The Derrick, August 25, 2007: William A. Box, Heidrick Street, Clarion, formerly of Bethel Park Jack L. Brakeman, 516 Gadsby Road, Stoneboro Ernest G. "Gus" Gahagan Jr., 49 Franklin St., Stoneboro Charles A. Patten, Cranberry Township Russell Ritchie, Lady Lake, Fla., formerly of Oil City Orville Edward Stadler II, Mims, Fla., formerly of Franklin Merle D. Welton Sr., 111 Lamberton St., Franklin Edward E. Matthews, getting it right William A. Box, 89, of Heidrick Street, Clarion, formerly of Bethel Park, died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, in the Clarion Hospital. Born April 29, 1918, in Kansas City, Mo., he was the son of William J. and Esther S. Cotterall Box. Mr. Box was employed as a mechanical engineer in the applied research lab of United States Steel Corp. He lived in Bethel Park from 1966 to 2006 and was a 40-year member of John McMillan Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park. He also was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Association of Individual Investors and Sigma XI- Scientific Research Society. Mr. Box married Nelladean Greene, who preceded him in death. Surviving are one son, William R. Box and wife, Toni J., of Morrow, Ohio; one daughter, Carolyn L. Schiffhouer and husband, Robert, of Limestone; four grandchildren: Amy, Jack, Ryan and Desmond; and six great-grandchildren, George, Corbin, Mallory, Andrew, Rowan and Jonathan. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Box was preceded in death by one sister and one brother. There will be no visitation. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31, in the John McMillan Presbyterian Church, Bethel Park, with the Rev. Charles Berthoud officiating. The Goble Funeral Home and Crematory, 330 Wood St., Clarion, is in charge of arrangements. Jack L. Brakeman Jack L. Brakeman, 81, who resided at 516 Gadsby Road, Stoneboro, Irwin Township, Venango County, for the past 47 years, died at 5:25 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2007, in UPMC Northwest, Seneca, following an extended illness. Born Feb. 13, 1926, in Oil City, he was the son of Ellis "Pete" Plummer Brakeman and Leila Liotta Bryson Brakeman. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Brakeman retired as a machinist from Cooper Energy Services of Grove City after 40 years of service. He was a member of the VFW Post of Franklin and the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Grove City. Mr. Brakeman enjoyed music, golfing and bowling. He called for square dances, played many string instruments and pitched horseshoes. He was of the Protestant faith. Mr. Brakeman was married April 26, 1947, to Lelia G. Montgomery, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Gwen Gooden and husband, William "Bill," of Polk and Linda Shingledecker and husband, Richard M., of Greenville; one son, Lee Shuler and wife, Debbie, of Warren, Ohio; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Brakeman was preceded in death by one brother, William Eugene Brakeman; and one sister, Betty Marie Steller. No visitation hours will be observed. Private family services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Cunningham Funeral Home Inc., Grove City, with Pastor Rob Guy of the Barkeyville Church of God, officiating. Interment will be in Crestview Memorial Park. Ernest G. 'Gus' Gahagan Jr. Ernest G. "Gus" Gahagan Jr., 79, of 49 Franklin St., Stoneboro, died at 4:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2007, in UPMC Horizon, Greenville. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the Scott A. Black Funeral Home, 99 Franklin St., Stoneboro. A complete obituary will be published Monday in the News-Herald. Charles A. Patten Charles A. Patten, 87. of Norman Drive, Cranberry Township, husband of the late Kathleen "Kate" Breene of Franklin, died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007, in Passavant Hospital, McCandless Township. Mr. Patten had been employed by Dravo in Pittsburgh. Surviving are a son, Charles A. Patten Jr. of New York, N.Y.; two daughters, Amy Goddard of Patterson, N.Y., and Nancy Hansen of Berwyn; and three grandchildren, Christopher and Katie Hansen and David Goddard. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the Devlin Funeral Home of Cranberry, 2678 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Ferdinand Church, Cranberry Township. Russell Ritchie Russell Ritchie of Lady Lake, Fla., formerly of Oil City, died on his 69th birthday Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007, while visiting in Huntingtown, Md. Born Aug. 22, 1938, in Dover, Dela., he was the son of Eileen Russell Ritchie and William E. Ritchie. His early years were spent in Oil City, a place he dearly loved. He graduated in 1956 from Oil City High School and graduated in 1960 from Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, Pa. Mr. Ritchie was devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren, and will be especially remembered by them for his caring and generous nature. These traits also were reflected by his volunteerism at the Christian Food Pantry in Lady Lake, Fla. He had a great love of nature and felt spiritually connected when gardening, hiking at Mount Ranier and