Local news for Mercer County, Pa., and the Shenango Valley (2024)

Sharon I. Neal, 824 Giffin St., Niles, Ohio, formerly of West Middlesex, died at 5:45 p.m. Thursday (10-11-01) in her home after a heart attack. She was 53.

Mrs. Neal was born Dec. 25, 1947, in Terrytown, Pa., to Carl and Mildred Johnson Johnson.

She was 1966 graduate of Wyalusing High School.

Mrs. Neal was a homemaker and enjoyed making cookies for friends, ceram-ics, sewing and crocheting.

Surviving are: her husband William, whom she married July 23, 1976; a son, Anthony Johnson, Laceyville, Pa.; two sisters, Marge Darnell of Honeybrook, Pa.; and June Randall, Ulster, Pa.; two brothers, William Johnson, Frazer, Pa.; and Ralph Johnson, Terrytown; and two grandchil-dren.

She was preceded in death by three sisters, Jean and Hazel Johnson and Donna Kirk; and a brother, Henry Johnson.

NEAL
Mrs. William (Sharon I.), 53, Niles, Ohio, formerly of West Middlesex.
Calling hours: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday (10-14-01) in JOSEPH ROSSI FUNERAL HOME, 457 Robbins Ave., Niles.
Service: Funeral service at 4 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Frank M Snider, 38 Fifth St., Sharpsville, died at 5:45 p.m. Thursday (10-11-01) in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, after an extended illness. He was 73.

Mr. Snider was born Jan. 2, 1928, in Brookfield to Charles and Elizabeth Reynolds Snider.

He attended school in Hartford.

Mr. Snider retired in 1980 from Warner-Smith Motor Freight as a dock man and fuel line worker.

He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Sharon.

A member of Teamsters Local 261, he was a devoted father and grandfa-ther, an avid fisherman and enjoyed gardening and walking.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Anna Klein, whom he married Nov. 23, 1963; three daughters, Margaret Unrue, Sandra Frye and Gudrun Schuster, and a son, Charles, all Sharon; two sisters, Betty Garlock, Kinsman; and Laura Davis, Fowler; two brothers, George Snider, Hartford; and Edward Snider, Kinsman; eight grandchildren, Edward Hazen, Renee Woodson, Wil-liam Unrue, James Hazen, Mark Unrue, Michael Unrue, Bridget Winter and Hannah Snider; and six great-grandchildren, Tim Hazen, Nicole Unrue, Eric Hazen, Tyler Hazen, Ashley Unrue and Kyle Hazen.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Paul.

SNIDER
Frank M., 73, of 38 Fifth St., Sharpsville.
Calling hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday (10-15-01) in Harold W. Stevenson Funeral Home, 264 E. State St., Sharon.
Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Tuesday (10-16-01) in the funeral home with the Rev. Douglas K. Dayton, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Sharon, officiating.
Burial: Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage.
Arrangements by LEO A. HANLEY FUNERAL SERVICE, Sharon.

James W. Sutton, 698 Brookfield Ave., Masury, died at 8:50 p.m. Thursday (10-11-01) in his home. He was 52.

Mr. Sutton was born May 26, 1949, in Kaylor, Pa., to Ira Romaine and Martha E. Heginbotham Sutton.

He was retired from U.S. Can Corp., Hubbard.

Surviving are: two daughters, Tammy Ann Sutton, West Middlesex; and Robin Jean Sutton, Mercer; two sons, James W. Sutton II, West Middlesex; and Shaun E., Slippery Rock; three sisters, Beverly A. Rodgers, Masury; Joan E. Dolby, Chicora; and Gail McConnell, Grafton, Ohio; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Gloria J. Elder and Kay Lynn Sutton.

SUTTON
James W., 52, of 698 Brookfield Ave., Masury.
Calling hours: None
Burial: Cremation
Arrangements by SAMPLE-O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME, East State Street at North Oakland Avenue, Sharon.

Funeral will be Sunday for Joseph S. Dankoff, 3830 Lamor Road, Hermitage, who died at 5:10 a.m. Friday (10-12-01) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System, Sharon. He was 84.

