The Indiana Gazette
Page 4 — Wednesday, May 25, 2016
OBITUARIES James Bowser Sr. James E. Bowser Sr., 68, of Homer City, passed away Monday, May 16, 2016, at his residence. A son of the late Thomas E. and Laura H. Brown Bowser, he was born May 20, 1947, in Brush Valley. Mr. Bowser was a 1965 graduate of Laura Lamar and a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in New Florence. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Mr. Bowser was self-employed in the auto detailing business. His past employment included Bethlehem Steel and Dietrich Industries. He was also a carpenter and mechanic. Mr. Bowser was often heard telling others about the goodness of God’s kingdom. He is survived by his wife
of 48 years, Glady L. McCullough Bowser, of Homer City; three children: Loretta Miller, of Derry; Tammy Ellison and husband Paul, of Kannapolis, N.C.; and James E. Bowser Jr., of Homer City; a brother, Theodore E. Bowser and wife Eleanor, of Homer City; five grandchildren: Hanna, Megan, Kimber, Dakota and Remington; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Bowser; and infant triplet sisters. There will be no visitation. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Jehovah’s Witnesses, 6226 Route 711, New Florence, with Elder Lawson Klause officiating. www.robinsonlytleinc .com
Paul Bradway Byrne Paul Bradway Byrne, 83, of Indiana, formerly of Warren, N.J., died Thursday, May 19, 2016, at the Hershey Medical Center, surrounded by his wife and children. He was born in 1933 to Paul Patrick and Stella Rice Byrne in Washington, D.C., and raised in Florida, Hawaii and Massachusetts, the oldest of two sons and a daughter. He studied electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and graduated from MIT in 1955. He began his career in electrical engineering at Engelhard Corporation of Iselin, N.J., where his knowledge led to several patents, advancement and his partnership in a spin-off company, Electrocatalytic Inc. (Elcat). Electro-chemistry water technologies developed by Paul included electrochlorination using seawater and cathodic protection systems (trade names CHLOROPAC and CAPAC, now owned by Siemens Water Technologies Corp.). Upon retirement from Elcat, Paul moved to Indiana with his wife, Angela, in 1996. He wanted to have horses and be close his son. He loved their home and horse barn and pastures on land
converted from a Christmas tree farm. Paul and Angela’s travels to Alaska, Australia, England, Ireland, Indonesia, Italy, Singapore and all around the U.S. were enjoyed, but a family cruise celebrating their 40th anniversary, frequent family vacations at the New Jersey shore and hosting family at Christmas were most memorable. Paul is survived by his wife Angela (his Angel) of 55 years; five children: David (Barbara) Byrne, Cheryl (Dennis) Kasner, Laura Byrne, Michelle (Martin) Matheusch and Michael (Amy) Byrne; six grandchildren: Cory, Cassandra, Nicholas, Julia, Maxwell and Matthew; three stepgrandchildren: Alfredo, Kayla and Joseph; one great-grandchild, Colton; three stepgreat-grandchildren: Madison, Marcella and Rocco; and a sister and brother, Dianne Bowen and Peter Byrne. He was preceded in death by his parents and a stepgranddaughter, Alexandra Alvarez. Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Bowser-Minich Funeral Home, Indiana. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Kent. Interment will be private. www.bowserminich.com
Calvin G. Foust Calvin G. Foust, 90, of North Huntingdon, passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2016, at the Walden’s View Senior Care, North Huntingdon. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Shoemaker Funeral Home Inc., 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral
home with Rev. Gary LaPietra officiating. Interment will be in the Blairsville Cemetery, Blairsville. Military services will be accorded by the Blairsville VFW Post #5821 and American Legion Post #0407. To view the online obituary, sign the guest registry or send condolences, visit www.shoemakerfh-monu ments.com.
Armeda Kasun Armeda Kasun, 93, of Indiana, died Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at Bethany Place. She was the widow of John Kasun Jr., who died in 1998. Armeda was born July 13, 1922, in Schenley, Armstrong County, to the late Enrico and Maria (Drovetto) Lantelme. She was a homemaker. She belonged to St. Bernard of Clairvaux Roman Catholic Church and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Armeda is survived by her daughter, Rita Losz, and her husband, Richard, of Summerville, S.C., and a daughter-in-law, Diana Kasun, of Indiana. She is also survived by her sister, Catherine Julius, of Leechburg, and sister-in-law Marylyn Lantelme, of Warsaw, Va.;
her grandchildren: Dave Kasun, Kara Critzer, Angela Kellar and Alison McLaurine; and her great-grandchildren: Dylan and Kaitlyn McLaurine, Dominic Kasun, Mattie and Harper Kellar, and Everett John Critzer. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, as well as her son, David Kasun; grandson Ricky Losz; and her brothers Ernest and Levey Lantelme. There will be no public visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Roman Catholic Church. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Online condolences may be offered by visiting rbfh.net.
