Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 4

i 4 Thursday, January 2, 2003 REGION The Indiana (Gazette Obituaries David Kitzmiller David Paul Kitzmiller, 47, of Blairsville, West Wheatfield Township, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002, in Kauai, Hawaii, in an accidental drowning. He was born Sept. 17, 1955, in Latrobe, a son of Ervin J. and Mary Myers Kitzmiller.

Mr. Kitzmiller was a member of the Armagh United Methodist Church and attended Brush Valley United Methodist Church. He worked in computer systems management at PNC, Pittsburgh, previously worked 20 years for Westinghouse. He was a computer enthusiast who also enjoyed biking, hiking, camping, woodworking and traveling with his family. Surviving are his parents, Blairsville; his wife of 25 years, Linda Rhine Kitzmiller, whom he married July 2, 1977; a daughter, Brittany Lynn, at home; three brothers: Ervin L.

Kitzmiller and his wife, Diane, Blairsville; Ronald D. Kitzmiller and his wife, Nancy, Cortland, Ohio, and John T. Kitzmiller and his wife, Betsy, Monroeville, and numerous loving family members. He was a devoted husband and a loving father to Jereruy and Brittany. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m.

today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Shoemaker Funeral Home Blairsville. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Armagh United Methodist Church with the Revs. john Flower, John Logan and James Ritchie officiating.

Everyone is asked to go directly to the church. Interment will follow in Brush Valley Cemetery. Memorial may be made to the Kitzmiller Memorial Fund, PNC Bank, Farmers Office, Philadelphia. Street, Indiana; PA 15701. Leona Aikins Leona Mae Marshall Aikins was born Jan.

15, 1915, near Atwood. She was the daughter of Albert and Elizabeth Hoover Marshall. She married Laird Nelson Aikins on July 9, 1938. She died on Tuesday, Dec. 31,2002.

Born and raised near Atwood, she lived in Willet until 1965. She then moved to the Spring Church and South Bend areas. Since October 2002, she had resided at Beacon Ridge in Indiana. Before she' married Laird, she attended beauty school. Mrs.

Aikins was a former member of the Harmony Grove Lutheran Church in Willet as well as St. Jacob's United Church of Christ in South Bend and the Spring Church Lutheran Church. She was an avid camper and enjoyed traveling with her husband. She was a former member of the National Campers and Hikers Association and the Golden Campers Retirees. She also enjoyed gardening and sewing and was noted for her delicious pies and homemade rolls.

Surviving are her three sons: Donald Wayne and his wife, Nancy Stiver, Indiana; William Robert and his wife, Beverly McCracken, Duncansville; and Richard Eugene and his wife, Kathy Walker, Apollo; a daughter-inlaw, Peggy Hornock and her husband, John; eight grandchildren: Roger Aikins, Indiana; Rodney Aikins and his wife, Kimberly, Indiana; David Aikins and his wife, Ronna, Blairsville; Michael Aikins, Dallas; Robert Aikins and his wife, Jan, Dover, Barry Aikins and his wife, Mary, Blairsville; Richard Aikins and his wife, Ailena, Leechburg; Jennifer Aikins, Apollo; and nine greatgrandchildren: Katie, Lacey, Alex, Audrey, Daniel, Samantha, Shawn, Taylor Grace and Grayson Aikins. Leona was the last surviving member of the Albert and Lizzie Marshall family. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Laird, on Nov. 4, 1989; a son, Fredrick Aikins on Sept. 12, 1975; a grandson, Brian Aikins in June 1986; five brothers: Elmer, Harry, Laird, Albert and John Marshall; sisters Hazel Kimmel, Mertie Bowser; Eleanor Alberts, Mary Orr, Jennie Wallace, Jessie DePlacido and Larue McLaughlin Brown.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the BowserMinich Funeral Home, Indiana, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday. Joe Traynor will officiate. Interment will be made in Atwood Cernetery.

indianagazette.com Jeremy Kitzmiller Jeremy David Kitzmiller, 17, Blairsville, West Wheatfield Township, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002, in Kauai, Hawaii. He died in an accidental drowning, while attempting to rescue his father. He was born Oct. 31, 1985, in Pittsburgh, a son of David P.

and Linda Rhine Kitzmiller. He was a member of the Brush Valley United Methodist Church, where he was active in the youth group. Jeremy was a junior at United High School, where he was ranked first in his class and was a member of the Honors Club. He was also treasurer of the Library Club, a technology assistant and the school library computer consultant. He received the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Award, the Gifted Program Certificate of Achievement, the United High School Honor Roll Certificate of Achievement, the Principal's Award of Excellence and the Above and Beyond Certificate of Achievement for the Chemistry Mentorship Program.

