Bank in Seattle, Wash. In 2004, he founded the HELP Preemies Fund at Overlake Hospital Medical Center, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, in Bellevue, Wash. This fund was established when his daughter, Heleyna, was born premature. The fund assisted other premature and special-needs babies and their families by providing preemie clothing for babies in the center as well as CPR classes, lodging for commuting families and car seats.

His hobbies included traveling, and he loved baseball, football, fishing and following the stock market. In his youth, he enjoyed flying Cessna planes while training to become a pilot.

Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, November 26, where a funeral service will immediately follow at 7 p.m. at Cremation & Funeral Care by Danielle Andy Belusko, 3287 Washington Road, McMurray. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to Pentuk Preemies Fund, Overlake Hospital Medical Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 1035 116th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. Please view and sign the family’s guest book at www.cremationfuneralcare.com.

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In the obituary of Frank Edward Przystup, published Saturday, his sister, Donna (Mike) Gheen of Washington, was misidentified.

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Ronald L. Sentipal Sr., 67, a lifelong resident of Slovan, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Wednesday, November 21, 2012, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born August 16, 1945, in Slovan, a son of the late Joseph Sr. and Dolly Sentipal

A 1963 graduate of Union High School in Burgettstown, he was employed by Fed Met Corp. as a service engineer.

Mr. Sentipal proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal. He was a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Mast, Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, Good Conduct Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. After being discharged from the Marine Corps, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Burgettstown and was a life member of Slovan Veterans of Foreign Wars and Slovan Volunteer Fire Department.

Mr. Sentipal enjoyed hunting and spending time with his family, especially the joy of his life, his only grandchild, Rebecca Cavalier.

On May 13, 1968, he married his wife of 44 years, Kathy Goni, who survives.

Also surviving are a daughter, Rhonda Cavalier and husband Alan of Oakdale; a son, Ronald Sentipal Jr. of Slovan; three sisters, Pearl Tustin of Georgetown, Louise Bosick and husband John of Slovan and Victoria Koklich and husband John of Hickory; two brothers, Joseph Sentipal Jr. and wife Sissy of Burgettstown and Jim Sentipal and wife RuthAnn of Cross Creek; and several nieces and nephews.

He will be remembered by many as a kind, gentle and fun-loving person with an infectious smile for everyone whose life he touched.

Friends will be received from 1 to 3 and 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Lee and Martin Funeral Home, 73 Highland Avenue, Burgettstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Monday, November 26, in Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, Burgettstown, with the Rev. George Moneck as celebrant. Interment with full military honors will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Burgettstown. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, or www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

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James L. “Jim” Sharp Jr., 73, of Washington, formerly of Chester, passed away Wednesday, November 21, 2012, in his home at Washington Arbors Apartments.

He was born September 27, 1939, in Savannah, Ga., the only child of the late James L. Sr. and Ida Porter Sharp.

Mr. Sharp graduated from St. James Catholic School for Boys in Chester.

He attended Villanova University and then enlisted in the U.S. Army in the Airborne Rangers, serving in Europe, and also served in the Army Reserve.

Mr. Sharp held various management positions after his military service ended, including production line manager, insurance broker and financial planner. His most recent employment was with Washington City Mission as a counselor/advisor, and he handled various other duties at the Mission. He ran the “Next Step” program at the mission, from where he retired.

He was an avid chess player and socialized with his “City Mission Family.” Mr. Sharp liked music, especially jazz, and was a good dancer.

Mr. Sharp was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington, where he was part of the Bible Study and Intercessory Prayer groups when his health permitted. He also participated in the adult program at the Washington County Health Center.

His greatest joy was to give help and guidance to young people. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Mr. Sharp was formerly married to Christine Sharp of Washington, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Omar R. Watson and family; a host of cousins and friends; and a special friend and caregiver, M. Elaine Frazier of Washington, who will miss him dearly.

