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Richard J. “Dick” Butala

g0a0000000000000000de9bfc16fd10bc552011e63251a798bbfd35f756Richard J. “Dick” Butala of Sandy Lake passed away peacefully at 5:55 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, in his home with his family by his side after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. He was 87.

Born Oct. 25, 1926, in Farrell, Mr. Butala was a son of John A. and Ella Marie Rick Butala.

Dick was a 1945 graduate of Hubbard High School.

During his last year at high school, he entered the Army and served in the Philippines during the end of World War II. He was a World War II Army veteran and served many years in the Army Reserves.

At age 17, he began working on the railroad with his father and later spent 18 years as an operator station agent for the New York Central System Railroad. He then became an engineer and worked for Penn Central and finally Conrail, retiring in 1988 after 43 years as a railroader. He was the engineer who drove the last train that ran on the Stoneboro line in 1986.

After his retirement, Dick worked 18 years as the lease manager for Tex Kinnebrew Oil Lease and retired in 2006 at age 80.

Dick was a hard worker and for many years also hauled and shoveled domestic coal to many homes in the area.

As a member of Emmanuel Christian Church, Stoneboro, he had served as a trustee and deacon.

Known as a generous man, Dick loved to keep busy and help others. He was a member and served on the board of directors for Sandy Creek Conservancy.

He held a pilot’s license for many years and loved to go square dancing. Most of all, he was a loving husband and father.

He married Virginia L. “Ginny” Patton on Sept. 18, 1955; she survives at home.

Also surviving are two sons, Kenneth D. Butala, Sandy Lake; and Ron Beatty, Tampa, Fla.; two sisters, Jane Wittenauer and her husband Carl, Hubbard; and Dorothy Ditata and her husband Jim, Austintown, Ohio; and two brothers, Daniel Butala, El Monte, Calif.; and Phillip Butala, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 1128 State St., Suite 301, Erie, PA 16501.

BUTALA

Richard J. “Dick,” 87, Sandy Lake.

Calling hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday August 8, 2014 at the Scott A. Black Funeral Home, 99 Franklin St., Stoneboro.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday August 9,2014 in the funeral home with Tim Clark, pastor of Emmanuel Christian Church, Stoneboro, officiating.

Committal service will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, Sandy Lake Township.

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