The Derrick, October 1, 2007: Russell L. Beary, Venus Michael Shawn Krupitzer, 750 Georgehill Road, Cranberry David M. McElhattan, 1401 Chestnut St., Franklin W. Gene Minich, Dublin, Ohio, formerly of New Bethlehem Walter R. "Skippy' Senn, Carnes School Road, Seneca Venus Johns 'Vee' Soutouras, formerly of Franklin James Alvin Wright, McNaughton Road, Rimersburg Russell L. Beary, 84, of Venus, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, in the Oil City Presbyterian Home. Born Aug. 16, 1923, in Marble, he was the son of Arley D. and Ione Kapp Beary. He attended Amsler School in Marble and Shippenville High School. Mr. Beary operated the family dairy farm in Marble and then was foreman at P.A. Niederriter Lumber Mill, later Koppers Lumber Mill in Marble, until he retired. He had been a Washington Township supervisor. In 1964, Mr. Beary move from Marble to Venus. He raised Flemish Giant rabbits and was a life member of the Flemish Giant Rabbit Association. Mr. Beary was a director of the Venus Cemetery Association. He had been a director of the First United National Bank of Fryburg for 13 years. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Venus. Mr. Beary was married Nov. 8, 1944, to Helen Irene Sandrock, who survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Kathy Sunderlin and husband, James, of Venus; one granddaughter, Tammy Varsek and husband, Robert, of Venus; two great-grandchildren, Nicholas Varsek and Lauren Varsek, both of Venus; and a stepgrandson, Dana Sunderlin of Oil City. He also is survived by one brother, Gerald Beary and wife, Joann, of Oil City; and one sister, Lois M. McWilliams of Venus Mr. Beary was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Russell McWilliams Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Faller Funeral Home Inc., Fryburg. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Faith Lutheran Church, Venus, with the Rev. John Wood, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in the Venus Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Faith Lutheran Church or to a charity of one's choice. Michael Shawn Krupitzer, 30, of 750 Georgehill Road, Cranberry, died Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, as a result of an automobile accident. Born May 6, 1977, he was the son of Kevin Schilk and Tammy Krupitzer. Mr. Krupitzer graduated in 1995 from Cranberry High School. While in high school he was a Navy Jr ROTC cadet for three years. He enjoyed spending time with his children and family, being outdoors, camping, riding his dirt bike and 4-wheeler, golfing and fishing. Mr. Krupitzer was self-employed as a union master certified linoleum/flooring installer. Surviving are his mother and step-father, Tammy Krupitzer and husband, Myles Decker, of Franklin; his father, Kevin Schilk and wife, Olga, of Oil City; his children, Cody, Evan and Chelsey Krupitzer, all of Cranberry; his girlfriend, Jennifer Black and her children, Kendra Barnes and David Campbell, all of Cranberry. Also surviving are his maternal grandfather, Donald Krupitzer of Cranberry, his paternal grandparents, Ronald and Barbara Schilk of Oil City; his brothers and sisters, Ian Schilk and his girlfriend, Nicole Stover, of Cranberry, Nicole Fischer and her husband, Dwayne, of Seneca, Myles Decker Jr. and wife, Sarah, of Virginia Beach, Va., Michael Decker and wife Angelique, of Anchorage, Ala., Melissa Decker and her fiancé, Jeff Laudano, of Ballston Spa, N.Y., and Zhenya Rumyantseva of St. Petersburg, Russia; aunts and uncles, Donald Krupitzer Jr. and Linda Tibbs, both of Oil City, and Tracey Krupitzer of Seneca; four nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Rose Krupitzer. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and Tuesday in the Morrison Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Pat Ellis, pastor of the Heckathorn United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Brandon Cemetery. David M. McElhattan David M. McElhattan, 46, of 1401 Chestnut St., Franklin, died Sunday evening, Sept. 30, 2007, in UPMC Northwest, Seneca. The Huff Chapel in Franklin is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will be published Tuesday in The Derrick. W. Gene Minich W. Gene Minich, 79, of Dublin, Ohio, formerly of New Bethlehem, died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. Born Oct. 14, 1928, he was the son of the late Webster and Mildred Hilliard Minich. He moved to Dublin from New Bethlehem in 2003. Mr. Minich graduated in 1945 from New Bethlehem High School and graduated in 1949 from Penn State University where he earned a bachelor of science degree in business. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He served in the United States Air Force. Mr. Minich's father, Webster, was a co-founder of RMS Furniture in New Bethlehem. Gene entered the business upon graduation from college and remained as owner/operator until 2002. He was a lifelong member of the New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church. Surviving are a daughter, Karen Zent and husband, Rex, of Dublin, Ohio; two sons, Don Minich of Denver, Colo., and Fred Minich and wife, Donna, of Upper Arlington, Ohio; a daughter-in-law, Loni Minich of Dublin, Ohio; nine grandchildren, Brian Zent, John Zent and wife, Kelly, Jamie Merritt and husband, Doug, Shauna and Ashley Minich, Jason Minich, Brady Minich and wife, Heather, and Angie and Fiona Jean Minich; six great-grandchildren; and many other family members and his newest friends at the Dublin Retirement Village. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Jean Shaffer Minich. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday Oct. 15, in the New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the New Bethlehem Area Free Public Library. Walter R. "Skippy" Senn, 47, of Carnes School Road, Seneca, formerly of Pittsburgh, died peacefully in his home Friday, Sept. 28, 2007. Born Aug. 7, 1960, he was the son of the late Frank and Dora Rackley Senn. Mr. Senn was a 1978 graduate of Carlington High School in Crafton. He was of the Episcopalian faith. Mr. Senn was self-employed as a title searcher until his illness in December 2006. He conducted his work at many of the courthouses throughout northwestern Pennsylvania. