Judith M. Shorter Banks; 61; of Columbia; S.C.; formerly of Pricedale; went to be with the Lord on Jan. 15; 2010. Born on Sept. 19; 1948; in Charleroi; she was the daughter of the late Sylvester and Thomasina Shorter. Judy was a 1966 honors graduate of Rostraver High School. After graduation; she was employed by Page Steel and Wire Company in Monessen until its closure in 1972. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy and completed basic training in Orlando; Fla.; where she was named as the Outstanding Graduating Recruit. This was only the beginning of things to come; her military career reflected her desire to be the best. Judy’s naval career was highly successful. She was the first Afro-American female to achieve her rank of Master Chief Personnelman. She was promoted to her rank in the shortest possible time. She was acknowledged as Sailor of the Year; Sailor of the Quarter; and Sailor of the Month throughout her illustrious career. She served at duty stations in Virginia; New Jersey; Maryland; Illinois; and Hawaii. Her many accomplishments were recognized by her selection to the Senior Enlisted Academy. After graduation; Judy served on an inspection team responsible for inspecting administration offices at naval installations and ships in the Atlantic Fleet. After 20 years of service; she retired to Columbia; S.C.; where she was employed at South Carolina Department of Education. She worked in the GED office; administering tests to applicants. Judy loved animals and was a life-time member of the South Carolina Humane Society. She had the love and respect from all who worked and knew her. Survivors include one sister; Linda Johnson; of Monessen; five brothers; Richard Shorter of Los Angeles; Byron (Tawndra) Shorter; of Clinton; Md.; James (Pam) Shorter; of Richmond; Calif.; Robert Shorter; of Virginia Beach; Va.; and Erik Shorter; of Eurika; Calif; three aunts; Merry Ward; of Richmond; Ca.; Geneva Johnson; of Columbia; S.C.; and Dorothy Davis; of Hampton; Va.; and a host of nieces; nephews; cousins; other relatives and friends. Judy will be greatly missed by her surviving sister and five brothers; whom she truly loved and kept close in her heart. A private graveside service will be held at Belle Vernon Cemetery. A memorial service is being planned in June. Arrangements have been entrusted to the BEVERLY C. DRAPER FUNERAL HOME INC.; 608 Sixth St.; Monessen (724-684-6242).

Ronald E. Ledgerton; 77; of Lynnwood; Belle Vernon; passed away Monday; May 3; 2010; at 9:55 p.m. with his family by his side. He was born in Smock on Aug. 6; 1932; a son of the late Eric Stanley Ledgerton and Myrtle Silman Ledgerton. Protestant by faith; he was a member of the American Legion Post 659; of Belle Vernon; the Fayette City American Legion; the Fairhope Rod and Gun Club and the Naomi Club. Ron served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and retired from the Mathies Coal Company. Survivors include his wife of 54 years; Patricia Winn Ledgerton; two daughters; Rhonda Ledgerton-Williams; and Susan Ledgerton; both of Belle Vernon; one son; Ronald Ledgerton; of Uniontown; one sister and brother-in-law; Helen and Harrison Stephens; of Port Orange; Fla.; one brother and sister-in-law; Stanley and Avenelle Ledgerton; of Mt. Morris; four grandchildren; Jamie Roberts; Thomas W. Kress; and Katelin and Brandon Ledgerton; two great-grandchildren; Alyssa and Timothy Roberts; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by one sister; Dorothy Hawker. There will be no public visitation and burial will be private. The FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC.; 724-929-5300; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; is handling arrangements. www.fergusonfuneralhomeandcrematory.com.

Wanetta A. James; 77; of Donora; peacefully slipped away into the open arms of our Lord on Tuesday; May 7; 2010; with her family by her side. Born on Feb. 20; 1933; in Monongahela; she was the daughter of the late Coreen Dupree Murphy and William Green. In addition to her parents; she is preceded in death by her beloved sister; Greta V. Chatters. Wanetta’s life centered around her husband of 60 years; Richard L. James; of Donora; her three children; Greta (Kenneth) Canfield; of Dallas; Texas; Richard A. (Denise) James; of Donora; and Denise Faulkner; of Atlanta; Ga.; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. Family and friends will be received on Sunday; May 9; from 6 to 8 p.m. at BEVERLY C. DRAPER FUNERAL HOME; 608 6th St.; Monessen. Funeral Services will be held on Monday; May; 10; at 11 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church 230 Reed Ave.; Monessen; with the Rev. Millie Thomas officiating. Interment will take place at Belle Vernon Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Beverly C. Draper Funeral Home. (724-684-6242)