He was a computer enthusiast and enjoyed creating Web pages. His other hobbies include hunting, biking, hiking and traveling. Surviving are his mother and his sister, Brittany Lynn, at home; maternal grandmother, Thelma Vensel Rhine, Brush Valley: paternal grandparents, Ervin J. and Mary Myers Kitzmiller, Blairsville, and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his father and his maternal grandfather, Jay Raymond Rbine, in 1989.

Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today and 2 to 4 and 7 to 09 p.m. Friday at the Shoemaker Funeral. Home Blairsville. Services will be held at Saturday in the Armagh- United Methodist Church, with the Reverends John John Logan and James Ritchie officiating.

Everyone is asked to go directly to the church. Interment will follow in Brush Valley Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kitzmiller Memorial Fund, PNC Bank, Farmers Office, Philadelphia Street, Indiana, PA 15701. Ann Adams Ann Adams, 82, Deer Haven Personal Care Home, Cherry Tree RD, formerly of Emeigh, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, at Indiana Regional Medical Center.

She was born June 29, 1920, in Dixonville, a daughter of Martin and Catherine Hovanchick Eastman. Mrs. Adams had worked for the Van Heusen Shirt Factory in Barnesboro. She was a member of the Morning Star Ministries Church, Starford, and the Spangler Senior Center. She is survived by her second husband, Otis to whom she had been married 26 years; children Patricia Ann and her husband Joseph Lydic, Carrolltown, and Norman Collinash, Northern Cambria; stepdaughter Ruth and her husband, Joe Woodcock, Trenton, N.J.; and grandson, Eric Lydic, and his wife, the former Tessa Bishop, Ebensburg; brothers: Michael and Bob Eastman, Detroit, and sisters Marian Wendekier, Patton; Margaret Dawes, Hastings, and Helen Galinsky, Northern Cambria, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Blaine Collinash, in 1980; brother, John Eastman, and a sister, Susanne Eastman. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the LongContres Funeral Home, Northern Cambria, and also from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Friday, the time of service, at the Morning Star Ministries Church. Pastor Ken Brown will officiate.

Interment will be made in the East Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Morning Star Ministries Church Building Fund, 3658 Highway 580, Cherry Tree, PA 15724, or to the charity of one's choice. www.long-contresfuneralhomes. com REMINISCE WITH THOSE OLD PHOTOS, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS Helen Mullholland Helen Starry Mullholland, 88, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, at the Beacon Ridge nursing facility.

She was born May 31, 1914, in Black Lick, a daughter of James Henderson Starry and Ada Lenora Starry. She was a graduate of the class of 1932 of Indiana High School. Mrs. Mullholland retired in December 1983 from the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office. She had been elected to that office in 1979.

She had 44 years of service to Indiana County. Surviving are a brother, Lawrence R. Starry, Indiana; two nieces, Carol Rescente and her husband, Nick, and Diana Grear and her husband, Robert, all of Indiana. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Pryor Mullholland, in 1963; a brother, Leonard E. Starry and a nephew, Robert Starry.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the BowserMinich Funeral Home, Indiana, where a funeral service will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Brad Lauster officiating. Interment will be made in Oakland Cemetery.

Lewis Edward Wagner Clymer died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, at Integrated Health Systems in Greensburg. He was born Sept. 7, 1937, in West Carroll 'Township, Cambria County, a son of Lewis and Mary Elizabeth McCreary Wagner. Mr.

Wagner attended the Penns Manor Church of the Nazarene. Most recently, he was a foreman with Greenhouse of Pine Flats. He bad also worked as a draftsman for the Indiana County Planning Commission. Mr. Wagner received his drafting diploma from Indiana State Teachers College.

Surviving are his wife, Marie Frances Thomas Cochran Wagner of Clymer; a daughter, Ruth Nichol and her husband, Sam, of Kenwood; a grandson, Travis; A sister, Ruth Mitchell of Northern Cambria; and a brother, James Wagner and his wife, Sara Jane, of Indiana RD 3. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Bertha May; a granddaughter, Shannon Nichol; an infant sister, Romaine; and a sister, Mary Louise Rice. Friends will be received today from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bence Funeral Home in Clymer, where funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m.

The Rev. Charles Coyle will officiate. Interment will follow in Sample Run Cemetery in Clymer. Lewis Edward "Ed" Wagner, 65, of Edwin Long Jr. Edwin J.

