All Obituaries

James G. Ward, age 80, of Mars, formerly of Marshall Twp., passed away on Sunday morning, June 28, 2020, in the comfort of his home. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on March 5, 1940, he was the son of the late Francis and Margaret Wittmer Ward. Jim was a Senior Communications Installer and System Technician for Western Electric, et.al. He was a Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of Mars V.F.W. Post 7505 and the Wexford American Legion Post 0161. He also belonged to St. John Lutheran...

Donald J. Pritchard, age 66, of Mars, passed away on Sunday, June 28, 2020 at his home. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on April 10, 1954, he was the son of the late Donald and Sophia Ann Muzina Pritchard. Don worked as a heavy equipment operator and contractor for various companies over the years. He absolutely loved Harley Davidsons, but there was nothing he loved more than his granddaughters. Surviving are his daughters, Dana Pritchard and Lori Wilcox; his granddaughters, Lexi and Sloan;...

Elizabeth E. Balucha, age 94, of Mars, formerly of Tarentum, passed away on Sunday morning, June 28, 2020 at Good Samaritan Hospice in Marshall Twp. Born on March 18, 1926 in Tarentum, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Germaine Gilboux Brosteaux. A homemaker, Elizabeth was a member of St. Kilian Church in Cranberry Twp. She was a member of the American Bridge Association and was a Master Bridge Player and was an avid golfer. Surviving are her daughters, Susan Tutchko (Thomas)...

Margaret A. “Peggy” Lubbert, age 94, of Middlesex Twp., Valencia, passed away on Thursday morning, June 25, 2020 at St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on May 12, 1926, she was the daughter of the late James and Nellie Bly Slevin. Margaret was an avid Pirates fan and even kept score along with the game while watching at home as her father had taught her.   Margaret loved to sing.  When she was in her 20s she sang and traveled with an...

Harley George Walter, age 76, of Sarver, passed away on Sunday morning, June 21, 2020 at Allegheny General Hospital. Born in Pittsburgh on March 27, 1944, he was the son of the late Harley C. and Virginia Stockhausen Walter. Harley worked as a graphic designer and salesman for over 30 years. He is survived by his children, Bradley Walter and Megan Walter, both of Florida; a brother, Edward (Rebecca) Walter of Buffalo Twp., with whom he made his home, a sister, Gail Walter in Florida and...

Velvet Grace Hutcherson, of Mars, PA, formerly of Washington D.C., died Sunday June 21, 2020. Velvet was born in Detroit, MI in 1936. She is survived by her four children, Anastasia Lawrence of Texas, Kalv’a (Ray) Mace of Maryland, Anita Hutcherson of Washington D.C. and Chaundo (Nicole) Hutcherson of Pittsburgh. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Lanita Harvey, Christena Bostic, Michaelangelo Bostic, Eric Wagoner, Chyna, London, Dalinda and Sean Hutcherson, as well as four...

Eleanor Louise Hutchison Black, of Mars, PA, formerly of Fairmont, W.VA., died on Monday morning, June 15, 2020. The child of William and Bertha Blick Hutchison, she was born in Webster, PA on August 13, 1931.  She graduated from Donora High School in 1949. She and the Rev. L. Alex Black were married on August 24, 1957. This August they were about to celebrate their sixty-third wedding anniversary. Besides her husband, she is survived by two children, Susan of Gibsonia, PA and...

Robert K. Mincer, age 57, of Callery, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday evening, June 13, 2020 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in Cranberry Twp. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on April 19, 1963, he was the son of Barbara Davidson Gray and the late G. Keith Mincer. Bob was the Assistant Terminal Manager for Black Horse Carriers in Saxonburg and was a member of the Callery Volunteer Fire Company.  He also had worked with Quality E.M.S. He attended Old Union Presbyterian Church. Surviving are...

Esther H. Jones, age 88, of Mars, passed away on Friday evening, June 12, 2020 at Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford. Born in West View, PA on April 28, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Samuel and Amelia Moll Hollenberger. Esther had worked for Bell Telephone in the operator and engineering departments and later was the Adams Twp. Tax Collector for 16 years and was a school bus driver for the Mars School District. She had been the treasurer for the Mars Historical Society, was a...

Donald Trapp, age 87, of Valencia, Middlesex Twp., passed away on Thursday evening, June 11, 2020 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Born in Costa Mesa, CA on February 10, 1933, he was the son of the late Earl and Josephine Weingart Trapp. Don was a heavy equipment mechanic for Union Local #66. He attended the Thorn Creek United Methodist Church in Butler and drove for South Butler Community Meals on Wheels. An Army Veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of Richland...

