Jul 11, 2013

Heart and soul of the Sunlight Club

Arthur S. “Spunky” Ferrell Jr., 73, of Bridgeville, formerly of Washington, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2013, in his home, following a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer.

He was born March 1, 1940, in Washington, a son of the late Arthur S. Ferrell Sr. and the late Alleen Thomas Ferrell.

Mr. Ferrell was a 1957 graduate of Washington High School.

He became the first African-American employee of the A&P on Chestnut Street in Washington. He later became employed as a foreman for G.E. Lighting in Bridgeville, from where he retired.

Mr. Ferrell served in the U.S. Army in Korea, before being honorably discharged from service.

He was a longtime member of the St. Paul AME Church of Washington.

Mr. Ferrell was an avid Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers football fan. He loved to travel to Penn State bowl games and was a season ticket holder for the Steelers, often making trips to their away games. He was a true family man who loved spending time with all of his family. He enjoyed golf and reading and spent a great deal of time reading his Bible. He was a true man of God, whose faith was rooted in his relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a true friend to all and he touched and had an impact on the lives of everyone he met.

He was the heart and Soul of the Sunlight Club and the recovery community of Washington. He was a fixture at alcoholics and narcotics anonymous meetings in Washington and the surrounding areas. He loved recovery like no one else and was loved by the recovery community. His life work for many years consisted of helping fellow recovering alcoholics and addicts stay clean and sober, one day at a time. He always had his hand out to say hello to the newcomer and was willing to take the time to listen to people and their problems. He loved recovery and the Sunlight Club and he was so proud of his sobriety, which meant everything to him. One of his famous sayings was, “I’m enjoying another day in paradise.” He loved to always tell people to keep coming back. His faith in Jesus Christ was always strong and became stronger even in his final days on Earth. He left this Earth in the way many recovering alcoholics and addicts dream of – he died a clean and sober man.

On February 25, 1977, he married DeRay “Andi” Finley Ferrell, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Arthur Justin (Brigette) Ferrell of Spring, Texas; a daughter, Kyla Scott Ferrell of Centreville, Va.; a brother, Donald Thomas (Josephine) Ferrell of State College; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Walter and Winifred Burgess; four grandchildren, Siavash, Iman, Jazzmin and Noor Ferrell of Spring; an uncle, Archie Thomas; a niece, Doris Lynn Allen; five nephews, Donald Arthur, Darrin William and Derek Baker Ferrell and Walter and Troy Burgess; cousins Leonard G. Mack, Betty Anne Robinson, Raymond Ronald Thomas, Alan Thomas, David Leonard Wilson, Debra Iott and Dickie Thomas; a goddaughter, China Jemison; and several cousins and friends.

Deceased are nephews William “Poo” and Robert “Yogi” Allen.

Friends will be received from noon to 2 p.m., the time of a home going celebration of life service, Saturday, July 13, in Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Avenues, Washington, S. Timothy Warco, supervisor/director, Susan Falvo Warco, Director, S. Timothy Warco II, director, with the Rev. Arthur E. Doctor Jr. officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sunlight Club in care of Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc., 336 Wilson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301. Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com.

1918-2013

Rita H. Hirschfeld, 95, passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Albuquerque, N.M.

She was born March 8, 1918, near Bulger, and graduated from McDonald High School.

Mrs. Hirschfeld was employed in the beauty salon at Joseph Horne Co. in Pittsburgh for more than 35 years.

She was active with Bavington Grange, Fort Vance Historical Society, Midway Senior Citizens Center and Raccoon Presbyterian Church for many years before moving to Socorro, N.M., in 1997.

Deceased are her husband H. Hirschfeld; two sisters, Cecelia Bordy and Regina Smith; and brother Gerard Bordy.

Surviving are daughter Deidre Hirschfeld and husband Kenneth; three grandchildren, Arvonn and wife Dorothy, Kira and Marel; and great-granddaughter Eleanor.

A memorial service will be held at Raccoon Presbyterian Church, Bulger, at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her memory to Raccoon Presbyterian Church, 858 Candor Road, Bulger, PA 15019 or Socorro Public Library, 401 Park St., Socorro, NM 87801.

Enjoyed flower gardening & knitting

Marjorie Marie Hixon, 85, passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Townview Health & Rehabilitation Center, Canonsburg, following an extended illness.

She was born January 28, 1928, in Moundsville, Marshall County, W.Va., a daughter of the late Lawrence and Alta Vensel Lerch.

Mrs. Hixon was a homemaker who enjoyed flower gardening, knitting and loved her animals.

She lived most of her life in Canonsburg and was a member of First United Methodist Church in Houston.

On July 12, 1948, she married Robert C. Hixon, who passed away August 11, 1989.

Surviving are two sons, Robert “Scott” (Mary) Hixon and Bruce H. (Christine) Hixon, both of Canonsburg; daughter Linda Martin of Canonsburg; seven grandchildren, Adrienne Pettit, Summer Volker (Josh), Elise Martin (Louis Simpson), Natalie and Allison Hixon, Emily Hixon (fiancée, Scott Imblum) and Matthew Hixon; and several nieces and nephews. She was the last of her immediate family.

