William R. Grego Sr.
Church cantor, WWII veteran
William R. Grego Sr., 88, of Eighty Four, formerly of Canonsburg, passed away at 1:12 p.m. Friday, December 20, 2013, in Washington Hospital, with his loving family by his side.
He was born May 21, 1925, in Canonsburg, a son of the late Giuseppe “Joseph” and Frances Farrell Grego.
Mr. Grego attended Canonsburg High School, where he received a special diploma in 2002 for those students required to serve in World War II. He served as a sergeant with Company B Corps of Engineers in the U.S. Army, serving in Central Europe and the Rhineland. He received the American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a shipping foreman at Industrial Gasket and Shim Company.
He lived most of his life in the Canonsburg and Washington area, and was a member of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Meadow Lands, where he was a member of the choir and Holy Name Society and served as cantor for 40 years.
Mr. Grego was a member of Presidents of Harmony Barbershop Group and co-founder of Washington County Buckskinners, black powder gun club. He was a benefactor of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition.
He enjoyed wood carving, wood crafting and singing. He loved traveling with his wife and went skydiving on his 80th birthday. He was a caring, loving father and grandfather who devoted his life to his wife and family and will be missed by all who knew him.
On August 12, 1948, he married Betty Jane Yurkas Grego, who passed away October 8, 2003, after 55 years of marriage.
Surviving are two sons, William R. (Linda) Grego Jr. and Russell J. (Janean) Grego, both of Washington; four daughters, Cecilia (the late Paul) Samreny of Pittsburgh, Glenna J. (Brice) Carter of Washington, Gretchen R. (Ray) Clore, with whom he made his home, and Jill A. Ellis of Houston; nine grandchildren, Cana, Alysa, Carla, Bernice, Russell Jr., Dylan, Emily, JT and Jason; a sister, Jessie (Gasper “Gabby”) Mirisciotta of McMurray; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased, in addition to his wife and parents, are a sister, Jean Grego, and three brothers, Chester, Louis and James Grego.
Friends are welcome from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Salandra Funeral Service Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, owner/supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-8120, where departing prayers will be recited at 8:50 a.m. Monday, December 23, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, Meadow Lands, with the Rev. Carmen A. D’Amico, as celebrant. Interment will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Peters Township. Full military rites will be accorded by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 191 of Canonsburg and the American Legion Post 902 of Houston. To view or extend condolences please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.