All Obituaries

Robert S. "Bob" Ruscitti, 86, of Girard, died Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at St. Vincent Health Center following a brief illness.  He was born February 1, 1933 in Norwood, MA, a son of the late John J. and Mary E. (D'Alessandro) Ruscitti.  Bob graduated from the Norwood High School in 1951 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May of 1952, during the Korean Conflict. He served aboard the USS Cassin Young (DD 793) as an Electricians Mate and had over three years of overseas...

Rita A. (Bille) Simkovitch, 88, of Girard, passed away on Monday, February 4, 2019 at her home. She was born October 5, 1930 in Erie, a daughter of the late Anthony and Margaret (Scherer) Bille. Rita grew up in Girard and was raised on the family farm, where now sits St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. She graduated from the Rice Avenue Union High School in 1949. Following high school she began employment with Pennsylvania Bell Telephone as an Operator and later for J. W. Cook Sons...

Malcolm C. "Mac" Traut, 81 of Albion and formerly of Fairview, died suddenly on Wednesday January 30, 2019 at UPMC Hamot.  He was born March 29, 1937 in Fairview, a son of the late Lee M. and Bernice (Forbes) Traut.  Mac graduated from Fairview High School in 1955. Following high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington D.C., Atoll Johnson Island and Kwajalein Atoll, where he served with the 2045th Air Force...

Butch (Richard) Borland, 81 of Girard died Friday January 25, 2019 at his home, surrounded by his family.  He was born  in Erie, a son of the late Joseph "Babe" and Edna (Simpson) Borland.  Butch  attended Girard's Rice Avenue Union High School and following high school, worked at Marx Toys, C.G. Woods in Girard, Nickel Plate Railroad in Conneaut and Girard Township.  He went to work at PHB in 1967 and was employed there 34 years until his retirement as...

Todd David Anderson, 57, of Lake City, passed away on Sunday January 27, 2019 at his home following a brief illness.   He was born in Erie August 27, 1961, a son of Norman D. Anderson, Karen P. Fosburg, and Philip H. Perry.   Todd graduated from Northwestern High School in 1980. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1981. Initially stationed in Philadelphia, he was later stationed at Mayport Naval Station, Jacksonville, FL., and Norfolk, VA. He served aboard the USS Saratoga...

James C. Schultz, 64 of Lake City, passed away at his home unexpectedly on Saturday January 26, 2019.  He was born in Erie, October 30, 1954, the son of Claude A. and Patricia A. (Parmerter) Schultz.  Jim graduated from Girard's Rice Avenue Union High School in 1973. Immediately following high school he went to work for Jackburn Mfg in Girard. He continued employment there for 38 years as a Floor Person, stocking material and keeping machines running.  He loved bowling....

Joyce M. (Graf) Gruzosky, 76, of Rochester, NY, died Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at Rochester General Hospital.  She was born January 23, 1942 in San Mateo, CA, the only child of the late Earl J. and Madeleine (Moreno) Graf.  Joyce was raised and educated in the San Francisco area of California, graduating from Notre Dame Belmont High School in 1959. She attended the University of California at Davis where she studied Political Science and minored in Psychology. In 1966, she...

James "Daniel" Bean, 63 of Cranesville, died suddenly on Wednesday January 9, 2019 in Syracuse while visiting family.  He was born September 2, 1955 in Erie, a son of the late Carl and Barbara E. (Hall) Bean.  Dan graduated from Fairview High School in 1974 and soon after graduation enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59), during deployment to the Mediterranean Sea; his last duty station was with Attack Squadron 174. He was honorably...

Bertha F. (Kerr) Ward, 84 of Erie and formerly of Girard and Philadelphia, passed away suddenly at her home on Friday January 4, 2019.  She was born July 30, 1934 in Philadelphia, a daughter of the late Joseph R. and Iona F. (Mitchell) Kerr.    In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Ward, whom she married March 15, 1957 in Philadelphia, also by a sister, Joan Blackburn.  Bertha graduated from Frankford High School in 1956. Following...

     Patricia Elaine (Petri) (Harpst) McCarthy of Lake City, Pa. left this earth on the wings of Angels to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, January 4, 2019, while surrounded by her loving family. Dementia may have taken her memory, but not her spirit, love of life, family and her fellow man.      Patricia was born on June 13, 1935 in Erie, Pa. to the late Elmer C. and Florence E. Petri. She was an accomplished artist and poet...