Obituaries

Jan 23, 2019

Floyd Lawrence, age 83, died from heart failure at home on January 23, 2019. He was born on August 31, 1935 in Erie, son of the late George and Mary (Dworakowski) Lawrence, and brother of the late Paul and Robert Lawrence. He attended Jones Elementary school and graduated from East High School, where he was a member of the swimming...

Jan 22, 2019

Judith Ann Dempsey, of Fairview, passed away peacefully at home on January 22, 2019. 

Judy was a graduate of Villa Maria Academy and attended Villa Maria College. Judy loved her family deeply and was known for her quick wit and her kind and generous spirit.  She will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Vivian...

Jan 22, 2019

Jean M. Loeffel, age 95, of Erie, passed away Tuesday January 22, 2019.

Jean was born in Erie on March 15, 1923 daughter of the late Clifford L. and Anna Mae Hannigan Pifer. She graduated from Strong Vincent High School in 1941 and worked at the Frost Greenhouses for over 21 years. She was an avid bowler, swimmer and golfer and...

Jan 20, 2019

Charles Peter “Pete” Steinmetz, 75, passed away on Sunday, January 20th, 2019 at the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie, PA.   

Pete was born February 21st, 1943 in Erie, Pennsylvania.  He was the son of the late Charles Harry Steinmetz and the late Mary Jo Pratt Steinmetz.  

Pete attended Kemper Military Academy and graduated from Officer’s Candidate School at Fort...

Jan 19, 2019

William A. Townsend, Sr., age, 93, of Erie, passed away Saturday, January 19, 2019, at Fairview

Manor.  He was born in Erie, on October 5, 1925, son of the late William and Louise Jones Townsend.

Bill was a graduate of Academy High School and went on to serve his country in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Machinist, Mate Third Class.

He worked...

Jan 18, 2019

Gary L. Perry, Sr. age 78, of Erie, passed away at home on January 18, 2019 at. He was born in Erie, PA on March 24, 1940, a son of the late Emerson and Arlene McArthur Perry.

Gary was a student at Harborcreek High School and served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. as well as being a career military man....

Jan 16, 2019

Karen Denise Crawford, age 69, of Girard, passed away Wednesday, January 16th 2019, surrounded by family.

She was born January 9th 1950, In Butler PA. Karen graduated from Freeport High School, class of 1967. After graduating, she married Dennis Alan Crawford, and started a family. Karen was a very active member of Waterford Presbyterian Church, where she was a Sunday school...

Jan 13, 2019

Diane A. Lyons Ratcliff, 53, of Akron, OH, formally of Erie, PA, transitioned from labor to reward, January 13, 2019 at the Summa Health System of Barberton, Ohio.

She was born in Erie, PA, May 5, 1965, daughter of Emma Jean Lyons Gray and the late Robert D. Lyons and former wife of Rodney Ratcliff.

Diane was a member of the Hopewell...

Jan 11, 2019

Kathleen M. Kierzek Meyer, age 66, of Erie passed away Friday, January 11, 2019 at UPMC Hamot with her family at her side. She was born May 16, 1952 in Erie the daughter of the late Joseph and Ellen Burger Kierzek.

A lifelong resident of Erie, Kathi had worked at St. Mary’s Home East for many years, and was also...

Jan 10, 2019

Steward Parlin died in Erie, PA, on January 10, 2019.  He was ninety-one years old.  He was born in Trenton, NJ, to the late George Steward Parlin, and Dorothy Elcome Parlin.  His only sibling, Edward, died in his youth.  He grew up in Glen Ridge, NJ, where he played on the New Jersey state champion Glen Ridge High School football...

Jan 10, 2019

She who wants her garden tidy, does not reserve a plot for weeds.

Elizabeth J. “Betty” Kishel, age 79, of Erie, passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at UPMC Hamot with her loving family by her side. 

She was born in Erie on July 13, 1939, daughter of the late Joseph and Viola Filipowski.

Betty was a 1957 graduate of the...

Jan 10, 2019

Dorothy “Jean” Platz Park, age 92, of Fairview and formerly of Girard, passed away Thursday January 10, 2019 at UPMC Hamot.

She was born in Sebring, Oh on July 13, 1926, a daughter of the late Harley and Lottie Rowe Platz.

Jean was past matron of Girard Chapter #84 Eastern Star.  She was also a lifelong member of Lake City United Methodist...

Jan 9, 2019

Phillip J. Soos, age 82, of Transfer, died at UPMC Horizon Shenango Valley Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

He was born in Sharon, PA on August 11, 1936, a son of the late John and Mary (Tomko) Soos.

A lifelong dairy farmer, Phillip lived and worked on his family farm in South Pymatuning Township since 1939. He was of catholic faith having attended...

Jan 8, 2019

Mary M. “Peggy” Zeppenfeld, age 55, passed away at her home on Tuesday, January 8, following a brief illness. Born Mary Margaret Munro on January 6, 1964, she was the daughter of Beverly (Hilgendorf) Munro and the late John F. Munro.

Peggy was a 1982 graduate of Girard High School and earned degrees in both Music Performance and Music Education from...

Jan 8, 2019

James R. Platz, age 68, of Lake City, formerly of Girard, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday January 8, 2019 at St. Vincent Health Center.

He was born on November 23, 1950, on Thanksgiving Day, the son of the late Richard C. and Anna McCoy Killian Platz.

Jim attended Rice Avenue Union High School in Girard where he wrestled, played basketball and football.  ...

Jan 8, 2019

Marcie Tivis Schlaudecker, age 65 of Erie, passed away Tuesday, January 08, 2019 at her sister’ s home in McKean, follow a brief battle with cancer.She was born in Erie on June 2, 1953 a daughter of the late Seymour and Bessie Friedman Tivis.Marcie was a graduate of Academy High School. She was a self-employed transcriptionist and also worked for...

Jan 5, 2019

Jan 5, 2019

Linda (Forte) Ratcliff age 90, of Erie passed away on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at UPMC Hamot. She was born in Price Utah on March 30, 1928 a daughter of the late Pete and Catherine Oliverio Forte. Linda enjoyed watching cooking shows, birds and loved watching the Cleveland Indians. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren. In addition to...

Jan 5, 2019

Maxine E. Massing Barninger, age 96, of Erie, passed away Saturday, January 5th. She was born in Erie, PA on November 19, 1923, a daughter of the late Ralph and Beatrice Bahm Massing.

Maxine graduated from Strong Vincent High School in 1941. She worked as a waitress at St. Vincent Hospital for 25 years, retiring in 1999. Maxine was a member...

Jan 4, 2019

John Henry Hauser age 71, of Millcreek was suddenly taken from our midst on January 4th, 2019, from natural causes at St. Vincent Hospital. John was born on March 24, 1947, in Erie, PA to Henry and Julia Hauser. His educational history included primary education at St. John the Baptist, secondary education at Academy High School and a four-year technical...