Long 28, Myrtle Beach, S.C., formerly of Warren, Ohio, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, in Myrtle Beach, S.C., as the result of a hotel fire. The son of Edwin J. and Judy Gardner Long, he was born March 19, 1974, in Warren, Ohio. He attended the Harding High School in Warren.

He had also resided in the Marion Center for a few months. Edwin was employed as a laborer in the construction industry. Surviving are his wife, Delana Barbucci Long, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; two children, Christian and Tricia Long, Home; his parents, Home; three sisters: Tracy McKenzie, Comanche, Stacy Reese, Broadview Heights, Ohio, and DaVida Poling, Indiana; five nephews and two nieces. His maternal and paternal grandparents preceded him in death. A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Plumville at a later date.

The Bowser-Minich Funeral Home, Plumville, is in charge of arrangements. Tomorrow's funerals ADAMS, Ann 82, 11 a.m., Morning Star Ministries Church, Starford (Long-Contres Funeral Home, Northern Cambria) HAYES, Darlene Sue, 11 a.m., Funeral Home Rural Valley WAGNER, Lewis "Ed," 11 a.m., Bence Funeral Home, Clymer From left, state Sen. Don White, Carl Johns of Breeze Industrial Products, Indiana County commissioners Bernie Smith and William Shane and Bob Mattiuz of Allegheny Energy Systems. (Gazette photo by Tom Peel) Breeze power project completed TUNNELTON Electrical-supply system improvements jointly funded by Allegheny Energy, Breeze Industrial Products, the Indiana County Development Corporation and the Indiana County commissioners have improved productivity and preserved jobs at Breeze's plant, county officials said. A new power-supply line serving the Breeze hoseclamp factory along Tunnelton Road recently was built at a cost of $150,000.

The new line runs from the Tunnelton Mine area and passes along the road, replacing one that ran through a wooded area and was often broken by falling trees and branches, county commissioner William Shane said. Breeze lost $7,000 an hour during power interruptions and company officials considered closing the plant, according to Shane. Breeze and Allegheny Energy each paid $50,000 of the replacement-line project. The development corporation paid $25,000 and state Rep. Sara Steelman obtained a $25,000 grant to pay the rest.

According to Shane, the state Public Utility Commission and Sen. Don White helped Breeze and Allegheny Energy to solve the power-line problem. Breeze Industrial Products has been owned since mid2001 by the plant's management team and Industrial Growth Partners, a San Francisco -headquartered private investment partnership. The company employs 280 people in the manufacture of hose clamps, including highend industrial clamps found on the engines of most 18- wheel trucks, Briefs Screening for children Lifesteps' Child Check, funded by the United Way, is a free screening service for children from birth to age 5 that measures development in playing, talking, seeing, hearing, moving and thinking. A Child Check visit takes approximately 25 minutes and results are discussed 1 immediately with parents.

Parents are urged to have their children screened so that any developmental problems can be detected at the earliest stage. The Child Check screening will be in the local area on the following dates: Today, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Armstrong County YMCA. Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Indiana Free Library.

Jan. 13, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Indiana County YMCA: -Jan. 16, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Worthington United Presbyterian Church.

Appointments can be made by calling Lifesteps at (800) 225-2010. Human Services meeting. The Human Services Council of Indiana County will hold its annual organizational meeting Jan. 9 at 8:30 a.m. at the new Team Pennsylvania CareerLink facility at 300 Indian Springs Road in White Township.

continental breakfast will be available for $2. The Indiana County Department of Human Services is accepting registrations for the meeting until Tuesday at (724) 463-8200 or by at Indicate whether you plan to eat breakfast when registering. Blood count The Indiana County Chapter of the American Red Cross announced that 112 pints of blood were donated last week during bloodmobiles at the Penn Run Fire Hall and the Plumville Fire Hall. The Penn Run blood drive exceeded its goal of 45 with 52 pints donated. The firemen and auxiliary provided the site, publicity, cookies, egg salad, vegetable soup and volunteers.

Vennard Crossroads Convenience provided ham salad and bread while Coy's Store Pizza donated two large pizzas. Students at the Penns Manor Elementary School made thank-you cards for blood donors. Patty Lydic and Helen Markle helped coordinate the drive. The Plumville drive exceeded its goal of 45 with 60 pints donated including two first-time donors. The Plumville Fire Department served as a co-sponsor and provided lunch for staff and volunteers.

