Obituaries

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Richard E. “Rick” Higley, 68

Richard E. “Rick” Higley, 68, of Wayne Township, passed away on Monday, February 6, 2023 at UPMC Passavant. Born in Butler on December 21, 1954, Rick was the son of the late Donald and Dorothy Lutz Higley.  He is survived by his wife, the former Joy Ramsey whom he married on May 19, 1995.  Rick was a retired roofer working for Penn-Perry.  Rick was an avid Pittsburgh sports fan.  He enjoyed working around his home and working on cars, but mostly enjoyed the time he spent with his grandchildren. Besides his wife, Joy Higley, Rick is survived by his 3…


Robert W. “Rob” McCready, 69

Robert W. “Rob” McCready, 69, of New Galilee passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, February 3, 2023 at his residence following an extended illness. Born September 23, 1953 in New Castle, he was the son of the late S. Wells and Sara Belle “Sally” Noggle McCready. He was married to Candy Johnson McCready. Rob had graduated from Mohawk in 1972. Working alongside his father and brother, he became the 5th generation owner and operator of the Indian Run Dairy Farm. He was a member of The Galilean Presbyterian Church where he served as a former deacon…


Krista D. Knechtel, 42

Krista D. Knechtel, 42, of Ellwood City passed away Monday, January 30, 2023. Born July 16, 1980 in Ellwood City, she was the daughter of Deborah Kirkham Cottrell of Ellwood City and Gary Cottrell of Montana. Krista enjoyed painting and crafting. She loved the outdoors, especially spending time at Moraine, hiking at Buttermilk Falls, and spending time with her grandsons. In addition to her parents Deborah and Gary, survivors include two daughters, Cassidy Smith and Marilyn Knechtel both of Ellwood City; son, Elijah Knechtel of Ellwood City; three sisters, Jamie (Matt) Kelosky of Ellwood City, Halie Cottrell and Mellisse Garcia…


Kenneth W. Wiley, 94

Kenneth Wayne Wiley, 94, of Ellwood City passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at Good Samaritan Hospice. Born July 15, 1928 in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Leslie Earl and Ethel Ida (Booher) Wiley. Ken attended Lincoln High School. In 1946, He served in the Army Occupied Forces in Japan during WWII. Ken retired from Calgon Corporation where he worked in the Maintenance Department. He also worked at Armstrong Cable. Ken was a member of the First Church of God. Ken enjoyed gardening, fishing, woodworking, bowling, horses and repairing ball gloves. He volunteered for the local Meals…


Kraig A. “Crickett” Krisher, 68

Kraig A. “Crickett” Krisher, 68, of Ellport passed away on Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at the UPMC Passavant Hospital in McCandless Twp. Kraig was born on June 6th, 1954 in Bellvue the son of the late Harry and Grace (Stapel) Krisher. He graduated from North Allegheny High School with the class of 1972. He had worked at Dravo Corporation as a welder and later at Harmony Castings as a supervisor. An outdoorsman Kraig enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles, fishing and hunting. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years Norma (Sens) Krisher, daughters Jessica (Matthew) Green and…


Florence M. McCrobie, 90

Florence M. McCrobie, 90, of Koppel passed away Thursday, January 26, 2023 at her daughter’s residence following an extended illness. Born June 23, 1932 in Morgantown, WV, she was the daughter of the late Adam and Florence Eicher Thompson. She was married to Charles E. McCrobie for 61 years when he passed away November 21, 2010. In Florence’s younger years she worked as a Machine Operator at the Ellwood City Knitting Mill. She loved baking and making candy. Her most cherished moments were time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Survivors include six daughters, Virginia F. Jacobs of…


Adrienne B Majors, 84

Adrienne B. Majors passed away peacefully at the Heritage Valley Medical Center on January 27, 2023, due to heart disease. She was 84 years old. Adrienne was born on March 2, 1938, in Portsmouth, VA, to Donald F. and Margaret B. Bartel. Her family later moved to Ellwood City where she graduated from Lincoln High School. It was here that she met the love of her life, Raymond R. Majors, her husband of 41 years. Adrienne went on to graduate from Slippery Rock University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, as well as her Masters degree from Geneva…


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Mary A. Symbala, 93

Mrs. Mary A. Symbala, 93, formerly of Ellwood City and New Castle passed away on Wednesday, January 25th, 2023 at the St. Paul’s Senior Living Community in Greenville, PA. Mrs. Symbala was born in Greenville, Pa on May 23rd, 1929 to the late R.A. and Ida (Brown) Albert. She had graduated from Saint Michaels High School in Greenville, and received a diploma in Dress Making from the Life Time Careers School. She had worked as a seamstress from her residence, Bell Telephone in Ellwood City at the 5th Street Building as an operator then in New Castle, and Bell of…


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John E. Lample, 79

John E. Lample, 79, of Ellwood City, passed away in his residence on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. Born on May 10, 1943 in Perry Township, John was the son of the late John and Viola St. Clair Lample.  Upon graduation, John enlisted in the US Navy.  When his enlistment ended, John moved to Hawaii and worked at Hawaii Western Steel and then later retired from Love’s Bakery.  While in Hawaii, John met his wife, Haeng Cha “Judy” and they were married for thirty-eight years.  After he retired, John and Judy moved back to Ellwood City so they could be near…


Bonnie Maxine DeCaria, 79

Mrs. Bonnie Maxine (Knight) DeCaria, 79, of Ellwood City, also known as Gammie, passed away on Saturday, January 21st, 2023 in Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Bonnie was born September 29th, 1943 in Upper Glades, Webster County, VW to Albert Boyd “Pap” Knight and Myrtle Goldie Morris Knight. She was married to the love of her life and soul mate Joseph V. DeCaria, Sr. on January 18th, 1961 who survives. They had just celebrated 62 years of their wonderful and blessed life together. She worked at many different businesses in Ellwood City throughout the years including Cully’s Restaurant, Riverside Pharmacy,…