TOMORROW’S FUNERALS FOUST, Calvin G., 11 a.m., Shoemaker Funeral Home Inc., Blairsville KASUN, Armeda, 10 a.m., St. Bernard of Clairvaux Roman Catholic Church, Indiana (Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home, Indiana) LAWSON, Emilie Eileen, 7 p.m., James F. Ferguson Funeral Home Inc., Blairsville
LATE DEATHS PIRRONE, Fabrizio, C. Frederick Bowser Funeral Home, Homer City (724) 479-9422 PRIBICKO, Aaron P., Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home, Indiana (724) 349-2000
EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP Emilie Lawson
Emilie Eileen Lawson, 74, of Homer City, died Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at Indiana Regional Medical Center. She was born June 18, 1941, in Climax, and was a daughter of Paul Elofsky and Elsie (Anderson) Elofsky. Emilie was a very giving person. She enjoyed her dolls and watching butterflies. She is survived by her son, Ron Lapp, and wife Chris, Indiana; daughter Cindy Clawson and husband Cliff, Homer City; son Mark Lapp and wife Jodi, Homer City; daughter Wanda Lapp, Indiana; daughter Donna DeHaas and husband Jim, Tennessee; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brother Paul Elofsky and wife Karen, Harrisburg;
sister Pam Folk and husband Bob, Alverda; sister Darlene Miller, Blairsville; and brother John Davis, Blairsville. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Carl E. Lawson, in 2003; sister Pauline Elofsky; and granddaughter Kristian DeHaas. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m., the time of the services, at the James F. Ferguson Funeral Home Inc., Blairsville. Interment will be in Germany Lutheran Cemetery, West Wheatfield Township. To help with funeral costs, memorial donations may be made to James F. Ferguson Funeral Home Inc., 25 W. Market St., Blairsville, PA 15717. www.jamesfergusonfu neralhome.com
Rita Lechnar Rita C. Lechnar, 88, of Uniontown, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 21, 2016. Rita was very strong in her Catholic faith and was dedicated to her loving family. Friends will be received in the Kezmarsky Funeral Home, 71 Pennsylvania Ave., Uniontown, from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, please proceed directly to Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 180 Old Walnut Hill Road, Uniontown, where additional viewing will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. A funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery,
Hopwood. The family requests that memorial contributions be made in Rita’s name to Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Uniontown, or Geibel Catholic High School – Lechnar Memorial Fund, Connellsville.
death by both parents; her twin sister, Doris; her daughter, Janice Dianne Pierce; her brothers John Norbin Jr. and Charles Allan Sr.; and her son-in-law, John Risinger. Surviving are her two daughters, Debra Risinger, Indiana, and Donna (Michael) Skultety, Winston-Salem, N.C.; six grandchildren: Jason Risinger, Pittsburgh; Jessica, Jeremy and John Risinger, Indiana; Jennifer Skultety, Charlotte, N.C.; and Rebecca Skultety, Winston-Salem; and two great-grandchildren, Andrew and Christian Risinger. Memorials may be made to the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home or to Hands at Work in Africa. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth -miller.com.
M. ‘Eileene’ Taylor M. “Eileene” Taylor, 93, of Blairsville, died Monday, May 23, 2016, at her residence. She was the widow of Lloyd G. Taylor, who died in December 1991. Eileene was born April 4, 1923, in Homer City to the late Charles and Grace (Frederick) Johnston. She was a homemaker. Eileene loved the family farm, cats and chickens and taking care of her family and friends. She also loved helping to deliver newspapers with her daughter, Linda. Eileene was a member of the First Christian Church of Indiana. Her family would like to thank her caregivers Jade Kessler, Brenda Freedline and Marlene Wilhelm. She is survived by her children: Linda Kelly (Orvil), of Blairsville; Barry L. Taylor (Edna), of Homer City; and Randy L. Taylor (Terry), of Blairsville. Her grandchildren also survive her: Dr. Holly Taylor Platt (Wade), of Missouri; Amy Humphrey, of Maryland; Dave Reinard (Barb), of New York; Brenda Shubuck (Robert), of New York; Scott
Man resentenced in drug trafficking By CHAUNCEY ROSS
chauncey@indianagazette.net
Dorothy Pierce Dorothy Morgan Pierce, 86, of Winston-Salem, N.C., died Saturday, May 21, 2016, at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. The daughter of John Norbin Morgan Sr. and Lota Blanche (Nanney) Morgan, she was born June 11, 1929, in Tupelo, Miss. She completed a secretarial diploma at Southern Missionary College, Collegedale, Tenn., followed by a bachelor’s degree in secretarial science at Emmanuel Missionary College, Berrien Springs, Mich. Her career was in medical records transcription for Indiana Hospital and North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo, Miss. Dorothy was grounded by her love of family and friends and her desire to help others. Originally a member of The Seventh Day Adventist Church, she joined Parkway Presbyterian Church (USA) when she moved to Winston-Salem. At Parkway she was active in Presbyterian Women, Rebecca Circle, TOFFS and Sunday school as a teacher for the Seekers Class. She will be remembered most for her wit and wisdom, and her lifelong love of learning. She was preceded in
TOM PEEL/Gazette
THE INDIANA AREA Education Association awards a scholarship each year to a senior entering the field of education. Kayla Stewart, IAEA treasurer, left, presented Juliano Donatelli a $1,000 scholarship. He will major in English education at the University of Pittsburgh.
