Harold R. Toner; a Belle
Vernon funeral director and
civic leader for more than half a
century; died at 5:35 a.m.
Sunday;June 15;1975; at St. Francis
Hospital; Pittsburgh; an hour
after being admitted. .
Mr. Toner;who was 76;
resided at 630 Broad Ave.; North
Belle Vernon.
He was born in Verona on
March 14; 1899; a son of the late
James and Eva Bethune Toner;
and in his early youth moved to
Charleroi.
A veteran of World War I; he
served in four major battles and
receved the Purple Heart for
injuries sustained in action.
He maintained his interest in
veterans affairs; having served
as a former commander of
American Legion Post 659 of
Belle Vernon and as a service
officer for the Post for 30 years.
Mr. Toner established a
funeral home at 410 Broad Ave.;
Belle Vernon; in 1924 and moved
to his present site; 626 Broad
Ave.; Belle Vernon; in 1936.
He was a member of the
Pennsylvania State Board of
Funeral Directors and Charleroi
Elks Lodge 494.
He belonged to the First
Presbyterian Church of Belle
Vernon; where he was an elder;
Belle Vernon Lodge 643; Free &
Accepted Order of Masons
(F&AM); where he was a past
master; Ancient Accepted
Scottish Rite; New Castle
Consistory; Syria Temple;
Pittsburgh; Charleroi Barracks
of World War I veterans; and the
U. S. Trotting Association.
He was active in athletics in
his earlier years and was a member of several polo teams in the mid-Mon Valley. He served as a school director for several years in the Belle Venon area. Surviving are his widow;BlancheAllison Toner;ond daughter;Mrs.William (Betty) Pettibon of Harrisburg;four granchildren;Tedd;Tolly Tracy and Todd Pettibon;and two sisters;Mrs.Louis (Jeannette) Rasera of Turlock;Calif.and Ruth Hall of Charleroi. Friends will be receive at the Harold R.Toner and Gerald R.Essey Funeral Home;626 Broad Ave.;Belle Vernon;from 7 to 9 p.m.Monday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.Tuesday. Services will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday at 8 p.m.;with Dr.S. Arthur Talman of the First Presbyterian Church of Belle Vernon in charge. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery;Wednesday at 11 a.m. Masonic services will be conducted by Lodge 643;Free & Accepted Order of Masons (F&AM) Lodge 643 of Belle Vernon on Tuesday at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers;the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Mon Valley Hospital Building Fund. Harold R.Toner and Gerald R.Essey Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.