The Plumville Lions also served as a -sponsor and provided cookies for the canteen. The Rural Valley Bakery donated doughnuts while Beresnyak's Market donated ham salad. Students at the Rayne Township Elementary School made thank-you cards for blood donors. Mary Jo Spence served as coordinator, Future Opportunities to Donate Jan. 17, noon to 6 p.m.

at the Commodore Fire Hall. Jan. 20, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Rustic Lodge in White Township.

Course offered for babysitters JOHNSTOWN The Emergency and Paramedic departments at UPMC Lee Regional Hospital in Johnstown will conduct an emergency care course for babysitters on Feb. 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students must be at least 12 years old to attend. Those attending must pre-register.

For further information contact the hospital Paramedic Office, located at 320 Main St. in Johnstown, at (814) 533-0791. Reservists activated CORAOPOLIS Area Army Reservists who are members of a chemical company are being activated today for federal duty as part of America's continuing war on global terrorism. The headquarters of the Army Reserve's 99th Regional Support Command in Coraopolis said about 140 reservists who are members of the 300th Chemical Company are being mobilized for federal service and will depart Sunday for the unit's designated mobilization site at Fort Dix, N.J. The headquarters said in a press statement that the chemical company's final duty destination has not been determined.

The 300th is headquartered in Morgantown, W.Va., and has two detachments: Det. 1 in Beaver Fails and Det. 2 in Johnstown. About 30 soldiers are assigned to each detachment. The 300th has a dual mission of generating screening smoke and Deaths elsewhere By The Associated Press Mohammed al-Fassi LOS ANGELES Mohammed alFassi, the Saudi Arabian sheik who stirred controversy for redecorating his mansions in Beverly Hills and Miami Beach with gaudy statues and religious signs, died Dec.

24 in Cairo, Egypt, of an infected hernia. He was 50. also provoked the Saudi royal family with his unorthodox political stances that included calling for democracy in the kingdom. He was eventually banished from the country. He became linked to the royal family in the mid-1970s when his sister married a Saudi prince.

The 1 tradition of the royal family is to financially support its immediate and extended family, and the marriage made alFassi's extravagant lifestyle possible. He first gained notoriety in 1978 when he paid $2.4 million in cash for his 38-room Beverly Hills mansion and repainted it a shade of green that one critic likened to the color of rotting limes. Don Baker CHARLOTTE, N.C. -Don Baker, a Democratic political strategist who help managed campaigns of U.S. Rep.

Mel Watt and Senate candidate Harvey Gantt, died Wednesday in New York. He was 52 and had been diagnosed with abdominal cancer three weeks ago. Baker ran Watt's 12th Congressional district office and was known as an expert in organizing political operatives and precinct captains statewide. Ic worked for Senate candidate Erskine Bowles in the fall. A native of Carlisle, Baker became the first black student at Carlisle High School in 1964.

He went on to study social work at Henderson State University, then worked in Rhode Island and Illinois before coming to Charlotte in the early 1970s. A marathon runner, Baker felt unusual pain in his legs and feet during a run one day last month. The diagnosis came Dec. 10. B.

Meredith Burke providing decontamination services. For the smoke mission the reservists use Humvee-mounted fog-oil smoke generators to produce a concealing blanket of smoke to obscure an enemy's visibility. The decontamination mission provides the necessary pressure-washing equipment and containment areas for soldiers to decontaminate individuals, cquipment and vehicles that have been exposed to chemical, biological or radiological agents. The unit recently conducted joint training with civil and emergencyresponse agencies in Morgantown in a bio-chemical terrorist scenario. Last summer the unit's soldiers were active participants in a Coast Guard training exercise in the San' Francisco Bay area where scenario "terrorists" released bio-chemical agents in a port.

Soldiers mobilized may serve up to one year on active duty, at which time the mission requirement will be reassessed. SANTA BARBARA, Calif. B. Meredith Burke, a demographer and writer who fought for immigration refonn died Dec. 11.

She was 55. Burke left a suicide note and apparently took her own life, a spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department said. Burke had a master's degree and a doctorate in demographics from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's in economics from the University of Southern California. She was a senior writing fellow for Santa Barbara-based Californians for Population Stabilization, where she campaigned to limit immigration through commentaries published in major newspapers. Burke often argued that U.S.

immigration policy was the main factor in sharp rises in California's population and a root cause of environmental degradation. She was also interested in women's rights and public health issues. She co-authored a book on prenatal testing and founded Lariam Action USA, an information service for users of the anti-malaria drug mefloquine..