James M. Stedman; 87; of Longwood; Fla.; died Friday; Nov. 9; 2001; following a lengthy illness. Mr. Stedman was born in Nelsonville; Ohio; and was a longtime resident of Charleroi and Speers Hill. He retired from Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel; Allenport plant; in 1977; and moved to Florida in 1994. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He had belonged to the American Legion; the Elks Lodge; and was an active member of St. Mary’s Episcopa1 Church in Charleroi. He is survived by his wife; Marguerite Stedman; who now resides at Heritage at Longwood; S. Wayman St.; Longwood; Fla. 32750. Mr. Stedman is also survived by a daughter; Sandra Stedman North of Winter Springs; Fla.; and two grandchildren; Jason North of Indianapolis; Ind.; and Kristin Harrington of Orlando; Fla.

William B. Huweart; 76; of Rostraver Township; died Saturday; April 6; 2002; in the Jefferson Center Regional Hospital; Jefferson Borough. Born in Charleroi on March 5; 1926; he was the son of the late Joseph and Ida Mae Huweart. Mr. Huweart was retired from General Motors in West Mifflin. He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Belle Vernon. He was a lay minister through the Belle Vernon Church of the Nazarene. Mr. Huweart served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law; William Kevin and Janice Huweart of Coal Center; and two grandchildren; Jennifer and Billy Huweart. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by his wife; Betty I. Green Huweart on Feb. 24; 2001. Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC.; 580 Circle Drive; Sweeney Plan/Rostraver Township. Additional viewing will be held Tuesday in the Church of the Nazarene; 112 Reed Ave.; Belle Vernon; from 9 to 11 a.m.; the hour of service with the Rev. J.E. Mitchell; pastor; officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery; Rostraver Township.

Michael Jerome Bennett Jr.; 52; of Washington Township; died Tuesday; April 2; 2002. He was born May 5; 1949; in North Charleroi; a son of Michael J. and Helen Sebetich Bennett; who survive. He was a member of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church; Fayette City; and a school teacher in the Carlynton School District. Survivors include his wife; Gloria Sztroin Bennett; two sons; Scott Bennett of Belle Vernon and Shawn Bennett of Lexington; S.C.; one brother; Frank Bennett of Belle Vernon; one sister; Barbara Kutska of Belle Vernon; and two granddaughters; Brianna and Brittany Bennett. Friends will be received in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday; April 5; until 9:30 a.m.; when a blessing service will take place followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Holy Spirit R.C. Church; Fayette City; with the Rev. Father Leonard McAlpin as celebrant. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. A parish wake service will take place Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home. www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.com.

Bernard J. Micher; 71; of Belle Vernon; Rostraver Township; died Saturday; March 30; 2002; in Westmoreland Regional Hospital; Greensburg. Born in Connellsville; May 11; 1930; he was a son of the late George B. and Anna Elizabeth (Chenok) Micher. Mr. Micher was retired from Duquesne Light Co. after 31 years of service. He was a member of the Church of St. Anne in Rostraver Township. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. He is survived by his beloved wife; Norma Jean (Fatkin) Micher; two daughters and sons-in-law; Lou Ann and Hugh Kovalsky of Belle Vernon and Lois J. and David Giuliani of McDonald; three brothers; Edward Micher and his wife; Nancy; of Uniontown; Robert Jerome Micher and his wife; Dorothy; of Tucson; Ariz.; and Theodore Micher of Maryland; three sisters-in-law; Carolyn Micher of Baldwin Borough; Carrie Micher of Adelaide and Agnes Haslow of Alabama; two grandsons; Matthew James Kovalsky and Joseph Bernard Giuliani; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by his three brothers; Daniel; Joseph and Anthony Micher; a sister; Elizabeth; and an infant brother; Albert. Friends will be received Monday from 7 to 9 p.m.; Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday until 9:30 a.m. in the JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC.; 580 Circle Drive; Sweeney Plan/Rostraver Township. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Church of St. Anne; Rostraver Township; with the Rev. Ronald L. Simboli; his pastor; presiding. Interment with full military honors will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery; Rostraver Township.