the C&O Canal, and fishing for salmon in the Pacific Northwest. He loved animals, especially birds. He was energetic and athletic and was a lifelong swimmer and golfer. Mr. Ritchie also loved music and enjoyed playing the piano at family gatherings. In Lady Lake, Fla., he was a member of North Lake Presbyterian Church and Harbor Hills Country Club. He previously lived in Montgomery Village, Md., for 30 years. His military service was in the United States Army where he served two tours of duty including Vietnam. As a captain, he was awarded several honors including the Air Medal for Valor. A career federal employee, he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, Department of Energy, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He was a charter member of the Senior Executive Service. After retiring from the federal government, he was a consultant for various companies and also worked for Westinghouse Corp. Surviving are his wife, Mary Bailey Ritchie, formerly of Franklin, and daughters, Jennifer Ritchie Payette of Bethesda, Md., and Dawn Ritchie Miller of Huntingtown, Md.; and six grandchildren, Russell Cochran, Rachael Cochran, Grant Payette, Claire Payette, Katherine Miller and Kimberly Miller. He also is survived by two brothers, Henry Ritchie of South Orleans (Cape Cod), Mass., and Michael Ritchie of Port Chester, N.Y.; and a sister, Eileen Hunter of Whidbey Island (Freeland), Wash. A memorial service will be held at a date to be undetermined at Bethesda United Methodist Church in Bethesda, Md., presided over by the Rev. Ronald Foster. Interment will follow in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens, Cranberry, where his cousin, the Rev. Duane Slade of Johnstown, will conduct a private service. Memorial gifts can be directed to The Hubbard House, 29 W. Miller St., Orlando, Fla., 32806, or to the Calvert Hospice, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, Md., 20678. Arrangements are in charge of the Lee Funeral Homes, 8125 Southern Maryland Blvd., Owings, Md. Condolences may be sent on line at www.leefuneralhomes.com Orville Edward Stadler II, 60, of Mims, Fla., formerly of Franklin, died unexpectedly in his home Tuesday, July 24, 2007. Born April 9, 1947, in Sugarcreek Township, Venango County, he was the son of Orville E. and Ruth Stadler, who preceded him in death. He was a graduate of Franklin High School. Mr. Stadler then entered the U.S. Air Force where he retired in 1986 after a 20-year military career. His awards includes the Air Force Training Ribbon, Air Force Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (rifle), NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award with three Oak Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. He had been employed since 1989 as a lead fiber optic technician at Indyne, Aerospace in Titusville, Fla. An American flag that flew at the Kennedy Space Center during his career was presented to the family as a token of gratitude by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Mr. Stadler enjoyed raising miniature horses with his wife on their farm. He loved animals, especially his miniatures, Joe and Calvin, and his dogs, Chopper, Miss Barkalot and CC. He was well-known for his flea market finds, lights and tinkering. Surviving are his wife, Patricia Stadler of Mims, Fla.; three children, Orville E. Stadler III and wife, Rita, of Oil City, S.Sgt. Cathleen E. Stadler-Frazier and husband, S.Sgt. Robert Frazier, of Fort Lewis, Wash., and John Stadler of Pittsburgh; and three grandchildren, Karie, John and Chelsey Stadler, all of Oil City. Interment was in Brevard Memorial Park in Titusville, Fla., with military honors and flag presentation. Merle D. Welton Sr., 86, of 111 Lamberton St., Franklin, died at 1:37 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, in UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh. Born April 7, 1921, in Franklin, he was the son of David and Bessie Armstrong Welton. Mr. Welton retired in 1983 from Johns Mansville where he was a shipping supervisor. He was married to Laveda Heffner, who survives. Also surviving are four sons, Merle Welton Jr. and wife, Jane, of Meadville, Larry G. Welton of Franklin, Donald E. Welton and wife, Elizabeth E. Feldman, of Pittsburgh and Jerry B. Welton of Franklin; three daughters, Karen L. Welton and Spring A. Welton, both of Franklin, and Joy A. Welton of Raleigh, N.C.; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Welton was preceded in death by a son, Terry L. Welton; a grandson, Glenn Welton; a sister, Irene Welton; and a daughter-in-law, Esther L. Welton. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Robert W. Gardinier Funeral Home, 1315 Chestnut St., Franklin. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Jonathan Bell of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in the Franklin Cemetery. Condolences may be sent on line at www.gardinierfuneralhome.com Getting it right - Edward E. Matthews Edward E. Matthews - Edward E. Matthews, 75, of Route 208, Knox, died at 4:50 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007, in UPMC Shadyside Hospital, Pittsburgh. Among his survivors is a daughter-in-law, Anita Matthews of Cranberry RD, Fern.