Deceased, in addition to his parents, are paternal grandparents Joseph L. and Josephine Sharprello, who raised Mr. Sharp because his mother died when he was young.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Avenue, Washington, S. Timothy Warco, supervisor/director, Susan Falvo Warco, director, S. Timothy Warco II, director. A funeral service will be held at noon Tuesday, November 27, in Trinity Episcopal Church, 550 South Main Street, Washington, with the Rev. Karen Stevenson officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township. Full military rites will be accorded by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 and the U.S. Army. Memorial contributions can be made to Washington City Mission, 84 West Wheeling Street, Washington, PA 15301, or to Washington Christian Outreach, 119 Highland Avenue, Washington PA 15301. Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com.

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Charles E. Stewart, retiree of Moreland Burial Vault Co., 82, of Washington, passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 21, 2012.

He was the beloved father of Anna Thomassy, Chuck and wife Terri Stewart and Edward Stewart, and grandfather of Ricky, Tara, David and Laura. Also surviving are six great-grandchildren.

Mr. Stewart loved music, especially polkas, and spending time outside in the country.

At the family’s request, all funeral services are private.

Memorial contributions may be made to Donnell House, 10 Leet Street, Washington, PA 15301.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Cremation & Funeral Care by Danielle Andy Belusko, 3287 Washington Road, McMurray, 724-260-5546. Please view and sign the family’s guest book at www.cremationfuneralcare.com.

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Eileen J. Stoneman, 78, of Monongahela, died Friday, November 23, 2012, in Arden Courts of Jefferson Hills.

She was born May 22, 1934, in West Elizabeth, a daughter of the late John E. and Josephine Buttermore Wingrove.

Mrs. Stoneman was a graduate of New Kensington High School.

She retired in 1996 from Mellon Bank of Pittsburgh.

A very active member of First Christian Church in Monongahela, she served as an elder for more than 20 years and was a member of its open-door Sunday school class.

Surviving are two sons and a daughter-in-law, Marshall H. and (Lonnie) Stoneman of Great Falls, Mont., and William J. Stoneman of Monongahela; three daughters and a son-in-law, Jody L. and Steven Webster of Irmo, S.C., Marsha J. Davies of North Charleroi and Louise M. Harrington of Monongahela; two sisters, Norma Critchlow of Sarasota, Fla., and Bonnie Uecker of Texas; eight grandchildren, Curtis Webster, Caralee (Fred) Wahab, Bobby (Jamie) Odom and Brandie Odom, Molly, Kelly and Geddy Stoneman and Gregorio Davis; and four great-grandsons, Jacob and Jett Stoneman, Jacob Odom and James Wahab. She was looking forward to the birth of her first great-granddaughter, Lily Eillen Wahab, in December.

Deceased are her husband, William H. Stoneman, who died July 16, 2007; a brother, James Wingrove; and a sister who died as an infant.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, in Marshall Marra Funeral Home, 216 Chess Street, Monongahela, 724-258-6767, marshallmarrafuneralhome.com, with the Rev Gerald Demarest and Father John Fierro co-officiating. Interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 1100 Liberty Avenue, Suite E-201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

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Jimmie L. Tennant, 73, of Springhill Township, Deep Valley, Greene County, died at 6:15 a.m. Saturday, November 24, 2012, in Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va., after being in failing health for the past several years.

He was born January 27, 1939, in Waynesburg, a son of the late Wilma Ruth Lemmon Tennant and Burl Tennant, and had resided in the Springhill Township area most of his adult life.

Mr. Tennant was a 1956 graduate of Waynesburg High School.

He was a peacetime veteran in the U.S. Army, where he served as a specialist fourth class.

Mr. Tennant enjoyed hunting, fishing and NASCAR, was an avid golfer and had dreams of becoming an airplane pilot prior to a debilitating injury.

He was a former school bus driver in West Greene School District and was last employed as an electrician with Forest Construction of Consol in Osage, W.Va.

