The Derrick, January 2, 2008: Bernadette Mae "Bernie" Hugus Crooks, Clarion Mary Margaret Daly-Dunkle, Strattanville Daniel J. Drozdo, Hector, N.Y., formerly of Oil City David Franklin "Dutch" Eshbaugh, Brookville Haven Aaron Horn, Titusville Geraldine L. Lucas, formerly of 107 Manning St., Oil City Homer E. Shick Jr., New Bethlehem Benjamin C. Walters Jr., Titusville Nancy Louise Cook Williams, Fort Washingtyon, Md., formerly of New Bethlehem Bernadette "Bernie" Mae Hugus Crooks of Clarion died Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, surrounded by her family. She had recently celebrated her 85th birthday. Born Oct. 16, 1922, she was the daughter of Edgar and Alliene Kribbs Hugus of Knox. Mrs. Crooks earned her teaching degree in 1945 at Clarion University. After two years of teaching in Ohio she returned to the area and met and married Donald E. Crooks of Clarion in 1947. Together the couple raised six children and celebrated 56 years of marriage. She was a committed Christian and mentor to many young mothers. She welcomed every opportunity to share her faith and give her time, talent and gifts to bless others. Mrs. Crooks was an active member of all aspects of Clarion's business, social and church communities. Along with her husband, she founded The Tree House of Crooks Clothing in 1969 when she began her busy and thriving retail career, retiring in 1986. She recently received the 50-year member award from the Daughter's of the American Revolution. She was a longtime member of the Clarion County Garden Club, the Historical Society and the Clarion Community Choir and also helped found the Clarion Women's Aglow Chapter and the Christian Women's Club. Mrs. Crooks and her husband were awarded the Clarion 'Citizens of the Year' in 1988. She also was the first woman to serve on the board of Farmer's National Bank in Emlenton for 19 years, beginning in 1984. An avid traveler, she was one of the first to enter China in 1979 right after it was opened up to Westerners. She was a true renaissance woman including photographer, technology lover, hybrid gardener, bird enthusiast, hostess and gourmet cook and always was ready with a new idea and wise advice. Surviving are her children, Virginia and Christopher Gemmell of Alexandria, Va., and Knox, Edward and Cindy Crooks of York, James and Lydia Crooks of Clarion, Brian Crooks of Leesburg, Va., Nancy Hanna of Geneva, Ill., and Martha and David Selleck of Sewickley; and her grandchildren, Courtney and Jared Wall, Brandon, Nathan, Chelsea, Patrick, Kaitlyn, Casey, Brady, Emily, Alex, Madison, Morgan, Lauren and Samantha.. She also is survived by her sister, Mary, and brother-in-law, Herb Dascomb of Raleigh, N.C. The family will receive friends and family from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory, 330 Wood St., Clarion. A service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Alpha Assembly of God Church to celebrate her life. A luncheon will follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Clarion County YMCA and the Alpha Assembly of God Church. Mary Margaret Daly-Dunkle, 63, of Staab Road, Strattanville, died unexpectedly Sunday evening, Dec. 30, 2007, in UPMC Shadyside, Pittsburgh, following a sudden illness. Born June 29, 1944, in Austin, Texas, she was the daughter of James Edgar Daly and Margaret Neuland Westfall. She was a 1962 graduate of Clarion-Limestone High School. Mrs. Daly-Dunkle worked with her daughter at the Sharon Booth Hair Saloon in Strattanville. She also was part-time office manager for Truitt & Associates Inc. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church, Clarion. Mrs. Daly-Dunkle was a homemaker and loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed her grandchildren, flower garden, traveling, playing cards and dice, and was an avid reader and history enthusiast. Surviving are three daughters, Sharon Booth and husband, Robert, of Clarion, Sheryl "Rikki" Kroh of Strattanville and Sharla McCoy and husband, Shane, of Nashville, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Nicole Booth and Jordan Booth, both of Clarion, Amanda Kroh of Strattanville and IsaBella McCoy of Nashville, Tenn.; and her beloved dog, Mikki. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her fiancé, Richard W. Crawford Oct. 22, 2006; one brother, Michael Daly; and one granddaughter, Rachel Dannielle Kroh. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home, Clarion. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 8:45 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in the Immaculate Conception Church, Clarion, with the Rev. Monty Sayers, pastor, presiding. Interment will be in Cedarview Memorial Park, Strattanville. Daniel J. Drozdo, 60, of 6487 Peach Orchard Point, Hector, N.Y., died at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, in his residence following a short battle with cancer. Born Jan. 1, 1947, in Oil City, he was the son of the late George and Irene Strzalka Drozdo. He attended St. Joseph Grade and High School, was a 1964 graduate of Venango Christian High School, a 1969 graduate of Bryant and Stratton Business Institute of Buffalo, N.Y., a 1971 graduate of Tri-State University in Angola, Ind., and a 1977 graduate of General Electric Co. financial management program of Cleveland, Ohio. He also did graduate-level work at Notre Dame University of South Bend, Ind. Mr. Drozdo enjoyed hunting, fishing, local history, numismatics and writing human interest articles. He had several items published. For the past eight years he served as sole caregiver to his wife who had suffered a debilitating stroke. He was a parishioner