Tributes 2009-11-30

Helen J. August, 91

CUYAHOGA FALLS – Helen J. August, of Falls Village Retirement Community, formerly of Sharon, Pa., passed away peacefully at 6:30 a.m. Saturday in her home. She was 91.

Mrs. August was born Jan. 9, 1918, in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late John and Veronica Maleska Truchan. 

She was a 1933 graduate of Cussewago High School, Crawford County, Pa.

A homemaker, she was a 50-year member of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church and belonged to its Ladies of Charity.

Her husband, Anthony K. August, whom she married in 1941, passed away on Sept. 4, 1982.

She is survived by two daughters, Veronica August of New Jersey and Evelyn Connell of Queensland, Australia; a son, Robert August and his wife, Jo Ann of Tallmadge; a sister, Josephine Smigel and her husband Leo of Hermitage, Pa.; a brother, Art Truchan and his wife Stella of Hermitage; and two granddaughters, Beth August of Dublin, Ohio and Danny Connell of Queensland; and her sisters-in-law, Helen Truchan, Sharon and Mary Antos, all of Hermitage.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Anthony J. August; and three brothers, Hank, Thomas and Joseph Truchan.

 Calling Hours will be Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home Inc., 1090 East State Street in Sharon. 

Friends not able to attend may e-mail condolences to McGonigleFuneralHome@verizon.net.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church with Rev. Stanley J. Swacha, pastor of the church, as celebrant.

Interment will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Hermitage.

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John Eugene

Landgraver Sr., 82

SALEM – John Eugene Landgraver Sr., 82, of 12205 Goshen Road, died at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, at his home.

He was born Nov. 18, 1927, in Youngstown, the son of the late Jacob and Anna (Kane) Landgraver.

John had worked for the Youngstown Sheet and Tube as a steelworker for 37 years, retiring in 1982. He was a member of the Salem First Friends Church and the American Legion No. 301 in Austintown. During World War II, he served in the U. S. Navy.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley (Sleeman) Stoffer Landgraver, whom he married Oct. 12, 1984; four sons, John (Rainell) Landgraver, Jr. of Angola, Ind., Charles (Martha) Landgraver of Ammon, Idaho, Michael (Deborah) Landgraver of Austintown and Barry (Sriprai) Landgraver of Austintown; stepchildren, Kenneth R. (Jeanette) Stoffer of Rootstown, Donald C. Stoffer Jr. of Salem, Keith Alan Stoffer of Cleveland and Doreen Sue (Jim) Neil of West Virginia; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A brother, James Landgraver, preceded him in death.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Sunset Hills Burial Park in North Canton, followed by a memorial service at noon at the First Friends Church in Salem. A luncheon will follow the memorial service at the church.

There are no calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to Independent Hospice, 6715 Tippecanoe Road, Youngstown, OH 44406 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Arrangements are being handled by the Stark Memorial Funeral Home.

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Robert S. McCreery, 83

NEW CASTLE, PA. – Robert S. McCreery, 83, of 3505 Meadowview Blvd., passed away the morning of Nov. 28, 2009, at Allegheny General Hospital.

Robert was born Aug. 18,1926 in Youngstown to the late Seward and Blanche McGonigle McCreery.

He was married to the former Theresa Vascetti for 48 years and she survives.

Robert retired from the Liberty Theater, where he was the projectionist and manager. In earlier years, he had worked as a crane operator for Youngstown Steel Door Inc.

He was a member of St. Camillus Church.

Robert was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving as a Seaman 1st class aboard the USS Iowa.

He was an avid sports fan and he loved music, playing the saxophone and guitar. Robert also enjoyed flying and was a licensed pilot of small aircraft.

In addition to his wife, Theresa, survivors include three daughters and their husbands, Mary Jo and Alan Miller, Lori and Tom Galbreath and Amy and Larry Temple, all of New Castle; two sisters, Norma Fitzpatrick of Youngstown and Sandy Noday of Canfield; and seven grandchildren. He is also survived by his additional children, Kathleen Kaminsky and Lynette Newhouse, both of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Megan Galbreath; one brother, Seward (Babe) McCreery; and two sisters, June Adair and Laverne Metzgar.

Visitation will be held today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Ed & Don DeCarbo Funeral Home & Crematory, 3000 Wilmington Road.

A procession will leave the funeral home at 10 a.m. on Tuesday for St. Camillus Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Fr. Thomas Lewandowski, Pastor, will officiate.

Burial will be in the veterans section of Parkside Cemetery. Military services will be conducted by the New Castle Area Honor Guard.

Please visit www.decarbofuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send online condolences.

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Eric Duane Payne, 37

YOUNGSTOWN – A funeral service celebrating the life of Mr. Eric Duane Payne, 37, who departed this life Nov. 20, 2009, will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Washington Funeral Home.

Mr. Payne was born April 23, 1972 in Youngstown, a son of William Carper and Corinne Payne.

He was currently employed with Spectrum Metal Finishing Inc.

He enjoyed working and restoring old cars. He loved spending time with his family and friends and he was working to build a relationship with his children.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his mother of Youngstown; his father of Warren; two sons, Jefferson D. and Eric D. Payne Jr.; four daughters, Charmanie Payne, Shaquanna Madison and Tanaya Beacham Payne, all of Youngstown and Lachelle Higgins of Columbus; his sisters, Stephanie Payne of Youngstown and Erika Carper of Warren; a close friend, Brian McClain of Campbell; two grandchildren, Dakota Gibbs and Sherrod Higgins; and a host of other relatives and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, James and Gussie McGrady; his paternal grandparents, William and Mary E. Carper; a brother, Marvin Chambers; a cousin, Edgar Davis III and a close friend, Floyd Robinson.

