Obituaries

Joan M. Straw, 78, of Ellwood City passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016 in her residence. Joan was born on Jan. 16, 1938 in Ellwood City to the late Toney J. and Marie Kohl Straw. She is a member of the Lincoln High School class of 1955. Joan also graduated from Penn State University, Beaver Campus, where she earned her Real Estate Certification. She had worked for the Humphrey, Humphrey, & Sewell agency as a legal secretary for several years. She later worked as a Real Estate Agent along side her father at the Toney J. Straw Real…

George Walter Martin, 92, of Enon Valley (Little Beaver Twp.) passed away Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016 at Heritage Valley – Beaver Hospital. A lifelong resident of Little Beaver Twp., George was born June 6, 1923 to the late Alfred A. and Hilda M. Keebler Martin. He was married for 69 years to Leita Raney Martin as they were married Aug. 15, 1946. She survives. George retired after 20 years from Babcock and Wilcox, however the job he loved the most was farming. He was a lifetime active member of the Enon Presbyterian Church having served in many different capacities. George…

Goldie F. Cochran Reese, 87, formerly of Ellwood City, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday afternoon, Jan. 25, 2016 at the Paramount Assisted Living Center in Pittsburgh. She was born in Butler on April 21, 1928 to the late John Calvin Cochran and the late Hazel Biddle Cochran. She graduated from Lincoln High School in the class of 1947 and worked at the glass plant in Frisco before retiring from J.C. Penney Company in 1989 with 25 years of service. Goldie was a member of Calvin Presbyterian Church, where she married her late husband of 61…

Theodore Allen “Ted” Zimmerman, 85 formerly of Kindale St., North Sewickley Twp., passed away on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at the Lutheran Senior Living Center in Zelienople. Ted was born in Philadelphia on Jan. 16, 1931, the son of the late Alice Zimmerman. He is survived by his wife the former Judith Pitzer whom he married on Feb. 21, 1953. Ted was a service technician at Herge Electric in Ellwood City from 1953 until they closed in 1976, he later owned and operated Zimmerman Service from 1976 until his retirement in 1994. Ted was a member of…

Robert A. Landon, 83, of Maxine Drive, North Sewickley Township (formerly of Carrick, Pa.) passed away in his residence on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2016. Born in Pittsburgh on April 24, 1932, Robert was the son of the late Robert D. and Marie Wiggin Landon. He married the former Bernadette Bannister on Sept. 15, 1970 and she preceded him in death on March 6, 2010. Robert retired from LTV Steel in Hazelwood in 1991 where he worked as a coke oven operator. He also helped out at his uncle’s bar and restaurant, Wiggins, on the North Side. He was a member…

Lois V. Pacillo, 73, of Bessemer, formerly of New Galilee passed away Thursday, Jan. 21 at UPMC Mercy Hospital following a short illness. Born Aug. 10, 1942 in New Galilee, she was the daughter of the late Harry E. and Ruth E. McKim Baker. She was married for 33 years to the late John R. Pacillo who passed away March 18, 1997. Lois retired from the Mohawk Area School District in 2008, having worked for 30 years, retiring as the Business Manager. She was also the secretary of the school board for many years. She was a lifelong active member…

Donna Mae Baird, 83, of Kate Houk Road, Wayne Twp. passed away Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016 at the Ellwood City Hospital following a brief illness. Born Aug. 27, 1932 in Ellwood City, she was the daughter of the late Floyd and Myrtle Young McCaslin. She was married for 62 years to Robert V. Baird as they were married June 11, 1953. He survives. Donna graduated in 1950 from Lincoln High School and continued her education at Butler School of Nursing where she graduated in 1953 as a Registered Nurse. She practiced nursing for over 40 years, working at the Ellwood…

Bruce E. Shidemantle, 59, of New Castle, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, Jan. 21, 2016 in the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler following a brief illness. He was born in Ellwood City on Aug. 10, 1956 to the late Arthur Mervin Shidemantle, Sr., and Barbara Joanna Boak Scheidemantle, of Portersville, who survives. Bruce graduated from Riverside High School in the class of 1974 and was a heavy equipment operator and truck driver for Kerry Coal Company for many years. He enjoyed hunting and was a Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiast. In addition to his mother, he is survived by two daughters:…