All Obituaries

Peggy Jean Tisdale, age 90, of Middlesex Twp., Valencia, passed away on Thursday afternoon, May 6, 2021 at her home. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on August 29, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Effa Farnham Wishart. She was a graduate of Hempstead High School in Hepstead, N.Y., where she was the head majorette.  She attended Simmons University, SUNY-Oneonta and finally Carnegie Tech. She was a fashion seamstress and often sewed clothes for her family.  She had danced...

Timothy C. Yoakum, age 59, of Butler, passed away in the comfort of his home on Sunday afternoon, April 18, 2021. Born in Natrona Heights, PA on May 22, 1961, he was the son of Etha “Cookie” Payne Wolfe and the late David C. Yoakum. Tim had been an electrician by trade. He loved hunting and fishing, spending time with family and friends and listening to the Grateful Dead.  Tim was the kind of person who would give you the tie-dyed shirt off his back. Surviving are his...

W. Donald Crummy, 90, of Glade Mills, Middlesex Township, Butler County, died Saturday night, April 10, 2021 at his home. Born in Glade Mills, April 25, 1930, he was a son of the late Lyle J. Crummy and M. Elizabeth Truver Crummy. He was a 1948 graduate of Mars High School. In 1952 Don graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He returned to the family farm and operated the poultry business. In the mid 1960’s, he became the Credit Director for the...

David Douds, age 44, formerly of Middlesex Twp., Valencia, died suddenly on April 5, 2021.  A graduate of Mars Area High School he then continued his education at Slippery Rock University.  Dave lived in Rochester, NY for the past 8 years. Dave is proceeded in death by his biological mother, Mary E. Caffardo. Dave leaves his biological father Joseph (Cynthia) Caffardo, biological sisters Melissa (Michael) Douds Washington, Samantha (Gary) Caffardo-Wilhelm, biological...

Katherine Ramella, age 98, of Mars, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at the Vincentian Home. Born in Palmetto, FL on December 5, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Alma and E.B Powell. Katherine worked as a nurse for over 30 years. She had been a member of LifePointe Alliance Church. Surviving are her four children, Pamela Bowen of Cinnaminson, NJ, Ernest (Sarah) Ramella of Mars, Gary (Suzanne) Ramella of Ruskin, FL, and Stephen (Sue) Ramella of Puyallup, WA. She was...

Patricia B. Clinton, age 84, of Mars, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family. Born in Tarentum, PA on February 21, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Loretta Steck Georgic. Pat retired from Northwest Savings Bank in 1998, where she had been the Branch Manager at the Freeport location. She attended LifePointe Alliance Church in Mars. She enjoyed volunteering at the election polls as the Majority Inspector. She enjoyed Card Club activities with her longtime...

Richard E. “Dick” Saul, age 91, of Mars, passed away on Friday morning, March 26, 2021 in the comfort of his home. Born in Evans City, PA on Febrtuary 5, 1930, he was the son of the late William J. and Anna Laura Herr Saul. Dick had been an engineer for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh. He had served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and was a member of Mars V.F.W. Post 7505.  He was also a Mason. Surviving are his wife, Marcella “Marcy”...

Patricia M. Leavelle, age 81, passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Friday, March 26, 2021 in Mars, PA. Born in Cleveland, OH on August 11, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Benedict and Gladys Milewski Brodzinski. Surviving are her four children, Gale (Michael) Jasko of Clayton, NC, Cindy (Cliff) Keck of Mars, PA, Don (Cindy Mansfield) Leavelle of Parma, OH, and Danny (Karelyn) Leavelle of Ballston Lake, NY; her siblings, Ron (Carolyn) Brodzinski of New...

Verna M. Bauer, age 96, of Middlesex Twp., formerly of Millvale, passed away on Wednesday morning, March 24, 2021 at Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on February 12, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Peter and Teresa Werwie Mihlfried. A homemaker, Verna had also worked as a Secretary for PPG. She was a member of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Millvale. Mother of Janet Scherer (Dale W.) of Middlesex Twp., grandmother of Lindsay Sutter (Zak)...

Esther N. Dreveniak, age 61, of Mars, passed away on Wednesday, March 24, 2021in her home after battling lung cancer. Born in Brussels, Belgium on April 5, 1959, she was the daughter of the late Jesse and Ruth Patterson King. Surviving are her husband, Thomas Dreveniak, who she married on October 9, 1982; a daughter, Rachel (Kevin) Roger of Cranberry; her sons, Thomas Dreveniak, Jr. and John Dreveniak, both of Greensburg; and grandchildren, Emma, David, and Amorit. Also survived by three...

