Paul W. Kosey Sr.
Paul W. Kosey Sr., 88, of Washington, passed away Friday, November 12, 2021, in Canonsburg General Hospital as a result of complications from COVID-19. He was born September 18, 1933, in the city of Washington, a son of the late Paul S. and Helen E. Amon Kosey.
Mr. Kosey was a 1951 graduate of Washington High School. He joined the Washington Police Department in September of 1959, where he worked as a patrolman until February of 1968. From 1968 until 1976, Mr. Kosey worked as juvenile officer before being appointed to the position of chief of police. He held this position up until his retirement in 1981. Mr. Kosey then went to work for Cooper Power (McGraw Edison) in the security department until the time of the plant’s closing.
He served in the United States Army 66th Tank Battalion from September of 1954 until August of 1956. Mr. Kosey spent 15 months in Germany before being honorably discharged.
He loved to hunt and fish and spending time in Elk County and the Halton area, where he had his mountain home.
Mr. Kosey was a member of the American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post #175 and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #95 of Washington. He was also a member of the Heath Sportsman Club in Siegel.
Mr. Kosey served on a number of committees in the Washington and Pennsylvania levels. These included the Washington Y.M.C.A., the Bradford House, the Western Pennsylvania Police Chief Association, the Pennsylvania Police Chief Association, the Citizens Advisor Recreation Council, the Inter Government Radio Committee and Colt and American Legion Baseball.
In 1979, he was awarded the Chief of Police Community Relation Award sponsored by the State American Legion. Mr. Kosey was a big Washington High School supporter and a huge Prexie football fan. He was one of the first youth football organizers starting the 1st and 5th Football Program, which was one of the first teams in the Brownson House Football Program. Mr. Kosey along with former Mayor Charles Mayer formed a committee to place lights on the many city playgrounds. He was an umpire for the first Pony League game played in the Washington league.
One of the things that Mr. Kosey was most proud of was the project that he accomplished alongside former Mayor Mike Johns and former Mayor Lou Bell of Canonsburg, which established the 911 radio system in Washington County.
His first wife, Mary Ann Iskey Kosey, died in 1980.
Surviving are his second wife, Virginia “Rose” Ackley Kosey of Washington, whom he married May 18, 1985; a son, Paul W. Kosey Jr. of Washington; a brother, Chuck (Barbara) Kosey of Reno, Nev. and a former 80-year resident of Washington; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; four stepchildren, Bill, James, Joe and Debbie; a son-in-law, Rick Burnfield of Florida; and a sister-in-law, Trudy Kosey of Washington. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
In addition to his parents and first wife, Mr. Kosey was preceded in death by a daughter, Debbie L. Kosey Burnfield; a grandson, Nathan Burnfield, who was killed in the line of duty while working for the South Strabane Township Police Department in 2008; and a brother, Ronald E. Kosey.
Friends will be received from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, November 19, in the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home, Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Avenues, Washington, S. Timothy Warco, supervisor / director, Holly Renay Warco, director, S. Timothy Warco II, director, Park N. Crosier, director. The F.O.P. Lodge #95 of Washington will conduct a service at 6 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. A Christian funeral service will follow directly after the F.O.P. service in the funeral home. Burial will be private. The wearing of facial covering is strongly encouraged inside the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Washington High School Athletic Fund.
Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com.