Obituaries

Mrs. Judith A. Varga, 86, of Ellwood City passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at the Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital. Mrs. Varga was born on October 7, 1933 in Koppel to the late George and Mary (Hawrylak) Beres. Judy was a graduate of Beaver Falls High School. After graduation she worked for Bell Telephone, the Carnegie Free Library, and was a medical Librarian for the Beaver Falls Hospital. She also was the owner of Afternoon Tea Room in Ellwood City. Judy was also a member of the Holy Redeemer Church. She especially enjoyed reading and spending time with…

Mary E. Baker,93, passed away at Butler Memorial Hospital, on March 25, 2020. She was the daughter of the late Nestor and Mary Tassin Peters, and was born on May 15, 1926 in Ellwood City, PA. She is survived by her two sons; Larry Baker and his wife Loraine of New Castle, PA, Bruce Baker and his wife Cynthia of Harmony, PA, grandchildren; Meghan Blose of New Castle, Emily Peffer and her husband Jason of Portersville, PA, Philip Baker and his wife Brooke of New Castle, Cassidy Baker of Harmony, PA, and Casey Baker of Harmony, PA, great-grandchildren; Craig Blose,…

Raymond C. Jackson, 90, of Newport Road, Wampum passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his loving family following a brief illness. Born January 8, 1930 in New Castle, he was the eldest son of the late Robert B. And Eleanor R. (McKinley) Jackson Sr. He was married to Maryann Zultowski Jackson for 63 years. In addition to his wife, Maryann, survivors include a son, Thomas E Jackson of Wampum; three daughters , Jeanne Pittavino of Cranberry Twp, Janet (John) Emig of Poland, OH, and Peggy (Stephen) Needler of Aledo, TX; a sister, Thelma J. McMillen…

John H. “Bud” Emerick Jr., 92, of Ellwood City passed away Saturday, March 21, 2020 at Good Samaritan Hospice in Beaver. Born December 14, 1927 in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late John H. and Ida Rae (Marion) Emerick Sr. Bud graduated from Lincoln High School in 1945. A veteran, he served as a Second Lieutenant with the Combat Engineers during WW II dealing with the reconstruction in Germany. In 1965, Bud founded J&R Emerick Inc. in Ellwood City which provided steel fabrication. He was the superintendent at Ellwood Iron and Wire for many years. Bud enjoyed…

Lorraine M. Yohe, 73, of Ellwood City, PA passed away at Heritage Valley Beaver Medical Center on March 19, 2020.  She was born on December 27, 1946 in New Kensington, PA to the late Calvin and Betty Myers Runyan. She is survived by her two sons, Jim Yohe of Ellwood City and Michael Yohe and his wife Kia of Fombell, PA; along with her grandchildren, Addy Yohe, Eva Yohe, Bryn Yohe, and Aris Yohe of Fombell. Surviving siblings include Barbara Gibbons of Ellwood City, Donna Runyan of Ellwood City, Vernon Runyan of New Castle, PA, Robert Runyan of Ellwood City, and…

Bruce L. Drotleff Sr., 64, of Slippery Rock Twp. passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, March 19, 2020 at his home from an apparent heart attack. Born February 28, 1956 in Ellwood City, he was the son of the late William and Anna Mae (Householder) Drotleff. He was married to Karen Tanner Drotleff for 18 years as they were married September 15, 2001. She survives. Bruce worked for PA Department of Transportation out of Lawrence County. He was also a self employed farmer. He loved farming, especially making straw, hay and grain and raising chickens. He enjoyed gardening. Bruce also enjoyed…

Mr. Nick Ierino, Jr, 83, of New Castle passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at The Grove at New Wilmington where he has resided for the past ten years. Mr. Ierino was born on June 21, 1936, in Ellwood City to the late Nick and Mary (Torchio) Ierino Sr. He had graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1954. For a period of time, Nick had worked for the Borough of Ellwood City. He was a member of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church while living in Ellwood City and the St. Vitus Catholic…

Elizabeth F. “Betty” Smith, 84, formerly of Fombell, passed away Monday, March 16, 2020 at Passavant Retirement Community following a brief illness. Born November 3, 1935 in Ellwood City, she was the daughter of the late George A. and Margaret F. Nye Bunney Sr. She was married to Leroy E. “Cub” Smith for 52 years when he passed away in 2010. Betty was a 1954 graduate of Lincoln High School. She obtained her LPN from Beaver County Community College where after she began her career at the Ellwood City Hospital until her retirement in 1997. She was a member of…