of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Watkins Glen, N.Y. He also was a life member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity. Mr. Drozdo and his wife, Thelma, were married Dec. 27, 1969, in St. Ann Church in Hornell, N.Y. Corporate relocations took him and his family to Buffalo, N.Y., Jefferson, Ohio, Jackson, Miss., Painesville, Ohio, Danville, Ill., Mentor, Ohio, and Novi, Mich. He was deeply involved with job-related international travel that took him to Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and England. He spoke Spanish and Polish, which he learned as a child. Mr. Drozdo's other employment included National Gypsum Co. of Buffalo, N.Y., General Electric Co. of Fairfield, Conn., Standard Products Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, and Excel Industries of Elkhart, Ind. He also was employed as a financial consultant and provided services to several corporate clients. While living in the Oil City area he worked for Quaker Market and Joy Manufacturing. Mr. Drozdo enjoyed watching college football and basketball and was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He recently accompanied his son and several first cousins to Homer, Alaska, for a hiking and fishing adventure. His wife, Thelma A. Drozdo, survives in Greensboro, N.C. Also surviving are a daughter, Steffany A. and husband, Paul Gamsby, of Greensboro, N.C.; a son, Michael F. Drozdo of Holley, Mich.; a daughter, Mary A. Clifton of Westland, Mich; and two grandchildren, Michael A. Drozdo and Natalie L. Kitchen. He also is survived by two brothers, Robert G. Drozdo of Oil City and Mark T. Drozdo of Franklin; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in the area including David Stralko and Larry Stralko, his godsons. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents William V. and Stephania Strzalka; and an infant brother, Steven Charles Drozdo who died in 1953. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Reinsel Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Joseph Church with Msgr. John W. Swoger, pastor, presiding. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Venango Catholic High School, 1505 W. First St., Oil City, 16301. Condolences may be sent to www.reinselfuneralhome.com David F. Eshbaugh, 92, of 165 Alaska Road, Brookville, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007, in his home. He was a lifelong resident of the Brookville area. Born Jan. 12, 1915, in Sivey Bridge, W.Va., he was the son of Frank and Margaret C. Ishman Eshbaugh. Mr. Eshbaugh retired in 1977 from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He loved the outdoors, hunting and tending his flower beds and garden. Mr. Eshbaugh was a member of the Brookville Church of Christ. He was married Nov. 12, 1935, to Frances R. Horton and they celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary this year. Surviving are one brother, Don Eshbaugh of Clarion; one son, Eugene Eshbaugh and wife, Patsy, of Monaca; three daughters, Virginia L. Budnik of Brookville, Carolyn Conlon and husband, Mike, of Zelienople and Marilyn S. Mitchell and husband, Larry, of Abilene, Texas; 19 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Eshbaugh was preceded in death by three brothers, Floyd, Ray and Clyde; one sister, Mable Carr; one son, Daniel E.; and one great-granddaughter, Cassie L. Altfather. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the McKinney Funeral Home, 345 Main St., Brookville. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Church of Christ, Hughey Road, Brookville, with Evangelist William Covan officiating. Interment will be in Jefferson Cemetery at Baxter. Memorial contributions may be made to the Carnegie Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 4724 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, 15213, or to the Brookville Church of Christ. Haven Aaron Horn Haven Aaron Horn, son of Jeremy A. Horn of Oil City and Jenny L. Plyler of 844 Gresham Road, Titusville, was stillborn at 11:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, in Titusville Area Hospital. Also surviving are his paternal grandparents, Jeff and Bobbie Horn of Oil City and Christine and Michael Plyler of Cooperstown; paternal great-grandmother, Margaret Sunderlin of Columbus, Ohio; paternal great-great-grandmother, Elnetta McCauley of Orange City, Fla.; maternal grandparents, Charles K. and Debbie L. Plyler of Titusville; maternal great-grandmother, Mary Ada Plyler of Titusville; his paternal step-great-grandfather, Donald Cool of Shippenville; and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles. A private family service will be held at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in the Lamey Cemetery at Dempseytown. The Hutchinson Funeral Home of Oil City is in charge of arrangements. Geraldine L. Lucas Geraldine L. Lucas, formerly of 107 Manning St., Oil City, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, in Sugar Creek Station, Franklin. Born Jan. 1, 1925, she was a daughter of the late Clarence and Mabel Winters. She attended various schools within the Oil City Area School District, including Rouseville School. On Sept. 25, 1942, she married Wayne Clinton Lucas, and they resided in Henrys Bend and Oil City. He preceded her in death in August 1957. Mrs. Lucas worked at the Pennzoil refinery during World War II. She also worked at Garmong's Convalescent Home and retired from Beverly Healthcare in Oil City. Her favorite pastimes were planting and growing flowers and doing crossword puzzles. She also loved feeding the stray cats in her neighborhood. She is survived by two sons, Gary Wayne Lucas and his companion, Louise Brown, of Lake Wilhelm, Sandy Lake, and Jeffrey Lynn Lucas and his wife, Ann, of Oil City; three grandchildren, Mary Kay Dudzic and her husband, Scott, of Cochranton, Sheri McDonald and her husband, Ryan, of Oil City, and Craig Lucas of Oil City; and three great-grandchildren, Fisher and Indie Nicole Dudzic and Dade Lucas McDonald. