Obituaries
Keibler, Rev. Conway Edward
4/27/2013The Rev. Conway Keibler, 85, of Brownsville, peacefully passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2013. He was the beloved husband of Betty (Bumgarner) for 58 years; loving father of Charles Calvin (Tracy), and Robin Ann (Joe) Ashley; caring grandfather of Nicholas (Heather), Michael, Julia, and Charles Giacobbe, Brandon, Jennifer and Calvin Keibler; brother of Marilyn (Robert) Clarke; uncle of Anita Lawson and Mary Grace (Dan) Griffin. Conway served as a pastor for over 40 years at United...
Foltz. Rev. Dr. Robert Scott
4/14/2013Rev. Robert Foltz of Pittsburgh died on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at the age of 73. Dr. Foltz was born in Pittsburgh on December 27, 1939 to the late Joseph W. and Nannette Harris Foltz. He and his wife Nancy Thomas Foltz were married for 48 years. A 1962 graduate of Westminster College, he earned his Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. in 1965, and a Master of Social Work degree from The University of Pittsburgh in 1972. Ordained into the...
Stranford-Wasser, Kelly Lane
4/14/2013 - First U M ChurchKelly Lane Stranford-Wasser, 52, of Greenville, PA (Hempfield Twp.), formerly of New Castle, passed away at 11:25 am on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was the wife of the Rev. Rex A. Wasser, pastor of Calvary and First United Methodist churches in Greenville. She was born in Oil City, PA on April 25, 1960. She graduated from Cranberry High School, Venango County, in 1978, earned a BS in Special Education from Ashland University in 1982, and earned a...
Shaffer, Betty I. Plyler
4/4/2013Betty I. Plyler Shaffer, 92, of Brookville, died Thursday, April 4, 2013, at McKinley Health Center, Brookville. Born Feb. 20, 1921, in Strattanville, she was a daughter of the late Cameron Fike and Mary Shingledecker Fike. She was married to Ronald E. Plyler, and later to Richard A. Stockdale, who both preceded her in death. In 1993, she married Clarence Shaffer, a widower who served as a full-time local United Methodist pastor from 1972-78 and died in 1999. She worked as a clerk for...
Moore, Rev. Charles D.
3/31/2013 - Central Highlands U M ChurchThe Rev. Charles D. "Pastor Chuck" Moore, 83, of Elizabeth Township, went home to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday, March. 31, 2013. He was born Oct. 12, 1929, in Dravosburg, son of the late Harold I. and Margaret Norman Moore. Upon graduation from McKeesport High School in 1949, he joined the Air Force and served them well for 20 years. He was a member of the Strategic Air Command in munitions management. He was stationed in St. John's, Newfoundland, March Air Force Base in...
Witherow, Rev. Spurgeon D.
3/24/2013 - Evangelical U M ChurchRev. Spurgeon Dewitt Witherow, Jr. 87, of Youngsville, Pa., went to be with his Lord and Savior Sunday morning, March 24, 2013. He was born September 27, 1925 in Brookville, Pa., a son of the late Spurgeon and Hazel Brocious Witherow. Spurg was a WW II Navy veteran serving on the USS Riley destroyer escort vessel as a gunners mate. A retired elder of the Western Pennsylvania Conference, he served at Evans Memorial, Deckards, Stillwater (Jamestown NY), Youngsville...
Gumbert, Rev. Robert Clyde
3/23/2013 - Monroeville U M ChurchRev. Robert Clyde Gumbert died Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the home of his son in Hampton, Virginia. Mr. Gumbert was born January 5, 1929 in East McKeesport, PA to Franklin (Clyde) and Viola Gumbert and graduated from East McKeesport High School in 1946. He served eighteen months in the US Army as a member of the GHQ band stationed in Tokyo, Japan. He received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Mount Union College and a Master of Divinity from Drew Theological Seminary. He served as a...
Green, Dr. William E.
3/16/2013 - Warren U M ChurchWilliam E. Green, EdD, who served as Ethnic Minority Director for the Western PA Conference after retiring as assistant superintendent of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, died on Saturday, March 16 at age 82. Mr. Green was a longtime member of the Warren United Methodist Church in the Hill District, where he served as chairman of the trustees and treasurer, was a member of the choir and where he and his late wife ran a newspaper and a scholarship fund to provide money for children to...
Meuschke, Rev. Dr. Paul J.
3/15/2013 - Bakerstown U M ChurchDr. Paul J. Meuschke, 85, of Valencia, a retired pastor who served twice as a district superintendent, died Friday, March 15, 2013. Born on December 11, 1927 in Castle Shannon, son of the late John and Flora (Voightman) Meuschke, he was the beloved husband for 56 years of I. Lucille (Lewis) Meuschke; father of David (Kathleen) and Eric Meuschke; and grandfather of Lauren, Zachary, and Jacob. A 1950 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, he earned bachelor of...
DuBois, Betty M.
3/11/2013 - Duke Center U M ChurchELDRED - Betty M. DuBois, 79, widow of the Rev. James M. DuBois, passed away March 11, 201 at Bradford Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Born June 6, 1933, in Port Allegany, she was a daughter of Arthur and Anna Holmes Lundgren. On Sept. 3, 1955, in the Trinity United Methodist Church in Port Allegany, she married the Rev. DuBois, who died Sept. 9, 2011. Betty was a graduate of Port Allegany High School and the Bryant and Stratton Business College in Buffalo, N.Y. She...
