Dec 27, 2013

Former Roscoe police chief, WWII vet

Elijah T. Gauden Jr., 85, of Roscoe, passed away peacefully Thursday, December 26, 2013, in St. Clair Hospital, Mt. Lebanon.

He was born March 16, 1928, in Rosedale, a son of the late Elijah T. and Jessie David Gauden Sr.

While a resident of Roscoe, he was a member of Roscoe United Methodist Church and served as chief of police in Roscoe for 28 years, as well as serving on the Roscoe Street Commission for 30 years. He also served as the last chief of police in Newell, was a deputy sheriff with the Washington County, and worked in the security division of Hamot Hospital in Erie.

In 1974, he proudly graduated third in his class from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. He retired in 1990 from the New Haven Terminal in Connecticut, as an inventory specialist.

Mr. Gauden was a World War II veteran, proudly serving his country in the U.S. Army Air Forces.

Left to cherish the many wonderful memories are five daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and John Palfrey, Bonnie and Bill Hotz, Janet and Wayne Cox, Bridget Gauden and Denise and Jerry Fink; three sons, Samuel, Gary and James Gauden; 17 grandchildren, Robert and Shawn McGarry, Pamela Drylie, Heather and Neil Palfrey, Sarah Anderson, Steven and William Hotz Jr., Kellie Goodman, Kenneth Jacobs, Katie Stankus, Steven, Justin, Michael and Matthew Gauden and Justin and Amey Fink; 12 great-grandchildren, Jeffrey, Michael, Keenan, Caitlyn and Liam McGarry, Courtney and Jeremy Drylie, Nicole, Varian, James, Cohen and Cooper Hotz; three great-great-grandchildren, Oliver, Jonas and Peyton McGarry; three brothers, Ira, Albert and Sidney Gauden; and a son-in-law, Robert McGarry.

Deceased, in addition to his parents, are his wife, Margaret Bell Gauden; daughter Wanda McGarry; granddaughter Carrie Ann; brothers Houston, James and George Gauden; and sisters Anna Marie Gordon and Jessie Watkins.

Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Melenyzer-DuBarr Funeral Homes, 1008 Furlong Avenue, Roscoe, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, December 30, with Pastor Brian Carroll presiding. Interment will follow in Howe Cemetery, Coal Center. American Legion Post 801 will conduct their service at 7 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Condolences may be left at www.melenyzer-dubarr.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Roscoe United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 507, Roscoe, PA 15477-0507.