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Frank A. Bilonick, 91, of Bobtown, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, December 20, 2009, in his home.

He was born March 16, 1918, in Bowood, a son of the late John and Mary Bilonick.

Mr. Bilonick graduated from Uniontown High School.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

Mr. Bilonick was a member of American Legion Post 51 in Uniontown.

He worked 47 years in the coal mines and retired from J&L Steel's Shannopin Mine in Bobtown, where he was a master mechanic and chief mine electrician.

Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Ruth Lyons Bilonick, whom he married November 4, 1941; four children, Samuel Bilonick of Uniontown, Timothy and Gregory Bilonick, both of Maidsville, W.Va., and Suzanne Lamke of Easton; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a brother, George Bilonick of Bury St. Edmunds, England.

Deceased is a son, Michael Bilonick.

Maurice F. Helphenstine

Maurice F. (Skip) Helphenstine, 78, formerly of Waynesburg, passed away Friday, December 18, 2009.

He was born December 4, 1931, in Wind Ridge.

Mr. Helphenstine had lived in Arizona since July 1969.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion.

Surviving are five children, Gregory Helphenstine and wife Joyce of Wind Ridge, Douglas Helphenstine and wife Wendy, Curtis Helphenstine, Teresa Hunt and Thomas Helphenstine of Arizona; a brother, James H. Helphenstine and wife Carmen of Wind Ridge; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Deceased is his wife, Margaret Helphenstine, who passed away in May 1997.

Clifford E. Opperud

Clifford E. Opperud, 85, of Carmichaels, died Saturday, December 19, 2009, in Southwest Regional Medical Center, Waynesburg.

He was born November 11, 1924, in South Dakota, a son of the late Arthur W. and Doris Baron Opperud.

Mr. Opperud served his country with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific islands.

He was a retired union carpenter.

Surviving are three children, Debbie, Kathy and Clifford Opperud Jr.; three stepchildren, Donald W., Dorothy Sue and Charles E. McMahon; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Carl Opperud; four sisters, Dorothy Dargatz, Maxine Pitts, Joyce Waters and Marilyn Horn; and his companion, Edith Stebok.

Deceased are his wives, Joanne and Bertie Opperud; a son, David Paul Opperud; a brother, Gordon Opperud; and two sisters, Violet Gertma and Rose Phillips.

June Stewart Martin Taylor

June Stewart Martin Taylor, 69, of Oregon, formerly of Waynesburg, died December 13, 2009, in Fairview, Ore.

She was born August 22, 1940, in Waynesburg, a daughter of the late Henry E. and Hazel Taylor Stewart.

Surviving are a daughter, Leslie Martin Fox of Anchorage, Alaska; three sons, Steve, Greg and Brian Martin; four sisters, Wahneeta, widow of the late Homer Knisely, Bonnie and husband Donald Kiger, all of Waynesburg, Pat and husband Larry Phillips of Ruff Creek and Alice Ruth and husband Charles McConnell of Beaver; a brother, Henry E. and wife Paulette Stewart Jr. of Richmond, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews.

Lulu Shipe Bedillion

Lulu Shipe Bedillion, 92, of Washington, died Tuesday, December 22, 2009, in RespiCare, Waynesburg.

She was born June 8, 1917, in Amwell Township, a daughter of Sheldon George and Cora McQuay Shipe.

Mrs. Bedillion attended Chestnut Ridge and Trinity High schools.

She was an original member of Grace Brethren Church of Washington, where she held many offices, including W.M.C. and Sunday school.

Mrs. Bedillion was a sales clerk in the shoe department at the G.C. Murphy store on Main Street in Washington.

On September 2, 1932, she married Leo R. Bedillion, who died August 24, 1981.

Surviving are two sons, Leo R. (Betty Shadeck) Bedillion Jr. of Washington and Kenneth E. (Dorothy) Bedillion of Waynesburg; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen L. Miles of Waynesburg; and a brother, William W. Shipe of Washington.

Deceased are a son, Monte C. Bedillion; a sister, Margaret P. Conkle; and two brothers, Donald E. Shipe and Robert Sheldon Shipe.

Jerome M. Culp

Deacon Jerome M. Culp, 85, of Clarksville, died Saturday, December 19, 2009, in Southwest Regional Medical Center, Waynesburg, following a long illness.

He was born October 5, 1924, in Vestaburg, a son of the late Elliott Cornelius and Mabel Randolph Culp.

Mr. Culp was retired from Gateway Mine in Greene County, where he was an electrician, mechanic and foreman.

He graduated from high school, served in the U.S. Navy and was a member of the American Legion. He was past president of the Lions Club and Senior Action Council.

Mr. Culp was a member of First Baptist Church of Pitt Gas for more than 50 years and served as chairman of the deacon and trustee boards as well as Sunday school superintendent.

He was a founding trustee of Youghiogheny Western Baptist Association.

Besides his parents, deceased are his wife of 47 years, Estella Moore Culp; his oldest son, Jerome M. Culp Jr., esquire; and five brothers and sisters.

He leaves to cherish his memory five children, Risa, James (Linda), Joseph (Susanna), Jeffrey (Charely) and Jonathan (Darniece); a brother, Thomas Culp (Jean); 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

He also leaves many other relatives, church family and friends.

Marilyn L. Jaster

Marilyn L. Jaster, 73, of Greensboro, died Tuesday, December 22, 2009, in her home.

Mrs. Jaster was born October 25, 1936, in Lisbon, N.D., a daughter of the late Peter and Olga Schultz McRitchie.

