The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

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March 9, 2010

Walter Sapala

Dairy farmer, WWII vet retired from Steel Car

A funeral service will be held Thursday for Walter Sapala, 877 Scofield Road, Sandy Creek Township. He died at 2:21 p.m. Monday, March 8, 2010, in UPMC Horizon, Greenville, after a brief illness. He was 84.

Mr. Sapala was born Dec. 8, 1925, in Salem Township, a son of John and Victoria Flaga Sapala.

On April 10, 1947, he married the former Elizabeth Lucille Molnar, who preceded him in death on March 23, 1978. He subsequently married Ima Jean Werger on Feb. 14, 1981. She survives.

Walter was a World War II veteran, having served with the U.S. Army and received an honorable discharge after suffering an eye injury. He served in the European theater of operations, inspecting and repairing telephone and communication lines and maintaining the communication equipment. He was awarded an Army Occupation Medal and a European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

Walter was a self-employed dairyman on the family farm in Sandy Creek Township and was a devoted family man. He was employed at the former Greenville Steel Car Co., retiring in 1986 after 36 years of service.

An active member of Sheakleyville Presbyterian Church, he served as an elder and trustee.

His other memberships included United Auto Workers, the American Legion, Polish National Alliance and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. He previously served on the Commodore Perry School Board.

In addition to his wife of 29 years, Walter is survived by: two sons, Walter “Bill” Sapala and his wife Hazel, Hadley; and David Sapala and his wife Valorie, Stoneboro; two daughters, Patricia Hoffacker and her husband Stanley, Sheakleyville; and Pamela McCurdy and her husband Edward, Meadville; two stepsons, Clyde Werger and his wife Bridget, Allison Park; and James Werger, Hadley; a stepdaughter, Nancy Irion and her husband Robert, Greenville; a brother, Michael Sapala, Greenville; and a sister, Marie Petroski, Sharon.

He also leaves eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, six stepgrandchildren and nine stepgreat-grandchildren.

Besides his wife, Elizabeth, he was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Theodore Sapala, John Sapala and Frank Sapala; and three sisters, Anna Maykowski, Florence Sapala and Stella Dudek.

SAPALA

Walter, 84, of 877 Scofield Road, Sandy Creek Township.

Calling hours: Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today (3-10-10) in ROBERT L. SNYDER FUNERAL HOME Ltd., 3223 Perry Highway, Sheakleyville. The online guest register may be signed at www. rlsfh.com

Service: Funeral and committal service at 2:30 p.m. Thursday (3-11-10) in the funeral home with the Rev. Ray Brugler, retired minister, and Onnalee Patterson, commissioned lay pastor of Sheakleyville Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Interment: Stevenson Cemetery, Salem Township.

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