Charles A. Mitchell; 62; of Pricedale; died Friday; March 22; 2002; in Mon Valley Hospital. He was born Dec. 3; 1939; in Arnold City; a son of late Ozzie and Anna Garrigutch Mitchell. He was preceded in death by three brothers; Thomas; George and Archie Mitchell; and one sister; Elizabeth (Betty) Olszewski. Surviving are his wife; Mary-Andrea (Angie) Vlahos Mitchell; children; Joseph Mitchell and wife Mary of Mechanicsburg; Charles Mitchell and wife Jeannie of Bristol; Tenn.; JoAnne Lunt of Berwick; and Craig Kirk and wife Mary of Fayette City; one son-in-law; Donald Lunt of Donora; two sisters-in-law; Mary Mitchell of Fairhope and Sara Mitchell of Belle Vernon; and 10 grandchildren. He is also survived by his dog Rusty; and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will take place Tuesday; March 26; at 10 a.m. in Christ Episcopal Church of Brownsville with the Rev. Stanley Burdock officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Mary E. McDonald; 94; of Speers Hill; died Tuesday; March 19; 2002; in Mon Valley Hospital. She was born in Speers on Nov. 22; 1907; a daughter of the late George and Anna Zehfuss Gaskill. Mrs. McDonald was a member of the Speers United Methodist Church. Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law; Connie and William Hayes of Croydon; and Betty Galligan; with whom she made her home; four grandchildren and their spouses; Constance and Stephan Dziadkowsky of Philadelphia; Betty Lynn and Timothy McLaughlin of Rockledge; William B. and Joell Galligan of Fairless Hills; and Charles A. and Karin Galligan of Canonsburg; four great-grandchildren; Stephan Dziadkowsky; Timothy and Candice McLaughlin; and Elizabeth Rae Galligan; The last of the George Gaskill family; in addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Bruce B. McDonald; two brothers; William and John Gaskill; five sisters; Sylvia Sutherland; Margaret Sutherland; Georgetta Moyer; Stella Gaskill and Eva Douthett; and a son-in-law; Charles A. Galligan. Friends will be received on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Rule Member Firm; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; where funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Cortez Wilcox Jr.; 54; of East Liberty; formerly of Monessen; died Saturday; March 16; 2002; in West Penn Hospital; Pittsburgh. He was born May 14; 1947; in Charleroi; a son of the late Cortez Wilcox Sr. and Harriet Wilcox; who survives and resides in East Liberty. He was Vietnam War veteran. Survivors include his fiancŽe; Darlene Smart of East Liberty; four half-brothers; Nathaniel Wilcox of Erie; Randy Wilcox of Indianapolis; Ind.; Eric Wilcox of Indianapolis; Ind.; and Shawn Rendleman of Charleroi; one stepbrother; Alan Carson; two sisters; Celeste Wilcox-James of East Liberty; Alyce Wilcox-Aldrich of Monessen; two half-sisters; Carolyn Carson and Kathi Nix-Carson; both of Indianapolis; Ind.; and one stepsister; Janet Carson of Indianapolis; Ind. Friends will be received Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church; Monessen; where services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. ALDRICH FUNERAL HOMES; 431 East Ninth Ave.; Munhall; 15120; Michael J. Aldrich; funeral director; was in charge of the arrangements.

Barbara Z. Vargo; 87; of Fayette City; died Friday; March 15; 2002; in her home. She was born Dec. 6; 1914; in Fayette City; a daughter of the late Charles and Anna Zabrusky. She was a member of the Fayette City Christian and Missionary Alliance Church for 61 years; Washington Township Senior Citizen Center; and the Fayette City/Washington Township Food Bank. Mrs. Vargo was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years; Paul Vargo; on Sept. 23; 1982; one son; Paul James Vargo in 1936; three sisters; Ann Fecko; Helen Prauica and Martha Zabrusky; and one brother; Charles Zabrusky Jr. She is survived by her children; Pauline Baker of Fairhope; and Jack Vargo and special friend Anna Marie Farquhar of Fayette City; two sisters; Mary Koscho of Lorain; Ohio; and Sue Boehm of Maple Heights; Ohio; six grandchildren; Stephen Baker and wife Kathy; Kim Ciccarelli and husband Mark; Michelle Barbutes and husband Mark; Frank Baker and wife Lauren; and Lisa and Laurene Baker; and three great-grandchildren; Shawn; Hallie and Brenna Baker. Friends will be received in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday; March 19; from 10 to 11 a.m.; the hour of service at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church; Fayette City; with Pastor Bryan Cinelli officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers; the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Christian and Missionary Alliance Church; Fayette City; the Washington Township Senior Citizen Center; or the Fayette City/Washington Township Food Pantry.

Charles E. Lucky Prentice; 46; of Washington Township; died Friday; March 15; 2002; in Mon Valley Hospital. He was born Aug. 27; 1955; in North Charleroi; Pa.; a son of the late Woodrow Prentice and Norma Jean Barr Prentice Halle. He was also preceded in death by his stepfather; Edward Halle. Surviving is his wife; Joann Maglet Prentice; children; Christina and Cassie Prentice; one grandson; John J. Lorenzo; all at home; one brother; Woodrow Prentice of Bentleyville; his father-in-law and mother-in-law; Donald and Shelby Maglet; and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Sunday from noon to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.; and Monday until 11 a.m.; the hour of services in the funeral home with Pastor Bryan Cinelli officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Colleen Gold Kratzer; 67; formerly of Monessen; passed away Wednesday; Feb. 27; 2002; after a battle with lymphoma. She was born in Monessen; June 23; 1932; a daughter of the late James Gold; former mayor of Monessen; and Thelma Willey Gold. She graduated from Monessen High School in 1950 and retired after 30 years as a teacher in the Hillsborough County School System in Tampa; Fla.; a career that she loved. Her home welcomed everyone and she will be missed by many. A light has gone out in our lives. Survivors include her husband; Rudy Kratzer; children and their spouses; Jon Erik and Valerie Kratzer; Jeffrey and Ursula Kratzer; Beth and Sumesh Chandra; and Sheila and Heidi Kratzer; grandchildren; Maggie; Sheila; Laura and Neil Kratzer; Meera and Hunter Chandra; and three sisters; Sheila Gold; Norma DeLancey and Joan Resseger. Services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Belle Vernon Cemetery with the Rev. Tim McConville; pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Belle Vernon officiating. The FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; is in charge of arrangements.