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Lucas Thompson and her husband, John, of Mechanicsburg and Mary Joyce Lucas Murray and her husband, Ron, of Bellaire, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Sparks and Florence Payne. Her wishes were to be cremated. The Hutchinson Funeral Home of Oil City was in charge of arrangements. Homer E. Shick Jr., 79, of New Bethlehem, died Tuesday morning, Jan. 1, 2008, in his home following a lengthy illness. Born July 24, 1928, in New Bethlehem, he was the son of the late Homer E. Shick Sr. and Bessie B. Nulph Shick. Mr. Shick was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Army Infantry. Throughout his life he worked for G.E., delivered milk and ice cream throughout the area and eventually retired in 1998 from Heffner Bros. in Hawthorn. Mr. Shick was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church in New Bethlehem; a member of the VFW Club in New Bethlehem; and the Masonic Lodge No. 522 of New Bethlehem where he was the past grandmaster. He married the former Julia F. Mangiantini April 25, 1953 and she survives. Also surviving are a son, Michael D. Shick and his wife, Christine, of Summerville; three daughters, Victoria P. Barlett and her husband, Randy, of Brookville; Sonja Pavlekovsky and her husband, Thomas, of New Bethlehem and Kimberly S. Tordella and her husband, Chuck, of Saegertown; 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren. Mr.. Shick was the last surviving member of his family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 14 brothers and sisters, several nieces and nephews and a daughter-in-law, Susan Shick. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Rupert Funeral Home in New Bethlehem. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Charles Catholic Church, Washington Street, New Bethlehem. The Rev. William Laska will preside. Interment will follow in St. Charles Catholic Cemetery in New Bethlehem. The family suggests memorial contribution be made to St. Charles Catholic Church, 201 Washington St., New Bethlehem, 16242, or to the Mason Lodge No. 522 of New Bethlehem, 248 Broad St., New Bethlehem, 16242. Benjamin C. Walters Jr., 67, of Central Towers, 217 E. Central Ave., Titusville, died at 10:10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008, in his residence. Born April 5, 1940, in Titusville, he was the son of the late Benjamin C. and Lucy McCurdy Walters. He was a 1958 graduate of Titusville High School. Mr. Walters served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1962 with the 189th Engineer Company stationed in Fort Belvoir, Va. He was honorably discharged with the rank of SP4. He last was employed as a truck driver with R & R Ventures in Pleasantville until his retirement in 2004. Mr. Walters was a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church and the Cleo J. Ross Post 368, American Legion. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed the outdoors hunting and fishing, woodworking and engraving. Mr. Walters married Jessie L. Allen Dec. 10, 1960, in Titusville and she died Oct. 8, 2003. Surviving are three children, Candace Thompson and her husband, Edward "Putt," Tammy Walters and Ben Walters III, all of Titusville; three grandsons, Ryan Thompson and his wife, Alyson, Jacob Walters and Adam Walters, all of Titusville. He also is survived by a brother, Judson Walters and his wife, Elizabeth, of Pleasantville; mother-in-law, Eva Stokes Harris of Titusville; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Kerr. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home, 303 N. Washington St., Titusville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the funeral home with the Rev. Jerry Gray, pastor of the Bethel United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Union Cemetery with full military rites observed. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 320 Bilmar Dr., Pittsburgh, 15205, or to the Northwestern Kidney Foundation, P.O. Box 975, Erie, 16512. Nancy Louise Cook Williams Nancy Louise Cook Williams, 66, of Fort Washington, Md., formerly of New Bethlehem, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007, in Maryland following a lengthy illness. Born Nov. 5, 1941, in Climax, Armstrong County, she was the daughter of the late S. James Cook and Anna Bell Boyer Cook. She married Donald Williams, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Scott Williams and his wife, Marilyn, of Waldorf, Md.; and two grandchildren, Samantha and Justin Williams, also of Waldorf. She also is survived by two brothers, Jack Cook and his wife, Nancy, of East Palestine, Ohio, and Robert Cook and his wife, Barbara, of Jessup, Md.; three sisters, Anna Mae Bish of Distant, Barbara Hargrove and her husband, Ted, of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Linda Cook of Front Royal, Va.; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, James DeWayne Cook; and a sister, Faith Milliron. Friends will be received from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday in the Rupert Funeral Home in New Bethlehem. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home with the Rev. Lyle Westover, pastor of the Distant Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will follow at the Oakland Cemetery in Distant, Armstrong County.