Edward B. Skiba, 86, of 117 Jefferson St. Oil City,, PA. died at 8:10 P.M. Thursday Sept. 11, 2014 after a period of declining health at UPMC Hamot in Erie.
Born in Oil City, PA on Sept. 28, 1927 son of the late George and Catherine Chmiel Skiba.
He attended Assumption BVM School.
Ed was a PFC in the US Army during WW II stationed in Germany.
Mr. Skiba belonged to both St. Venantius and the Assumption BVM Church.
Prior to the war he had worked as a section hand on the Pennsylvania Railroad. He went on to work for Loblaw’s, Oilwell, Foster Forbes, Pearson Machine and the Hennes Funeral Home in Titusville.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and raising chickens. For many years before getting married he lived on the Petroleum Center Road . Those that knew him , heard him say many times that , He was the self-proclaimed Mayor of Petroleum Center.
Ed belonged to the Dr. Harry C. Winslow Council 1927 of the Knights of Columbus in Meadville and the 4th Degree Assembly. He was a Past Grand Knight. He also served as Captain for the 1st and 2nd Degree Teams in Oil City, Meadville and Titusville. A past Scoutmaster of Troop 16 in Oil City and Troop 19 in Plumer. He had been a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Polish Roman Catholic Union all of Oil City, and the US Constabulary.
Mr. Skiba was married in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Oil City on June 20, 1998 to the former Sophia Smutek and she survives along with his two sons Max and Vicky Skiba of Kaneville, Eddie and Maura Skiba of Carmel, IN. his two daughters Beverly Rock and her friend Paul Hall of Neville Island and Deanie and Dale Grant of Mercer, and a daughter in-law Janet Franklin of Salina, KS.
He is also survived by two brothers Carl ( Charley ) Skiba in Oil City and Max and Delores Skiba of Titusville, Four sisters Mary Jaggers of Oil City, Phyllis Vrobel of Meadville, Joan and Skip Rearick of Erie, Emily and Jay Flensted of Elba, NY. Two sisters in-law Myrtle Skiba of N.Y. and Bernice Skiba of Pgh.
Several grandchildren, great grandchildren nieces and nephews also survive.
One son David Skiba and three brothers Bill, George and Felix Skiba along with two sisters Sophie Goreczny and Julie Bliznasky preceded him in death.
The family will receive friends from 2-4,7-9 Sunday at the Reinsel Funeral Home & Crematory. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Monday at St. Venantius Church, Fr. Matthew Ruyechan ,presiding. Internment will follow at Jamison Corners Cemetery.
On line condolences may be sent at www.reinsfuneralhome.com.