Barbara Y. Seitz, age 85, of Valencia, passed away on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at Concordia at Rebecca Residence in Allison Park. Born in Mining Town #2, now Grove City, on June 29, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Violet Hedglin Craft. Barbara had been a nurse at the Grove City Community Hospital.  She later was a lecturer for Weight Watchers for many years. She had raised and showed Tennessee Walking Horses and was a member of the Tennessee Walker Association. An...

June N. Spithaler, age 98, of Adams Twp., Valencia, passed away on Monday morning, June 8, 2020 at Concordia of Cabot. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on November 25, 1921, she was the daughter of the late James and Florence Loeffler Nagel. June was a member of Mars Alliance Church, now Lifepointe Alliance Church, where she had been the Sunday School Treasurer and the Missionary Treasurer for over 25 years. Most important in her life was the time she spent with her beloved family and her...

Grace K. Kratz, age 95, of Mars,  passed away on Monday morning, June 8, 2020 at St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars. Born in Millvale, PA on May 31, 1925, she was the daughter of the late J. Oscar and Hilda Schiefelbein Koenig. Grace had worked at Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh and then was the bookkeeper for Mars Auto Parts that she and her husband had owned. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Mars and the Jephthah Chapter #73 of the Order of the Eastern Star.  She...

Kristy (Pietras) Campbell, age 41, of Butler, formerly of Erie, passed away on June 6, 2020. She was born in Erie, PA on June 30, 1978. She attended Villa Maria Academy for two years and finished high school at Seneca Valley High School. Kristy loved swimming, music, hiking, and the beach. She had always dreamed of living in the Caribbean. She is the daughter of Kenneth Pietras (Beverly) in Arizona, and Janelle Giacobello Fenoglietto (David) of Mars, PA. Also survived by her daughter,...

Lois Jean Bartley, age 84, of Valencia, passed away on Monday evening, June 1, 2020 at Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople. Born in Valencia, PA on September 19, 1935, she was the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Witkowski Quinn. Jean had been a secretary for the Mars School District for 25 years. She had been a member and former Elder of the Valencia Presbyterian Church and currently belonged to the Valencia United Methodist Church.  She also belonged to the...

Ronald L. Cahall, age 78, of Evans City, formerly of Callery, passed away on Wednesday evening, May 20, 2020 in the comfort of his home. Born in Evans City, PA on June 20, 1941, he was the son of the late Robert M. and Winifred E. Halabaugh Cahall. Ron was an electrical worker for I.B.E.W. Union Local #1319 and enjoyed building construction. He had served in the United States Army during Peacetime. Ron was a member of A.A. for 39 years, enjoyed the outdoors, panning for gold, helping...

Olga Marie Haller, age 96, of Mars, passed away on Sunday morning, May 17, 2020 at Lowery Place in Butler. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on May 1, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Mary Louise Benedik Kucher. Olga and her late husband, Edward were the owners of Edward A. Haller & Company, a wholesale pet merchandiser, of Evans City. Surviving are her son, William Haller (Sandra) of East Brady, two daughters, Carole Ann Steiner (James) of Altoona and Margaret Haller Stewart...

Thomas J. Tarasovich, age 82, of Mars, formerly of Baldwin, passed away on Sunday morning, May 10, 2020 at his home. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on October 22, 1937, he was the son of the late John and Ann Kolhavits Tarasovich. He had served four years in the United States Coast Guard. Tom had been a clerk for IBM and the retired as a clerk for the United States Post Office. Surviving are his wife, Patricia A. Jerreti Tarasovich, who he married on July 17, 1960, a son, Thomas Tarasovich, Jr....

Lois E. Lager, age 93, formerly of Valencia, passed away on Saturday evening, May 9, 2020 at St. John Specialty Care Center in Mars. Born in Pine Twp., Allegheny County, PA on December 16, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Roswell and Elwina Bennett Frisbee. Lois had worked for 10 years as a general cashier for the Monroeville Radison and then worked as an accountant at Mars Bank, before retiring in 1989. She was a member of the Valencia Presbyterian Church. Surviving are two...

Jack Ronald Reiber, age 75, of the Woodlands in Valencia, formerly of Uniontown, passed away on Tuesday morning, May 5, 2020 in the comfort of his home with his wife at his side. Born in Somerset, PA on October 8, 1944, he was the son of the late Jack Berkey and Margaret Etelka Lambert Reiber. He had served as an Airman First Class in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Jack was a Caseworker for the Department of Public Welfare in Uniontown. He belonged to Crossway...