Surviving are a granddaughter, Chelsie Tennant; a great-granddaughter, Caydence Tennant; a brother, Burl A. Tennant Jr., husband of Mabel Tennant of Washington; two sisters, Sue, wife of Nelson Tennant of Daybrook, W.Va., and Alma Temple of Graysville; five half sisters, Sharon, wife of Chuck Walsh of Cleveland, Ohio, Judy Smith, Barbara Kelly and Rita Tennant, companion of George Barlow, all of Pine Bank, and Sandy, wife of Bob Thomas of North Carolina; a half brother, Jeffery Tennant of Pine Bank; a brother-in-law, Glen Wells of Moundsville, W.Va.; special friends and extended family Paul and Loretta Cook of Rogersville; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to his parents, are a daughter, Jodie Lynn Gray, who died March 13, 1997; maternal grandparents who raised him from the age of 6, Abe and Maude Kerr Lemmon; and two nephews, Scott Tennant and Douglas Temple.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in Rush Funeral Home Inc., Rogersville, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, with the Rev. William Parker officiating. Interment will follow in Rosemont Cemetery. Graveside military rites will be accorded by representatives of the U.S. Army and American Legion Post 330, VFW Post 4793 and DAV Post 123, all of Waynesburg. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences and flowers at www.rushfuneralhomeinc.com.

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Margaret Jean McCready Vrabel, 86, passed away Friday, November 23, 2012, at Marion Nursing Center in Marion, S.C.

Mrs. Vrabel was born July 30, 1926, in Canton, Ohio, a daughter of Frederick Patton McCready and Violet Gray McCready.

She was baptized in and is a member of Broad Baptist Church in Washington.

Mrs. Vrabel worked for many years at Imperial Cleaners on South Main Street in Washington. Afterward, she worked at Washington Hospital in the business office, from which she retired.

In 2008, she moved with her daughter and son-in-law to South Carolina.

She loved reading and watching TV and will be missed by all of her family and friends.

Surviving are her daughter, Margaret “Peggie” McCullough and husband Gerald of Loris, S.C.; a granddaughter, Ashley Adams of Philadelphia; a great-grandson, Evan Adams; and a sister, Della Adams of Washington.

Deceased are her parents, a brother, William McCready, and a sister, Anna Mary Mitchell.

Memorial services will be announced. Please sign Mrs. Vrabel’s online guest book at hardwickfuneralhome.com or call Hardwick Funeral Home at 843-756-7001 for further information.

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Freda Rainey Yarish, 99, of Carmichaels, died at 7:45 a.m. Friday, November 23, 2012, in Precious Moments Personal Care Home, Carmichaels.

She was born March 4, 1913, in Republic, a daughter of the late William and Louise Wolff Olschesky.

Since 1971, Mrs. Yarish resided in Carmichaels, where she was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. She also was a member of St. Paul’s sewing club and Carmichaels Senior Center.

Mrs. Yarish enjoyed flower gardening and playing bingo.

Her first husband, Louis Rainey, died in 1966. In January 1971, she married Steve J. Yarish, who died October 22, 1990.

Surviving are her stepsons, Don Yarish and wife Joan of Carmichaels, Jack Yarish of Millsboro, Del., and Louis Rainey Jr.; three stepdaughters, Nancy J. Finfrock of Toledo, Ohio, Judy Holop and husband Al of Brunswick, Ohio, and Joyce Kopinsky of Toledo; 12 grandchildren, William Yarish Jr., Sandy Bainum, Mark Yarish, James Yarish, Donna Yarish-Calvert, Marianna Tekavec, Gary Peksa, Jodi Clements, Michael Darr, Debbie Jagger, Gordon Hall and Gary Hall; 17 great-grandchildren; a brother, Harry Olschesky and wife Dorothy of North Cambria; a stepson-in-law, Roger Hall of Fullerton, Calif.; a stepdaughter-in-law, Ann Yarish of Carmichaels; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are two brothers, Fred Olschesky and Paul Olschesky; two sisters, Anna Yarish and Mildred Klotz; a stepdaughter, Jean Hall; and a stepson, William Yarish.

Family and friends are welcome from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in Yoskovich Funeral Home (724-966-5500), Martin J. Yoskovich, funeral director, 300 South Vine Street (Route 88), Carmichaels. Her life will be celebrated at a funeral service at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Carmichaels, with the Rev. Rebecca F. Dittenhafer officiating. Interment will follow in Greene County Memorial Park, Morgan Township. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 224 South Market Street, Carmichaels, PA 15320. For additional information and to sign the guest book, please visit www.YoskovichFH.com.

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