Mr. Dankoff was born May 9, 1917, in McKees Rocks, Pa., to Samuel and Nellie Dankoff.

He was a 1935 graduate of Farrell High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1962 from Youngstown State Univer-sity.

He retired in 1979 after 35 years as an engineer at the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp..

He attended Christ Lutheran Church in Sharon.

Mr. Dankoff was a member of the Saxon Home, Saxon Senior Citizens Club and Saxon Society Lodge 7, all in Farrell; Free and Accepted Masons She-nango Lodge 668, Sharon; and Scottish Rite’s New Castle Consistory.

Mr. Dankoff built and flew model airplanes, and was a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics and Mercer County Model Aircraft Club 561.

He held an FCC amateur radio license and was a member of the American Radio Relay League Inc. and the Mercer County Amateur Radio Club. His call sign was KE3ZG.

He also enjoyed fishing and boating.

Surviving are: a daughter, Mrs. John (Gerilyn) Greaf, Wexford; two sisters, Stella Conticelli, Las Vegas; and Helen Eckl, West Palm Beach, Fla.; a granddaughter, Mrs. Michael (Shelli) McClellan; a grandson, Dr. Joseph Dankoff, and his wife, Tracy; a great-granddaughter, Abby Dankoff; four great-grandsons, Sam Dankoff and Matt, Scott and Nick McClellan; and his loving companion, Mary Jane Sernik, Hermitage.

His wife, the former Elsie Schuller, whom he married Dec. 16, 1939, died July 31, 1993. A son, Joseph Dankoff, and a brother, Tony Dankoff, also preceded him in death.

DANKOFF
Joseph S., 84, of 3830 Lamor Road, Hermitage.
Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. today (10-13-01) in A.E. PUSTINGER FUNERAL HOME, Ltd., 1310 Idaho St., Farrell. Masonic service by Shenango Lodge 668 at 6:45 p.m. in the funeral home.
Service: Funeral at 1 p.m. Sunday (10-14-01) in the funeral home with the Rev. Dr. K. Arlon Stubbe, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Sharon, officiating.
Burial: Morefield Cemetery, Hermitage.
Condolences also may be e-mailed to: pustinger@adelphia.net

Dr. William E. Brown, 169 S. Kerrwood Drive, Hermitage, died at 7:55 a.m. Friday (10-12-01) in his home after a brief illness. He was 62.

Dr. Brown was born May 22, 1939, in Pittsburgh to Milton M. and Pauline Thornton Brown.

A 1957 graduate of Westview High School in Pittsburgh, he completed un-dergraduate studies at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa., in 1960 and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine in 1964.

A Vietnam War veteran, he was a captain in the Air Force 804th Medical Group.

He completed his internship in 1965 at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh and his residency at Eye and Ear Hospital of Pittsburgh in 1971. He was board certified in otolaryngology in 1972 and in otolaryngic allergy in 1981.

Dr. Brown began his medical practice at 1260 E. State St. in Sharon, where he continued to serve the people of the Shenango Valley until his recent retirement. He also had a medical practice in Grove City and for-merly had an office in Greenville.

He was affiliated with Sharon Regional Health System, Sharon; United Community Hospital, Pine Township; UPMC Horizon, Greenville; and Primary Health Network, New Castle, where he practiced his medical specialty of otolaryngology.

Dr. Brown was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sharon.

He was a member of the American Medical Association, American Academy of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgeons, American Academy of Otolaryngic Al-lergy, Pennsylvania and Mercer County medical societies, University of Pittsburgh Otolaryngology Alumni Association and the Pennsylvania Acad-emy Otolaryngology of Head and Neck Surgeons.

Dr. Brown also belonged to American Legion Post 299, Benevolent and Pro-tective Order of Elks 103, Sharon Social Fishing Club, and Veterans of Foreign War Post 1338, all Sharon, and Farrell Lions Club. He was a for-mer member of Sharon University Club and Sharon Country Club.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Rita Hetrick, whom he married Aug. 20, 1999; a daughter, Mrs. Martin (Susan) Rozmanith, Medford, Mass.; a son, David E. Brown, and his wife, Amy, Durham, N.C.; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Michael (Bernadette) Chaya, and a stepson, Burdell I. Hetrick, both Hermitage; two sisters, Mrs. Ronald (Ann) Reese, Harborson, Del.; and Mrs. Wally (Ellen) Edgecombe, Pittsburgh; his former wife, Karen G. Brown, Hermitage; and four grandchildren, Alyssa Heffern, Michael Greg-ory, Stephanie Brown and Elizabeth Rozmanith.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial donations may be made to the "Dr. William E. Brown Scholarship Fund" in care of Shenango Valley Mall Office of National City Bank, 3305 E. State St., Hermitage 16148.