Nunemaker, Geraldine
2/13/2013Geraldine Nunemaker, 85, widow of the Rev. Harold Earl Nunemaker, died February 13, 2013, in Oil City, PA. A resident of The Laurels since October 2012, she will be remembered with fondness by all. Memorials may be sent to any COPD charity....
Hartland, Rev. James Robert
2/10/2013 - Concord U M ChurchRev. James Robert Hartland, 92, of Lebanon, OH, who was ordained in the Methodist Pittburgh Conference and served churches there from 1950-58, died Sunday, February 10, 2013 in Lebanon, OH. A minister for over 40 years, he served at 17 different Methodist churches through Ohio and Pennsylvania. Born June 21, 1920 to Walter Daniel and Alice Maud (nee: Wilson) Hartland in Johnstown, PA, he earned his Bachelors degree from Mt. Union College, his STM degree from Boston University...
Hollenbeck, Lois
2/9/2013 - Community U M ChurchLois (Rider) Hollenbeck, 84, a resident of Redstone Highlands, North Huntingdon, formerly of Jeannette, died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. The widow of the Rev. LeRoy L. Hollenbeck, she was a member of Community United Methodist Church in Harrison City. Born June 10, 1928, in West Sunbury, a daughter of the late Samuel Edgar and Clara Elizabeth (Snyder) Rider, she preceded in death by her husband and brothers, Verne and Dean Rider. A retired employee of Jeannette District Memorial Hospital...
Moffat, Luella Sillaman
1/29/2013Luella (Sillaman) Moffat, 97, of Arbutus Park Manor in Johnstown entered the kingdom of heaven Jan. 29, 2013. She was the widow of the Rev. Arthur Moffat and served alongside him through 41 years of full-time ministry in Western PA. Born June 2, 1915 to Dr. James W. and Goldie (Jenkins) Sillaman of Bradenville, she was a graduate of Derry Township High School and Wooster College in Ohio. She taught French at Derry Township High School and Franklin High School. The Moffat's retirement years...
Breakiron, Rev. Jacob Henry
1/28/2013Rev. Dr. Jacob Henry Breakiron, 92, of McMurray, formerly of Carmichaels, died on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. He was the beloved husband of 65 years to Georgetta (Woodward) Breakiron; a loving father of Esther "Sue" (Russel) Wert of Davidson, N.C., Karen Page of Edinburg, and Diane (David) Altieri of Canonsburg; a cherished grandfather of Kristen (Dan) Wert Kaplan, Kimberly (Matt) Wert Schrader, Stephen (Sonya) Wert, Michael Bacorn, Tammy Bacorn, Bradley Altieri, and Stefanie Altieri;...
Luther, Rev. Randall P.
1/21/2013On Monday, January 21, 2013, Rev. Randall P. Luther, 68, went from his home in Berne to his eternal heavenly home. He was born on February 4, 1944, in Brookville, PA, to Rev. Elmer Paul Luther and Alberta (Barr) Luther. He was married to Carol (King) Norton on November 10, 1990. He graduated fom Reynoldsville-Sykesville High School in Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He studied at Princeton University and received his M.Div. from...
Scott, Lois Jean
1/16/2013Lois Jean Scott, 83, widow of the late Rev. John William Scott, passed away on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 in Martinsburg, WV. A memorial service was scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday, January 26, at Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Road, Sterling, VA 20165. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association , West Virginia Chapter, 1111 Lee Street East, Charleston, WV 25301. Arrangements are by Brown Funeral Home. ...
Fulton, Rev. Robert "Bob"
1/11/2013 - Little Hill U M ChurchRev. Robert Fulton, who died on January 11, 2013, was ordained in 1961 as an elder of The United Methodist Church. He was an active duty chaplain in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve from 1963-70. He attained the rank of Major in the Reserves. His second career was with the claims department of State Farm Insurance Company. He spent 35 years with State Farm and retired in 1998 as a Divisional Claims Manager. Bob...
Davis, James Earl
1/9/2013 - First U M ChurchThe Rev. James Earl Davis, 83, of Lakeland, FL, formerly of Whitehall, PA, died on Wednesday, January 9, 2013, of pneumonia. Beloved husband of 60 yrs. to Jean (Rupp); father of Dr. Jeffrey (Sandy) and Rev. Jack (Sharon) Davis; grandfather of Annelise, Connor, Tessa, and John Davis, and June (Bryan) Raehl; brother of Miriam (Jack) Schellhaas. Also survived by loving nieces and nephews. James served as pastor of Jefferson United Methodist Church for seven years. He also served First UMC...
Carns, Thelma "Turk" Leshko
1/7/2013 - Barren Run U M ChurchThelma "Turk" L. Carns, 87, beloved leader at Camp Allegheny for many years who literally touched thousands of kids with her kindness, grace and good humor, died Monday, January 7, 2013 after a brief illness in Florida. Mrs. Carns, of Smithton, was born September 1, 1925 in Nineveh, PA, a daughter of the late Robert and Mary (Rauton) Clutter. Prior to retirement, Turk was employed as a school bus driver by the Yough School District. She was a member of the Barren...