Oct 25, 2013

WWII veteran, retired miner enjoyed fishing

George R. “Bob” Gideon, 88, of Carmichaels, died Friday, October 25, 2013, in Rolling Meadows Nursing Care, Waynesburg.

Mr. Gideon was born October 27, 1924, in Greene County, a son of the late William Clarence and Mary Ellen Patterson Gideon.

On June 9, 1951, Mr. Gideon married Melva Miller, who survives.

Also surviving are three children, Bob Gideon (Karen) and Debbie Ritchey (Robert), both of Carmichaels, and Kevin Gideon (Jackie) of Kansas City, Mo.; six grandchildren, Ryan Gideon, Renee Gideon, Blair Ritchey (Emily), Jennifer Madlock (Brian), Stacy Ray (MacKelly) and Kelley Mahle (Jeffrey); great-grandchildren Haley and Caleb Ritchey, Brianna and Brody Madlock, Ethan and Molly Ray and Logan and Emma Mahle; a brother, Al Gideon (Dolly) of Carmichaels; and a sister, Betty Anne Fox.

Mr. Gideon served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a signalman.

He was a retired miner from Nemacolin Mine and a member of United Mine Workers of America. He was also a skilled electrician.

Mr. Gideon was a member of Greene Valley Presbyterian Church in Carmichaels. He was also a member of American Legion Post 400 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3491.

Mr. Gideon enjoyed fishing, hunting and listening to music with his family and friends.

Deceased, in addition to his parents, are two brothers, John and William Gideon, and a sister, Ruth Jean Crane.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Lesako Funeral Home Inc., 204 Dowlin Avenue, Carmichaels, 724-966-5100, Paul M. Lesako, funeral director/supervisor, and 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, October 28. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Keith Larson officiating. Interment will follow in Laurel Point Cemetery, Carmichaels, with full military rites accorded by American Legion Post 400 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3491. Obituary is available at www.lesakofuneralhomeinc.com.

St. Mary’s member enjoyed taking care of family

Irmgard Johanna Hofrichter, 85, of Cecil, died quietly in her home, surrounded by family Friday, October 25, 2013.

She was born September 24, 1928, in Babenhausen, Hesson, Germany, a daughter of the late Johann August and Katherine Gertrude Geissler Muller. She moved to America in June 1956.

Mrs. Hofrichter was a member of St. Mary’s Parish and its choir. She enjoyed reading and playing the accordion. She was a fabulous cook and, more than anything, she enjoyed taking care of her family.

In Germany, she was a home economics teacher and became a homemaker when she moved to the United States.

Surviving are her husband, John C. “Jack” Hofrichter of Cecil; six sons, Gunter Hofrichter (Karen Cummings) of Concord, John T. (Susan) Hofrichter of Canonsburg and Bill (Mary) Hofrichter, James Hofrichter, Eric Hofrichter and Peter (Lisa) Hofrichter, and a daughter, Leslie (Albert) Palmer, all of Cecil; 13 grandchildren, Katherine, Anna, John M., Rebecca, William, Suzanne, Allison, Courtney, Zachary, Jack, Luke, Angelina and Arabella; and a sister, Anni Rothermel of Babenhausen.

Deceased, in addition to her parents, are a sister, Louise.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Coleman-Taylor Funeral Services, 3378 Millers Run Road, (Route 50) Cecil, where prayers of transfer will be said at 9:30 a.m. Monday, October 28, followed by a Christian funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, Cecil, with Father Stan Gregorek officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Cecil.

U.S. Army veteran was farmer, driver

Thomas W. Jones, 89, of Waynesburg, formerly of Spraggs, died at 11:50 a.m. Thursday, October 24, 2013, in Evergreen Personal Care Home, Waynesburg.

He was born Friday, August 29, 1924, in Terra Alta, W.Va., a son of the late Guy Millard Jones and Elizabeth Hughes Jones. Until he moved to Waynesburg in May 2013, he lived on the farm on which he was raised in Spraggs.

Mr. Jones was a member of Spraggs United Methodist Church.

He attended Zimmerman School in Spraggs until eighth grade. At that time, he decided to work on the family farm instead of going to high school. When he was 16 years old, he would plow fields all day with his horse-drawn plow, quit about 5 p.m. and go with Woodrow Rohanna to Mannington, W.Va., haul mine posts back to Spraggs and return home about 10:30 p.m.

Mr. Jones met his future wife, Irene Strawn, on Main Street in Waynesburg on Halloween night. This later led to steady dating until he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. There were 45 men from this area that left on the same day and were together until being discharged. He spent the whole two years in Saipan. He almost went to Japan but, oddly enough, son Tommy was in Okinawa 21 years later and grandson Randy 45 years later.

Mr. Jones worked many jobs. He was a school bus driver for 13 years, worked for Kikta’s Furniture Store in Waynesburg for seven years and was a dairyman for 25 years. He then switched to beef cattle and retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation after 28 years as a truck driver. He often said the worst part about his last job was being called out in the middle of a snowy night and people expecting their roads to be plowed by daylight. He was responsible for 76 miles of road.

He had several hobbies, including watching “General Hospital” if Mrs. Jones would remember to tape it and building beautiful pieces of furniture. He enjoyed playing dartball with the church and loved to go square dancing with his wife. Mr. Jones often would say that he would rather have six good friends than a million dollars.

While in the service, he asked his stepmother to take his future wife to get her engagement ring and, on June 7, 1945, they got married.