Deceased, in addition to her husband and parents, are two brothers, Robert and Walter Lerch.

Friends are welcome from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday in Salandra Funeral Service Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, owner/supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-8120, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13, with Pastor Max Miller officiating. Private interment will follow in Chartiers Hill Cemetery, North Strabane Township.

To view or extend condolences, please visit www.salandrafunerals.com.

U.S. Army veteran

Archie Dale Marple, 88, of Glen Dale, W.Va., passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling, W.Va.

He was born February 3, 1925, in McMechen, W.Va., a son of the late Harold F. Marple Sr. and Mabel Haberfield Marple.

Mr. Marple was a retired pipefitter for H.E. Neumann Co. and plumber for Culley Plumbing and Heating Co. He was a member of First Church Of God, McMechen, and was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the American Legion Post 46 of Benwood, W.Va., and a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 83.

In addition to his parents, deceased are his wife, Nancy Jane Brinkman Marple in 1998; brother Harold F. “Fritz” Marple Jr; and two sisters, Elnora Admire and Dorothy Petersen.

Surviving are daughter Karen Conway and husband Edward of Claysville; two granddaughters, Kellie Ryburn of Prosperity and Stacey Silvis of Hopewell Township; great-grandchild Madison Ryburn; niece Carol (Dr. Keith) Kaufman of Akron, Ohio; and special friend Olga Skavarka of Wheeling.

Friends will be received from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday in Kepner Funeral Home, 3545 Jacob Street, South Wheeling, 304-232-4060, where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 13, with Dr. Mitchel Johnston officiating. Interment in Greenwood Cemetery, Wheeling. Moundsville Honor Guard will conduct military graveside service.

November 17, 1937 – July 10, 2013

Myra Kelley Patterson, 75, of Washington, passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Greensburg.

Born November 17, 1937, in Washington, she was a daughter of the late Merle B. and Edythe I. Kelley.

In 1959, she married her high school sweetheart, R. David “Dave” Patterson, who died in June 2012.

A former art teacher in the Trinity Area and McGuffey school districts, she continued to use her creative and artistic gifts as a floral designer at the Grand Victorian in Washington, as well as several other flower shops in Florida, where she and her husband lived seasonally after her 1993 retirement. Blessed with an abundance of talents and interests, she spent her retired years painting, sewing and creating stained glass works, along with traveling across the country with her husband, visiting 48 of the 50 states together. Spending most winters in Florida and summers in Grafton, W.Va., she enjoyed many happy memories with her husband, children and grandchildren camping and boating at Tygart Lake, W.Va.

Until recent days, her battle with cancer didn’t stop her from enjoying life, seeing the positive and spending time with the many wonderful family and friends God put into her life.

Surviving are three children, Lisa Ward (Todd) of Raleigh, N.C., Joyce Claney (Jeff) of Greensburg and Jay Patterson (Amy) of Moon; brother David M. Kelley (Dayle) of Raleigh; six grandchildren, David Ward, Matthew, Christopher and Eric Claney, and Nicholas and Cailynn Patterson; sister-in-law Dorothy (William) Hodgkiss; as well as several nephews.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at noon Friday, July 19, in North Buffalo Presbyterian Church, Washington, with Pastor Gary Gibson officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the WVU Foundation (please specify “Comfort Fund” in memo) MBR Cancer Center, Office of Philanthropy, P.O. Box 9300, Morgantown, WV 26506, or online to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., Washington, is handling arrangements. Additional information and guest book are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.

Enjoyed gardening and canning

James Edward “Sonny” Roupe Sr., 87, of Washington, died Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Donnell House, Washington.

He was born September 27, 1925, in Washington, a son of Edward M. Roupe and Geneieve Cole Roupe.

Mr. Roupe served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947 as a radio operator.

He was employed at Bowman Building Products in Heidelberg for 40 years as a machine operator.

Mr. Roupe was a member of Taylorstown American Legion and enjoyed gardening, canning and watching Pittsburgh sports on television.

He was known for his chili.

On July 5, 1946, he married Frances L. Phillips, who died April 19, 1990.

Surviving are three sons, James “Ed” (Karen) Roupe Jr. of Washington, Frank E. (Carol) Roupe of Washington, Scott A. Roupe of Claysville; daughter Karen L. Musolino of Claysville; two sisters, Linda Roupe of Washington, Shirley Lycett of Buckhannon, W.Va.; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and brother-in-law Ray Noble.

Deceased are son John R. Roupe and sister Virginia Noble.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in William G. Neal Funeral Home Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, July 15, in North Buffalo Cemetery, Washington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Donnell House, c/o Washington Health Systems Hospice Care, 155 Wilson Ave, Washington, PA 15301. Military rites will be accorded graveside by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175.

Additional information and guest book are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.

Kathryn M. Stefka, 89, of Avella, died Thursday, July 11, 2013.

Arrangements are incomplete and are in the care of Taucher Funeral Home, Burgettstown.

A complete obituary will be announced in a later edition.