James ''Jim'' Kenneth Hart, 79, of Webster, Rostraver Township, passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2019 surrounded by his family after a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  He was born in Carroll Township on March 19, 1940, one of nine children of the late Howard Swope and Iva Dail (Coughenour) Hart. Jim attended Rostraver High School and enlisted in the United States Navy, where he met his wife, Elizabeth (Benedict), while stationed in Boston,...

Thelma Mae Nichols, 89, of Fayette City, died Wednesday, September 18, 2019 in Country Care Manor.  Born in Layton on March 6, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Ray and Mary (Thomas) Fleming. A homemaker, Thelma was a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Fayette City.  She loved her church and was a member for 66 years!  She loved her family: the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she never forgot their birthdays, anniversaries,...

Barbara Louise (Schumacher) Barch, 82, of Rostraver Township, passed away early Sunday morning, September 15, 2019 at the Hallsworth House in Monessen.  Born on February 25, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Edmund C. and Lena (Blotzer) Schumacher. "Nurse Barb" to her friends or "Bubba" as she was affectionately known to her grandchildren was born and raised in Donora and graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in 1957.  She met her husband of 54...

David A. Turcheck, 73, of Rostraver Township, died Friday, September 13, 2019.  Born in Brownsville on July 25, 1946, he was the son of the late Joseph and Amelia (Keli) Turcheck. David was a 1964 graduate of Frazier High School, where he was valedictorian.  He was the top student in his Honors Engineering Class of 1968 at Penn State University.  In 1971, David received his Master's Degree in Nuclear Science from Carnegie Mellon University. He retired after 38 years as a...

Ruth Ann Smith, 76, of West Newton, died Tuesday, September 10, 2019.  Born in West Newton on June 28, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Charles A. and Blanche (Miller) Bittner. A homemaker of six children, Ruth Ann was a member of the First Baptist Church in West Newton.  She loved doing needlepoint, playing computer games and building miniature lego sets, and she enjoyed watching movies on the Hallmark Channel. She is survived by her children, Cindy (George) Smalich of...

George A. Martin IV, 79, of Rostraver Township, died Monday, September 9, 2019.  Born in Rostraver Township on October 10, 1939, he was the son of the late George A. III and Margaret I. (Miller) Martin. George began working at Carter's Nursery in Rostraver, then worked as a lineman for West Penn Power Co.  He graduated from California State Teachers College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and furthered with a Master's Degree.  He was a teacher at Elizabeth...

Jack E. McShane of Rostraver Township died Monday, September 2, 2019.  He was the son of the late Jack and Gilda (Camino) McShane. Catholic by faith, Jack was the former owner of McShane's Florist and Greenhouse in Rostraver Township.  He was a member of the Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659, the Rostraver Historical Society and the Monessen Elks.  He served in the U.S. Army, Company A of the Pennsylvania National Guard in Monongahela. He is survived by his wife of...

Pamela R. Backstrom, 56, of Irwin, died Saturday, August 31, 2019.  Born in Charleroi on February 18, 1963, she was the daughter of the late William E. and Ruth E. (Skurka) Backstrom. Pamela was a school teacher and taught school in Maryland.  She loved animals. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Louisa Backstrom of West Newton. Friends will be received on Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. in the James C. Stump Funeral Home Inc., 580 Circle Drive, Rostraver...

Paul Martin Matty, 67, of West Newton, died Thursday, August 29, 2019.  Born in Greensburg on January 31, 1952, he was the son of the late Edward D. and Nancy (Cook) Matty. Paul was a member of Holy Family Church in West Newton and at one time worked for the West Newton Ambulance Service. He is survived by his brother, Edward P. Matty of Gurnee, IIlnois; and sister, Mildred (John) Rohm of West Newton. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 10 a.m. in...

Joan K. Beck, 69, of Rostraver Township, died Wednesday, August 28, 2019.  Born in North Charleroi on June 4, 1950, she was the daughter of the late Joseph P. and Pauline J. (Haluch) Kopanic Sr.  For 12 years she fought a courageous battle with cancer, but she certainly won the battle of life!!  With her deep faith and God at her side, she fought with strength and grace! Joanie was a member of the Church of St. Anne and the Confraternity of Christian Mothers.  She has...