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and in his earlier years also enjoyed dirt bikes. He also loved spending time with his family and children. Surviving are his companion, Darcy Davidson, and her brother, Jacob Lawall, both of Seneca; two daughters, Maranda Davidson and Darian Senn at home; two brothers, Frank Senn and wife, Roberta, of Franklin and John Senn and wife, Penny, of Ohio; three nephews, Sgt. Frank Senn of Chippewa, Vincent Senn of Franklin and Kyle Senn of Ohio; one niece, Shannon Sarrett and husband, John, and their children, Shelbi and Logan, of Ohio. His former wife, Sandra Nelson Senn of Pittsburgh, also survives, as do many extended family and friends. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Hile-Best Funeral Home, 2781 Route 257 in Seneca, Cranberry Township. Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the family, to help defray funeral expenses, in care of Darcy Davidson, P.O. Box 118, Seneca, 16346. On-line condolences may be left at www.hilebest.com. Venus "Vee" Johns Soutouras died Sept. 13, 2007, at Firelands Regional Hospital, Sandusky, Ohio. She was born Aug. 1, 1922, in Canonsburg, the daughter of Nicholas Yiannis Diacomanolis Johns, who was born in Karpathos, Greece, and Amalia Manoussou, who was born near Smyrna, Turkey. Mrs. Soutouras moved to Franklin as a teenager and graduated high school there in 1942. She attended Canonsburg Hospital School of Nursing and received her RN degree in September 1947. She married Leo N. Soutouras Sept. 7, 1947, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Farrell. The couple divorced in November 1987. Mrs. Soutrouras resided in Franklin for many years. She remained at home, raising her children, volunteering for local organizations such as Beta Sigma Phi and the American Heart Fund, and helping at the L&C Restaurant on Liberty Street. She returned to nursing in the late 1960s. She worked with Drs. Louis Wagner and Leonard Peters and with Grandview Nursing Home. From 1976 to 2006 she participated in the prestigious Nurses' Health Study I (a long-term study of women's health data) sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and Harvard University. She remained active in nursing with the Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County until 1988. That year Mrs. Soutouras removed to Huron, Ohio, to live near some of her children and grandchildren. From her apartment that looked out on Lake Erie, she dispensed daily doses of unconditional love, acceptance, hot coffee, and cookies to everyone who came to visit her. Her life was a testament to the importance of family; her death, an unimaginable loss. Mrs. Soutouras is survived by her beloved children, who are grateful to her for making no distinction between those who had been born to her and those who had married into her family. They are her daughter, Eugenia Lee, who married Dr. Michael James Cunningham; her daughter, Niki Elaine, who married Richard Charles Forrest; her son, James L., who married Lucille Marie Churchill; and her daughter, Stephanie A., who married John Joseph Schlick. Also surviving is her beloved niece, Marianne Ramfos Moehrbach, who was her daughter in spirit. She is survived by her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They are Jennifer Marie Cunningham, her husband, Jeffrey Gerard Smith, and their children, Nicholas Michael and Madeline Rose; Richard Lee Forrest, his partner, Johnna Leah Garner and their children, Mia Nicole Smith and Zachary Michael Forrest; Andrea Maureen Cunningham and her husband, Eric William Talbot; Brian Michael Forrest and his wife, Chandra Leigh Webb; Michael James Soutouras, his wife, Amber Womack and their children, Merrick and Liam; Nicholas James Soutouras; and David Dean Forrest. Also surviving are great-niece Erika Lynn Moehrbach, who was Vee's granddaughter in spirit, Erika's husband, Jonathan Daniel Drayer, and their child, Damon Michael. Her surviving siblings are Catherine Johns Kisella and Emmanuel Johns, who married Bessie Sarris, all of Canonsburg. Also surviving are her former sister-in-law, Olympia Stephanides Tillman of Franklin, Tenn.; former brother-in-law, Dr. Marcus D. Stephanides who married Jean R. Miller, both of Salisbury, Md.; and former sister-in-law, Helen Stephanides Cummings of Franklin, Pa., all of whom remained dear to her. She also is survived by a multitude of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nicholas Yiannis Diacomanolis Johns, who died Sept. 8, 1942, and Amalia Manoussou, who died Sept. 18, 1957. Also preceding her in death were her siblings, all born surnamed Johns: Anastassia Manolas, Martha Simanteris, Sara Regas, Johana Johns, Fotini Ramfos, John Johns, George Johns, Constantina Diana, Hercules Johns, and James Johns. Her former brother-in-law, Nicholas P. Cummings of Franklin also preceded her in death. Mrs. Soutouras was cremated; her ashes were scattered in Lake Erie. Her nephew and godson, David John Tillman, chanted the Trisagion, an Orthodox service. James Alvin Wright, 72, of McNaughton Road, Rimersburg, died at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007, in the home of his daughter, Denise E. Cornman in Kittanning following a period of failing health. Born Feb. 26, 1935, in Kittanning, he was the son of Charles E. and Faye Wyant Wright. Mr. Wright attended Fort City School where he played on the football team. He served with the U.S. Navy. Mr. Wright enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling and playing his guitar and other music instruments. He was an avid Steelers football fan. His wife, Annabelle Bowser Wright, died Oct. 10, 2003. Surviving are one son, James A. Wright Jr. and wife, Doris, of Elderton; two daughters, Sandra McGinnis and husband, Ronnie, and Denise E. Cornman and husband, Jack, all of Kittanning; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He also is survived by a sister, Mrs. Margaret "Peg" Brown of Rimersburg; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Wright was preceded in death by four brothers, John, Charles, Donald and Richard Wright, and one sister, Mrs. Betty Stitt. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with the Rev. Rip Wright of Vernon, Ohio, a retired Nazarene minister, officiating. Interment will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Conneration.