BROWN
Dr. William E., 62, of 169 S. Kerrwood Drive, Hermitage.

Service: Memorial service at 11 a.m. Monday (10-15-01) in St. John’s Episcopal Church, Irvine Avenue and West State Street, Sharon, with the Rev. Dr. Douglas K. Dayton, rector, officiating. The family will receive friends in the Parish House Lounge of the church following the service.

Burial: Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage.
Arrangements by SAMPLE-O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME, East State Street at North Oakland Avenue, Sharon.

Condolences also can be e-mailed to the fam-ily at: Sample@infonline.net

Wanda A. Hulbert McCamey Oman, a 10-year resident of 130 Todd Ave., Her-mitage, formerly of Grove City, died at 7:35 p.m. Thursday (10-11-01) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System. She was 75.

Mrs. Oman was born July 1, 1926, in Grove City to Judson Russell and El-len Carlie Bassett Hulbert.

She graduated with high honors from Grove City High School and earned auditing credits in American Institute of Banking courses and semi-nars.

She worked in banking from 1944 through 1985 before becoming Mercer County controller in 1986. She held the post eight years until she re-tired in 1994.

As controller, Mrs. Oman was a member of the county salary, prison and retirement boards and attended all county commissioners meetings and worked closely with them.

Mrs. Oman was a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Grove City, and attended Christ Lutheran Church, Sharon.

The first female on the Mercer County Selective Service Board, she was a former member of Grove City School Board and Grove City Advisory Commit-tee.

She was a member and past president of the auxiliary to Veterans of For-eign Wars Grove City Post 519; was past president of both Mercer County Council and District 28 of VFW Auxiliary; and was a life member of Grove City Veterans Council, from which she resigned in 1995.

A life member of Mercer County Historical Society, she was also a member of Gen. Hugh Mercer Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and of Daughters of American Colonists, which dissolved in 1997 and merged with the New Castle chapter.

Active in the Republican Party for more than 40 years, Mrs. Oman was a committeewoman for 20 years in Grove City, was a current committeewoman in Hermitage, was area chairman for 12 years in Grove City, served 14 years as vice chairman of Mercer County Republican Committee and was a past president of Grove City Republican Women. She co-chaired Women for Nixon in 1972 and campaigned for U.S. Rep Philip English when he ran for state treasurer. She worked in numerous Republican campaigns locally, statewide and nationally.

She belonged to the Pennsylvania State Association of County Control-lers, National Association of County Treasurers and Finance Officers; Government Finance Officers Association; and the Women Officials in Na-tional Association of Counties.

Her name appeared in publications such as Who’s Who of American Women, Women Officials in the National Association of Counties, Republican Women in Politics, Two Thousand Notable American Women, Who’s Who World-wide, The World Who’s Who of Women and American Women of Today.

Mrs. Oman enjoyed her computer, collected elephants, was an avid card player and was a member of Valley Dance Club.

Her first husband, Nial McCamey, whom she married June 12, 1948, died March 12, 1986.

Survivng are: her husband, Dale N. Oman, whom she married May 21, 1990; two daughters, Julee Ann Snow, Sharon; and Amy Cay McCamey, Mercer; three stepsons, Steven Oman, and his wife, Pam, Columbus, Ohio; Barry Oman, and his wife, Linda, Greenville; and Gregory Oman, and his wife, Brenda, Sharpsville; two sisters Mrs. Carl J. (Ramah Jean) Thomas, Ell-wood City; and Eva Shirlie White, New Kensington, Pa.; seven step-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren.

Besides her first husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Carleton "Bud" Hulbert.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 300 Penn Center Blvd., Suite 700, Pittsburgh 15235.