Dennis M. Moyles, age 75, of Cranberry Twp. passed away on Monday, March 22, 2021 in his home. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on December 2, 1945, he was the son of the late Leonard and Ruby Vukovich Moyles. He was raised in Lawrenceville, PA and was a graduate of Peabody High School (class of 1963). He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University (class of 1970) and worked as a software engineer until his retirement. In his free time he loved spending time with his children and grandson and...

Melvin L. Plunkard, Jr., age 62, of Mars, passed away on Sunday evening, March 21, 2021 at his home. Born in Butler, PA on July 28, 1958, he was the son of the late Melvin and Genevieve Draper Plunkard, Sr. Melvin had worked as a tree cutter, as a laborer for Miller Screen and Design and then worked for the Mars Beer Distributor. He enjoyed playing horseshoes and hosting his annual picnic. Surviving are three sisters, Debra Sue Betts of Sarver, Linda Plunkard of Evans City and Beatrice...

Henry F. (Fredrick) Totzke, age 83, of Mars, formerly of McKeesport, passed away on Tuesday morning, March 16, 2021 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Born in North Braddock, PA on October 11, 1937, he was the son of the late Charles and Anna Sohn Totzke. He was raised in North Braddock and graduated from Scott High School. He resided in McKeesport from 1966-2013 and then resided with his son’s family in Mars since 2013. He was of the Lutheran Faith and had served in the...

James W. “Jim” Batchen, age 70, of Mars, formerly of Knoxville, TN and Buffalo, N.Y., passed away on Tuesday evening, March 9, 2021 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on June 16, 1950, he was the son of the late James W. and Sophia Stackiewicz Batchen. Jim was a Regional Sales Manager for Graphic Controls in Buffalo, N.Y. He was a member of St. Kilian Church in Cranberry Twp. and the Knights of Columbus there. He also belonged to the Franklin...

Dale A. Bertagna, age 69, of San Francisco, formerly of Koppel, PA passed away on Friday, March 5, 2021 in San Francisco.   Born in Beaver Falls, PA on May 29, 1951, he was the son of the late Delfo and Lillian Ferrigno Bertagna. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Surviving are his sister, Susan Ott of Mars, a niece, Laura (Justin) Abbott of Pittsburgh, two nephews, Michael (Hannah) Heltman of Mars, Benjamin (Cheyenne) Heltman of Renfrew, and his beloved...

Mary Ellen Borland, age 79, of Mars, formerly of Gibsonia, passed away on Tuesday morning, March 2, 2021 at Vincentian Home in McCandless Twp. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on June 17, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Charles and Lucille Margaret Reisch Borland. Mary Ellen had worked as a nurse and had served as a nurse in the United States Navy. Mother of Paul Dickey and the late Earl Scott Dickey, sister of Jan Hutchison, and Keith and David Borland. Also two grandsons. Preceded...

Algernon B. D. “Gernie” Parker, Jr. It is with personal sadness but spiritual joy that we announce the death of Algernon Bell Dickson Parker, Jr., age 92. He died as he wished, in his home in Muddy Creek Township in Butler County in the loving presence of his family on Thursday, February 18, 2021.  Affectionately known as “Gernie”, Mr. Parker was previously from Zelienople, Dallas, TX and his home town of Avalon. He was a veteran of the United States Army,...

William N. Volk, age 90, of Mars, passed away on Tuesday morning, February 16, 2021 at Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on November 22, 1930, he was the son of the late Andrew and Hettie Garlock Volk. Bill had been a truck driver for William J. Brown Trucking. He also drove for Butler Motor Transit. He had served in the United States Army Air Corp during the Korean War. He was a member of LifePointe Alliance Church in Mars. Surviving are four grandchildren,...

June Eyman Sowers, age 91, of Saxonburg, passed away on Monday evening, February 15, 2021 at UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Born in Etna, PA on June 24, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Francis W. and Pauline Christ Eyman. June had worked as a Realtor at West Realty and was a homemaker. She was active in Through The Bible (TTB.org). Mother of Gwen Jackson of Saxonburg, Sally (Jim) Moreno of Three Bridges, N.J., Faith Nussdorfer (Bernd) of Chardon, Ohio, Eric Sowers...

Gretchen V. Cavitt, age 79, of Bradfordwoods, passed away on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at Grace Manor at North Park. Born in Natrona Heights on March 5, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Christopher and Dorothy Donahue Affrica. Gretchen was an administrative assistant to the President of Communication Division at Westinghouse in Pittsburgh. Survived by her daughter, Kristin (Larry) Cohen of McCandless Twp., her daughter-in-law, Kimberly Cavitt of Pine Twp.; and her grandchildren,...