Kelly, of East Vandergrift; and Cindy George (Richard), of Aultman. Nine great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren also survive her. Eileene was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, as well as one grandson, Timothy Reinard, and one sister, Thelma Mull. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the RairighBence Funeral Home of Indiana, where her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Jerry Hoch officiating. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery. Online condolences may be offered by visiting rbfh.net.
An Indiana man was placed on probation Monday after a years-long battle to overturn a prison term imposed for his conviction on a drug trafficking charge. Zachary Afshar, 26, was resentenced by Judge William Martin to serve five years of probation and to pay a fine and costs of $16,910.92 for one felony count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine. The sentencing followed lengthy appeals for lenience by Afshar and his attorney, David Chontos, of Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, in Martin’s court, where 14 of Afshar’s relatives and friends had gathered to show their support. Afshar told Martin that he has resumed his studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has taken part in treatment programs and performed volunteer service. Acknowledging the time the case has spent in the legal system, Afshar said he would accept the will of the court. “Playing a game is important to learning the rules of life,” Afshar said. “Every decision I made is mine. I own up to it. I fully accept responsibility for it.” Chontos said Afshar had rebuilt his life while he waited for adjudication of the case, and he thanked Martin for reading “an extraordinary number of” letters that Afshar’s friends, college professors and others had written to the court. “His post-offense behavior has been exemplary,” Chontos said. “He has had to abide by (IUP) rules to be readmitted.” Chontos cited state sentencing guidelines and said Afshar met criteria for being ordered to probation and community service. “Most effectively, this human being’s best treatment should be done outside jail,” he said. The charge dates from Afshar’s arrest by Indiana Borough police in an apartment at 919 Water St. on Jan. 11, 2012, when investigators charged him with three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver drugs including crack cocaine, three misdemeanor counts of possession of controlled substances, a felony count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
The case originally was dismissed in June 2012 in Blairsville District Court, but was refiled a month later in Indiana District Court, where Judge Guy Haberl held the charges for trial at a preliminary hearing Aug. 16, 2012. Martin found Afshar guilty in the case in a nonjury trial Oct. 4, 2013, and sentenced him on Dec. 20, 2013, to serve three to six years in prison and to pay fines and court costs totaling $16,617.07. Martin convicted him of one count of cocaine trafficking, three counts of possession of cocaine, marijuana and a controlled chemical commonly called bath salts, and possession of drug paraphernalia, and dismissed the three remaining counts including intent to deliver marijuana and bath salts. Afshar’s fight against the conviction began in May 2014 in Pennsylvania Superior Court, where a panel of judges ruled in April 2015 to uphold the conviction but to throw out the sentence. Afshar’s lawyers filed a second petition to Superior Court in July, asking to be allowed to take the appeal to Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The Superior Court judges denied the request Dec. 7 and ordered the case back to Indiana County for resentencing. Martin told Afshar in court Monday that he had taken into consideration an updated report by the Indiana County Probation Office, Afshar’s compliance with pre-trial services, the letters from his friends and Afshar’s employment and education records. “Incarceration will serve no productive purpose,” Martin said. “Long-term probation is appropriate.” And he admonished Afshar as he prepared to leave the courtroom. “I don’t give people anything. This is not a break,” Martin said. “Don’t let yourself down.” Online court records show Afshar faced felony drug trafficking and possession charges in a complaint filed by Saltsburg Borough police on June 10, 2012, in Blairsville District Court before Judge Jennifer Rega. The charges later were withdrawn. Earlier, Afshar pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge filed by IUP campus police. He paid $538 in fines and costs in the case filed April 22, 2008, in Indiana District Court.
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