OMAN
Mrs. Dale N. (Wanda A. Hulbert McCamey), 75 , of 130 Todd Ave., Hermitage, formerly of Grove City.
Calling hours: 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday (10-14-01) in CUNNINGHAM FUNERAL HOME Inc., 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City.
Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Monday (10-15-01) in the funeral home with Rev. Russell L. Babco*ck, re-tired minister, and the Rev. Richard W. LaFountain, pastor of Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Grove City, officiating.
Interment: Crestview Memorial Park, Pine Township.

GUFFEY
Betty 88, of 22 Rosedale Ave., Greenville.
Arrangements will be announced by LOUTZENHISER-JORDAN COLONIAL FUNERAL HOME, 366-368 S. Main St., Green-ville.

Thomas D. "Dyke" Kennedy, 265 Ellis Ave., Hermitage, passed away unex-pectedly at 1:50 p.m. Friday (10-12-01) in the hospital of Sharon Re-gional Health System after a brief illness. He was 88.

Mr. Kennedy was born Oct. 8, 1913, in Sharon to Thomas S. and Catherine Wierman Kennedy.

He attended Sharon schools.

Before retirement in 1975, he was employed for 42 years as a millwright at the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp.

Mr. Kennedy enjoyed sports and loved spending time with his family.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Eleanor E. Jones, whom he married Jan. 9, 1937; three daughters, Joy L. Buckley, Sharpsville; Mrs. Gene F. (Toni S.) Sheehan, Brookfield; and Mrs. Jim (Karen L.) Wildman, Sharon; eight grandchildren, Amber Emery, Amy Hines, Todd Buckley, Kelli Fustos, Sean Sheehan, Megan Ondo, Kevin Sheehan and Chase Vargo; and 10 great-grandchildren, John Thomas Emery, Cole Emery, Garrett Emery, Joseph Hi-nes, Lydia Hines, Taylor Sheehan, Tori Sheehan, Hunter Sheehan, Emily Fustos and Alisa Fustos.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shenango Valley Community Li-brary, 11 N. Sharpsville Ave., Sharon 16146.

KENNEDY
Thomas D. ‘Dyke’, 88, of 265 Ellis Ave., Hermitage.
Calling hours: 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday (10-14-01) in J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon. Friends may also e-mail condolences to: McGonigleFuneral-Home@infonline.net
Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Monday (10-15-01) in the funeral home with the Rev. Dr. Donald P. Wil-son, pastor of Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Lackawannock Township, offi-ciating.
Interment: Oakwood Cemetery, Hermit-age. Committal service in Buhl Memorial Chapel.PREVIOUS DEATHS
Look in past days’ obituary files to find the full obituar-ies

FARMAKIS
Mrs. Archie (Themis), 91, of 572 Baird Way, Sharon.
Obituary was published 10-11-01
Calling hours: Were 4 to 8 p.m. Fri-day (10-12-01) in SAMPLE-O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME Inc., East State Street at North Oakland Avenue, Sharon. Trisagion service at 8 p.m. Friends may send condolences by e-mail to Sample@infonline.net

Service: Funeral service at 10 a.m. today (10-13-01) in Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Farrell, with the Rev. Ignatious Apostolopoulos, pastor, officiating.
Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Hermitage.

KOBORIE
Rebecca, 48, Guttenberg, N.J., formerly of Sharon.
Obituary was published 10-11-01
Service: Memorial service at 3 p.m. today (10-13-01) in Covenant Presbyterian Church, Sharon, with the Rev. Richard Herman and the Rev. Sean Martin officiating.THOMAS
Michael T., 86, of 1074 George St. Extension, Sharon.
Obituary was published 10-12-01
Calling hours: Were 4 to 7 p.m. Friday (10-12-01) in HAROLD W. STEVENSON FUNERAL HOME, 264 E. State St., Sharon.
Service: Funeral service at 10 a.m. today (10-13-01) in the funeral home, with the Rev. William Calabrese officiating.
Interment: Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hermitage.
Arrangements by JOSEPH P. BRASHEN FUNERAL SERVICE, 264 E. State St., Sharon.