Obituaries

Edward Lee Roberts, 70, of Brookfield, Ohio passed away surrounded by his family at his daughter’s residence on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 following a short illness. Born February 3, 1951 in Franklin, IN, he was the son of the late Clifford Edward and Charlotte Mae Wallace Roberts. He was married to Beverly George Roberts on October 17, 1975. Ed was a veteran of the United States Navy serving in Vietnam. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and gardening. He loved spending time with his many grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Beverly, survivors include two sons, Micah…

Walter Lee Arkwright, 71, of Koppel, passed away on April 13, 2021, at his residence. He was the son of the late Ralph and Viola (Cartner) Arkwright, and was born March 26, 1950 in Gouverneur, NY. He was married to Barbara (Dallies) Arkwright, who sadly passed away in December 2020 Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served his country proudly during the Vietnam War. For his service he received the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnamese Service Award, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and the Vietnamese Campaign Medal. He…

Bill G. Cunningham, 92, of New Castle passed away Thursday, April 15, 2021 at Avalon Place after a short battle with cancer. Born March 16, 1929 in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late Clarence and Ina Main Cunningham. He was married to Mary Lou Tillia Cunningham for 53 years. She died on March 1, 2003. Bill graduated from Lincoln High School in 1947. He retired from U.S. Steel in Ellwood City and American Bridge in Ambridge after 32 years of service. He was a long time veteran of the Shenango Township VFD. Bill attended Riverview Church in…

Retired Court of Common Pleas Judge, George Harold Hancher, passed away on April 11, 2021 at Butler Memorial Hospital. Born March 5, 1938 in Ellwood City, Lawrence County, he was the son of the late Wendell Shields Hancher and Ethel Mary Cavert Hancher. He attended Ellwood City elementary school and then graduated from the military-prep school Admiral Farragut Academy in Toms River, New Jersey in 1956. Judge Hancher was a proud alumnus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received an economics degree in 1960 and Juris Doctorate degree in 1963. He was member of the Phi Delta…

Rita Joyce (Polasik) Solbrig, 92, a longtime resident of Ellwood City, PA passed away on April 6th, 2021 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT.  Rita’s last place of residence was Guilford, CT where she had been temporarily living with her daughter, Camille Solbrig and son-in-law Michael Weiner, since July 2020.  Before the summer of 2020 she resided in Harrisburg, PA.  Rita and her husband, Charles (who passed away 3/5/17), moved to Harrisburg from Ellwood City, where they had lived since 1970, in 2014 to be near their daughter Carolyn (Solbrig) Sinisi. Born November 24th, 1928, in Chicago, IL, Rita was…