On November 23, 1956, she married Eugene L. Jaster, who survives.

Also surviving are three children, Wanda Sokol (James) of Crucible, Ricky E. Jaster (Linda G.) of Greensboro and Kimberly J. Jaster of Greensboro; a grandson; a brother, Robert McRitchie (Ruby) of Sheldon, N.D.; and two sisters, Sharon Haare and Sandra McRitchie, both of Minnesota.

A brother, Bernard McRitchie, is deceased.

James Robert Lutes

James Robert Lutes, 82, of Carmichaels, died Tuesday, December 22, 2009, in Uniontown Hospital.

He was born January 13, 1927, in Cokeburg, a son of the late James H. and Anna Mae Dodds Lutes of Jefferson.

Mr. Lutes enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 during World War II and served in the occupation of Japan. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean conflict and earned numerous campaign medals during his military service.

After an honorable discharge in August 1952, Mr. Lutes worked as a coal miner with Bethlehem Steel Coal Co. He retired as a federal mine safety inspector.

He was a member of St. Hugh's Roman Catholic Church of Carmichaels.

Mr. Lutes was a former volunteer fireman and town council member in Ellsworth and remained a member of various military and veterans clubs.

He enjoyed making stained glass, international travel, sports and family gatherings, which almost always included a card game.

He is survived by a daughter, Kathleen Lutes Papak and husband retired U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. R. David Papak of Arnold, Md.; a son, Kenneth Lutes and wife Bonnie of Carver, Mass.; his former wife, Lillian Velky Lutes Sasko of Ellsworth; two grandsons; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Walter Lutes and wife Jan of Warrenton, Va.; three sisters, Dora Vassallo of McClellandtown, Bessie Holland and husband Peter of Jefferson and Dolores Watson and husband William of Carmichaels; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are a son, Kevin Lutes; five sisters, Sara Lentz, Mary Haschets, Laura Hayden, Viola Chopp and Martha Polander; and two brothers, John Lutes and William Lutes.

Eleanor D. Wokovitz

Eleanor D. Wokovitz, 81, of Carmichaels, died Tuesday, December 22, 2009, in her home.

She was born May 29, 1928, in Leckrone, a daughter of the late James and Dolores Balash.

Mrs. Wokovitz was a homemaker.

She enjoyed the Carmichaels Area Senior Citizens Center, where she attended dances.

Mrs. Wokovitz was Catholic.

On October 9, 1947, she married Eli Wokovitz, who died July 15, 2005.

Surviving are two daughters, Sheila Wiley and husband Roger of Roanoke, Va., and Marcella Hayden and husband Ralph of Carmichaels; two grandchildren; and three sisters, Thelma Concelli of McClellandtown, Pearl Yoskovich of Texas and Barbara Albani of Detroit, Mich.

Deceased are two sisters, Edith Kopich and Alice Balash in infancy.

David W. Owen

David W. Owen, 79, of Washington, died Friday, December 25, 2009, in Washington Hospital.

He was born August 29, 1930, in Waynesburg, a son of the late Encel D. and Rebecca Loughman Owen.

He was a 1947 graduate of Waynesburg High School.

While living in Waynesburg, he was a member of Washington Street United Methodist Church.

Mr. Owen worked for 39 years in telecommunications as a cable splicer and technician, retiring in 1992 from Bell Atlantic.

He served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, retiring in 1965 as a master sergeant and crew chief.

Mr. Owen resided most of his life in Washington. From 1974 through 1984, he was active in Boy Scouts of America. He served as the leader of Cub Scout Pack 1017 and later as Scoutmaster of Troop 1025.

He was awarded the Wood Badge and the Silver Beaver.

Surviving are his wife, Margaret N. Hana Garrett Owen, whom he married June 29, 1979; a son, David Owen of Greensboro, N.C.; a daughter, Carol Jacoby of Bentleyville; a stepson, John M. Garrett (wife Kim) of Columbia, Mo.; a granddaughter; two step-grandchildren; and a sister, Elizabeth Ann Mulkern of Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Lung Association.

Beverly N. Wade

Beverly N. Wade, 41, of Aleppo, died Thursday, December 24, 2009.

She is survived by her mother, Ruth Herrod Wade; her children, Daniel Wade Truss and Heather Smith; and two sisters; and a brother.

Deceased is her father, Richard Wade.

Barbara S. Sandlin

Barbara S. Sandlin, 73, of Waynesburg, died at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 26, 2009, in Rolling Meadows Nursing Home in Waynesburg.

She was born Thursday, April 2, 1936, in Salem, Ind., a daughter of the late Marjorie Gilstrap Ingram.

Ms. Sandlin attended Fairall United Methodist Church, Waynesburg.

She also was a member of the Women of the Moose 888 of Waynesburg.

While her health permitted, she worked at the A&P Store in Waynesburg as a clerk.

She was a homemaker and enjoyed reading.

Ms. Sandlin was an inspiration throughout her life to all who knew her.

She is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Brenda and Bob Willkomm of Pittsburgh and Joyce and George Scott of Waynesburg; two grandchildren; two sisters, Anita Miller of Salem and Sheila Short of Denver, Colo.; a brother, Kenneth Ingram of Salem; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are three brothers, Alva Johnson, Marvin Ingram and Richard Ingram.

The family suggest memorials be made to Rolling Meadows Nursing Home Activities Fund, 107 Curry Road, Waynesburg, PA 15370 or Community Action Southwest, 1505 Morris Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370.