The family will receive friends at 215 Victoria Ave.

Friends may call Wednesday one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to (330) 782-2050 or emailed to JEWASHTON@aol.com.

Ministry of comfort provided by J.E. Washington Funeral Services Inc.

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Joycelyn Preston, 76

YOUNGSTOWN – Funeral services will be Wednesday at noon at Third Baptist Church for Mrs. Joycelyn Preston, 76, who departed this life Tuesday at Select Specialty Hospital.

Mrs. Preston was born Nov. 20, 1933 in Houston, Texas, a daughter of E.B. and Edna Dixon Bland.

She was a nurse’s aide for several area nursing homes and was a custodian for Youngstown City School System, where she retired on disability.

She was a member of the church and served on its usher board and trustee wives.

She was also affiliated with the Associated Neighborhood Centers.

She leaves her husband of 30 years, English Preston; sons, Steve Buck, Garnet (Maryann) Dunston and Marvin Dunston, all of Youngstown; daughters, Ellen Moore and Diane Dunston, both of Youngstown and Renee Dunston of North Carolina; a sister, Gwendolyn Trice of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; a stepson, Robert Preston of Baltimore; seven grandchildren, including Chelsea Anderson, whom she helped rear; six great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Opal Brockington; and three brothers, E.B. Bland Jr., Harvey Bland and her twin, Johnny Bland.

Viewing will be Tuesday from noon to 4 p.m. at the F.D. Mason Memorial Funeral Home.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

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Mary Catherine “Kate” Rochford, 104

BOARDMAN – Prayers will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Fox Funeral Home in Boardman, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Dominic Church for Mary Catherine “Kate” Rochford, 104, who passed away Saturday morning.

Mary also known as “Kate” was born Dec. 19, 1904, in Killala County Mayo, Ireland, a daughter of James and Mariah Ruddy McAndrew.

Kate was a member of the church and Rosary & Altar Society.

“How do we sum up the life that spanned 104 years, two continents and produced 55 descendants?” She loved her native Ireland and culture, but was also so proud of her life in America. She left her home in 1925, coming through Ellis Island to Youngstown. Kate was a gifted seamstress and baker, she worked initially as a nanny for a prominent Youngstown family.

In 1934, she married Anthony C. Rochford, who died Nov. 2, 1973.

She was gifted with the two biggest blessings of her life. Thomas and Dee Dee. She was a proud and devoted mother and grandmother. She will always be remembered for her sense of humor and love of faith, family and life.

Kate leaves to cherish her memory, her son, Thomas (Margie) Rochford of Columbiana; a daughter, Dee Dee (Evelyn) Stoops of Boardman; 14 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death her son-in-law, Ronald Stoops; two brothers, Martin and Thomas McAndrew; four sisters Marie Fowler, Ann Nallon, Elizabeth Bohnsack and Matilda Hannick; a grandson, Thomas Rochford; two granddaughters, infant Mary Jane Stoops and Mary Ann Rochford Horvath; and a infant great-granddaughter, Charley Grace Stoops.

Friends may call today from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Fox Funeral Home in Boardman.

Material tributes can be made in Mary “Kate’s” name to Ron Stoops Scholarship Fund, c/o Cardinal Mooney High School, 2545 Erie St., Youngstown, OH 44507 or the Beatitude House, 287 Lora Ave., Youngstown, OH 44504.

Her family wishes to thank the staff of Greenbriar Health Care Center for their love and compassion given to her.

Family and friends may visit www.foxfuneralhome.org to view this obituary and send condolences.

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Virginia Wolfe, 93

STRUTHERS – Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Christ Community Church in Campbell for Virginia Wolfe, 93, formerly of Campbell, who went to be with the Lord at Maplecrest Nursing Home at 9:13 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28.

She was born Nov. 15, 1916, in Youngstown, the daughter of George and Rafila Marcu Arsu.

She was a 1933 graduate of Campbell Memorial High School and continued her education at Ohio University and Youngstown College. She was a teacher in the Campbell School System for a short time.

On June 19, 1937, she married Andrew Wolfe and they were married for 59 years.

Virginia was a member of the Christ Community Church, where she served in many capacities, especially the Prime Timers Group with her husband. She truly loved the Lord and served him faithfully.

She volunteered at the Rescue Mission of Youngstown for many years and was honored with a plaque for her service.

She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Andrea (Bill) Pringle of Campbell and David (Donna) Wolfe of Boardman; six grandchildren, Timothy (Cheryl) Mincher, Terri O’Dea, Scott (Lisa) Mincher, David (Lori) Wolfe, Kristin (Boyd) Search and Douglas (Jessica) Wolfe; 20 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and was Aunty Jane to all her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Andrew, who passed away on April 12, 1997; two brothers, Nick and Dan Arsu; six sisters, Virginia Elvera Arsu, Anna Chugden, Mary Brayer, Helen Klingler, Betty Karasek and Elvera Black; and a granddaughter, Cynthia Lynne Wolfe.

A special thanks to the staff of Maplecrest Nursing Home for the loving care they gave to our Mother, and the kindness they showed to our family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Christ Community Church in Virginia’s name.

The Wolfe family has entrusted their loved one to the care of the Wasko Funeral Home and will receive friends at the Christ Community Church in Campbell on Tuesday from 11a.m. to 1 p.m.

Mom, we will love and cherish you forever.

Please visit www.waskofamily.com to view this obituary.

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