Obituaries

H. Gregory Strickland, Jr., 73 , of  Beaver Falls, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, October 24 2018 at his home. He was born in  Washington D.C.  on November 3,  1944, to the late Harold G. Strickland Sr., and the late Josephine Shaw Strickland  Freed. He was a veteran of the US Marine Corps in the 1960’s. He was a police officer   for the  City of Erie  Police Dept.   He spent 36 years on the force, beginning as a patrolman, and retiring as Deputy Chief.  He served in many positions, including K-9 Officer, Detective, Chief Inspector, and Chief of Internal…

Mrs. Dorothy J. Hudson, 83, of Ellwood City passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at her residence. Mrs. Hudson was born on January 30, 1935 in Hillsville to the late Domenico and Rena (Lanam) Greco. Dorothy had numerous jobs in the Ellwood City area while her children were growing up. She was most proud of being ” the Cookie Lady” at Art’s Mini Mart. She is a long time member of the First United Methodist Church, where recently she has formed a very close relationship with her pastor, Rev. Angelique Bradford. Dorothy enjoyed singing karaoke with her sister Betty,…

Margaret E. “Peggy” Krause, 67, of New Castle passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 following a courageous battle with cancer. Born March 25, 1951 in Ellwood City, she was the daughter of the late Charles J. and Velma E. Seybert Edinger. She was preceded in death by her husband, James A. Krause and two brothers, Robert and DeWayne Edinger. Peggy attended Riverside High School. She retired from Personal Touch Health Care where she was a home health aide. She was a member of the Grace Harvest Church in Leesburg and also attended First Church of God in Ellwood City….

Mr. Samuel R. Heaton, Sr., 93, of Big Beaver Borough passed away on Friday, October 19, 2018 at the UPMC Jameson Hospital. Mr. Heaton was born on September 18, 1925 in the Plain Grove area to the late Bartholomew E, and Minnie L. (Smith) Heaton. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II as a communications and radar specialist with the rank of Seaman First Class. Following his service with the Navy, Sam worked as a certified auto mechanic in Chicago, and later at Armstrong World Industries in Beaver Falls. He is a member of the VFW Post…

Mrs. Helen Kuczmarski, 98, formerly of Perry Twp. passed away on Friday, October 12, 2018 at her residence in Huntington, West Virginia. Helen was born on February 2, 1920 in New Castle to the late Samuel and Amelia (Miskura) Januszkiewicz. She had graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1938, and the Christian Buhl Nursing School in Sharon in 1941. For many years she worked as a registered nurse at the Babcock & Wilcox Steel Mill in Beaver Falls and Koppel, and at the U.S. Steel Tube Mill in Ellwood City. She enjoyed taking care of stray cats…

Patricia Meade Kerr, 68 , of  Harmony Baptist Road, New Castle (Shenango Twp.) passed away peacefully  at her residence on Tuesday morning, October 16 2018, surrounded by her family. She was born in Rochester, PA.  on  September 10, 1950 to the late Francis and Helen Byrd  Meade. Patty graduated from Laurel High School.  She was a rural mail carrier for the New Castle Post Office.  She was a longtime member of Word of Life Church in New Castle where she donated her  time helping people.  She enjoyed playing the piano and singing, gardening, and her grandchildren. She was preceded in…

Betty J. Rice, 87, of Old Zelienople Rd., Ellwood City (Franklin Twp.) passed away Monday, October 15, 2018 at UPMC – St. Margaret Hospital in Pittsburgh following a brief illness. Born July 18, 1931 in Jackson Twp. PA, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Alma Agnew Herr. She was married to Mervin D. Rice for 68 years when he passed away December 17, 2012. Betty graduated from Lincoln High School in 1949 and worked at the former GC Murphy’s in Ellwood City. She was an active member of Bell Memorial Presbyterian Church where she was formerly the…

Virginia M. McGinnis, 93, of Wampum passed away Friday, October 12, 2018 at UPMC Passavant Hospital. Born February 9, 1925 in the Troy Hill area of Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of the late Matthew and Loretta Sheetz Gmuer. She was married to John F. McGinnis Jr. who passed away September 25, 1986. Virginia was a member of St. Catherine’s of Sienna in Beechview. She enjoyed knitting and reading. Virginia cherished time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren. Survivors include two daughters, Fran (Jim) Monz of Cranberry Twp., Cindy (Mike) Pope of Wampum; two sons, Eddie (Sandy) McGinnis of…