In addition to his wife, surviving are two sons and their wives, Thomas W.(Renee) Jones of Spraggs and Guy R. (Reta) Jones of Waynesburg; five grandchildren, Randy Jones, Candy Reiner, Nicole Shriver, Chris Jones, who is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, and Amanda Jones; and four great-grandchildren, T.J. Jones, Rylee Jones, Bryan Shriver and Kylia Shriver.

Deceased are two brothers, Guy M. Jones, who died in infancy, and William Franklin Jones.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Milliken and Throckmorton Funeral Home Inc., Daryl L. Throckmorton, owner/director, 197 North Maiden Street, Waynesburg, where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, October 28, with the Rev. Kathy Higgins officiating. Burial will be in Greene County Memorial Park, Morgan Township. Graveside military honors will be accorded by James Farrell American Legion Post 330 of Waynesburg and representatives of the U.S. Army. Information is available at www.milliken-throckmortonfh.com.

Member of St. Damien of Molokai Parish

Christine Misanik, 40, of Washington, formerly of New Eagle, died Wednesday, October 23, 2013, in Washington Hospital.

Born January 10, 1973, in Monongahela, she was a daughter of Joseph Misanik and Jeanie Dowalo Misanik of New Eagle.

After graduating in 1991 from Ringgold High School, she attended Median School of Health in Pittsburgh.

She was a member of St. Damien of Molokai Parish, Transfiguration Church, in Monongahela.

In addition to her parents, surviving are a brother, Joseph G. Misanik; two sisters, Elizabeth and husband Rick Sichi and Holly and husband Conrad Buchak, both of New Eagle; a nephew, Sebastian Buchak; a niece, Sasha Misanik; and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Marshall Marra Funeral Home, 216 Chess Street, Monongahela, 724-258-6767, marshallmarrafuneralhome.com. A prayer service will begin in the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Monday, October 28, in St. Damien of Molokai Parish, Transfiguration Church, with Father William Terza as celebrant.

Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Carroll Township.

St. Patrick schoolteacher enjoyed reading

Stephanie Eileen Kimenski Mozina, 60, of Burgettstown, formerly of Marianna, died unexpectedly Friday, October 25, 2013, in her home.

She was born June 29, 1953, in Marianna, a daughter of the late John and Betty Roule Kimenski.

Mrs. Mozina was a third-grade teacher at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Canonsburg at the time of her death and a former teacher at St. Hilary’s Catholic School in Washington.

She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Burgettstown.

Mrs. Mozina enjoyed reading, vacationing and spending time with family and friends. Making a difference in the lives of children by teaching was one of the most important things to her.

On September 24, 2005, she married Stanley Mozina, who survives.

Also surviving are her siblings, Mary Marlyn Davis of Georgia, Janice and Denise Kimenski, both of Marianna, David (Lisa) Kimenski of Washington, Danny Kimenski of New York, Marcya Truesdell of Washington and Alexis Shaw of Washington; niece Wendy Ann Petka and children Owen and Miranda; and nephew David Petka.

Friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Taucher Funeral Home, 23 Erie Mine Road, Burgettstown. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, October 28, in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Burgettstown, with the Rev. Robert Connolly, the Rev. Richard J. Jones and the Rev. George Moneck, pastor, as concelebrants. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family suggests memorial donations be made to St. Patrick School ANGEL FUND, 200 Murdock Street, Canonsburg, PA 15317.

For further information or to leave a condolence, please visit www.taucherfuneralhome.com.

Rose Marie Novak died Friday, October 25, 2013.

Arrangements are entrusted to Coleman-Taylor Funeral Services, Cecil.

A complete obituary will appear in a later edition.

Avid fisherman was inventor, patent holder

Alvan Donnan Spiegel, 65, of Washington, died Friday, October 25, 2013, in Washington County Health Center, Chartiers Township.

He was born December 7, 1947, in Washington, a son of the late John E. Jr. and Frances Donnan Spiegel.

Mr. Spiegel was a 1966 graduate of East Washington High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

He worked as a registered plumber and retired in 2005 from the State Correctional Institute-Greene County, where he worked as an instructor and mentor.

Mr. Spiegel was an inventor of many things, as well as a patent holder, avid fisherman, golfer, pool and bridge player. He was loved for his thoughtful spirit and great sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by many and will be remembered for the life lessons he instilled in everyone who knew him.

On August 8, 1992, he married Shauna L. Eberts, who survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Erin Ward Spiegel, Megan Donnan (Spencer) Summers and Leah W. Spiegel, all of Valdese, N.C.; two sons, Matthew W. (Chrissy) Eberts of Jefferson Hills and Judson W. (Jessica) Eberts of Bridgeville; three brothers, Charles W. (Jeanne Kandra) Spiegel of Hershey, William G. (Jeanne) Spiegel and Kirk W. (Jeanne) Spiegel, both of Washington; two sisters, Adah C. Spiegel of Durham, N.C., and Frances D. (John “Sonny”) Sauer of Leland, N.C.; four grandchildren, Charles W. McCarthy IV of Pittsburgh and Kathryn, Madelyn and Jocelyn Eberts, all of Jefferson Hills; and many nieces and nephews.

Deceased is a brother, John Elwyn Spiegel III.

Friends will be received from noon to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Home, 420 Locust Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday, October 27. All other services will be private. Memorial contributions may be directed to Viaquest Hospice at www.viaquesthospice.com. Condolences may be expressed and photos uploaded to www.familyremembers.com. Piatt and Barnhill Funeral Directors Inc., Charles R. Piatt, owner/supervisor, and Lawrence K. Donovan, funeral director.