John Charles Butcher; 42; of Fayette City; died Tuesday; May 4; 2010. Born Feb. 17; 1968; in Pittsburgh; he was the son of Charlene Simmons Butcher; of Fayette City; and the late Wallace Butcher. A lifelong resident of Fayette City; Mr. Butcher was a member of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church; and was a technician with Solar Energy; Rostraver Township. He enjoyed bowling; was an assistant coach with the Perry Youth Baseball Association; and served as a past assistant coach for the Washington Township Redskins Midget Football League. In addition to his mother; he is survived by a son; Logan Paul Butcher; of Jefferson Township; ex-wife; Bridgette Butcher; of Jefferson Township; sister; Cassandra Butcher and fiance; Jared Bazek; of Washington Township; maternal grandparents; John and Ann Bezeto Simmons; of Fayette City; nephew; Jaxson Reid Bozek; of Washington Township; cousin; Amy and husband; Mark Mooney; of Greensburg; two uncles and aunts; Ralph and Mary Butcher Jr.; of Penn; and James and Susan Butcher; of North Royalton; Ohio. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents; Ralph and Josephine Rothbauer Butcher; a cousin; Paul Stephen Butcher; and an aunt; Rita Gorman. Visitation will be held Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the LEONARD J. PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME; Family Owned and Operated; 626 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon (724-929-6183). Relatives and friends will gather at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church on Saturday at 10 a.m. for funeral services. Interment will take place in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Parastas service will be held Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. Condolences accepted at the funeral homes website; www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.

Brian Scott Loines affectionately known as B was born in Washington;D.C. on January 7;1968 to Mary Payne Loines and Paul Loines. He was the youngest of three siblings. His father preceded him in death. After relocating to Cleveland;Ohio;Brian received his education in the Cleveland Heights School system. He was a graduate of Cleveland Heights High. Shortly after graduating from high school;he enlisted in the United States Army. Brian and Hellean Morris were blessed with two loving children;a daughter;Adrienne Breane loines born in 1989 and a son;Thyrun Jamel Loines in 1995. On September 28;1996;Brian and Hellean were united in Holy Matrimony. Brian was employed with the City of Bedford Heights for five years and worked in the service department up until his health began to decline. He was a family man who poured his heartfelt love into family. His favorite pastime was spending quality time with his children and exposing his son to the games of sports;especially basketball and football. Although he was a straight forward type of guy who would not hesitate to speak what was on his mind;he had a caring and gentle side that will keep his spirit alive and forever cherished. He leaves to cherish his memory:his loving wife;Hellean;two devoted and loving children;Adrienne Breane and Thyrun Jamel Loines;his loving mother;Mary Loines (Bill);one sister;Sherry Loines;and one brother;Paul Loines;both of Cleveland;Ohio;grandmother;Catherine Cunningham;mother-in-law;Ann Morris;brothers-in-law;Willis Walker (Janet) of Euclid;Ohio and Herbert Morris (Teneka) of Bedford;Ohio;and a host of nieces;nephews;cousins and many treasured friends.

Roberta L. Lindey; 77; of Fayette City; passed away Monday; May 3; 2010; in Jefferson Regional Medical Center; with her family at her side. She was born April 25; 1933; in Burbank; Calif.; daughter of the late Robert Butler and Neslo Scott Butler. She was a member of the First Christian Church; Fayette City. She was a retired dispatcher for the Community Ambulance Service. Surviving are two daughters; Terri Hall and husband; Bob; of Fayette City; and Lisa Brown and husband; James; of Jefferson Township; six grandchildren; Bob Hall and fiancee Heather; Jeremy; Josh and Nick Hall; Melissa and Matthew Brown. She was preceded in death by her husband; Louis K. Chipper Lindey; on May 7; 2009. Friends will be received Wednesday 7 to 9 p.m. in the ELEY-MCCRORY FUNERAL HOME; Main Street; Fayette City; and Thursday; May 6; until 11 a.m.; the hour of services; with the Rev. Wayne Boring officiating. Interment will follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery. www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.com.

William C. Murray; of Greensburg; passed on Saturday; July 17; 2010; at the age of 68. Born in Buffalo; N.Y.; to parents William Murray and Olga Ezyk; Bill moved to Western Pennsylvania at an early age; grew up in the New Kensington area and eventually graduated from Ken High School in 1960. Bill married Gail (Solomon) Murray; who passed in 1995; and together had two sons; Bill (43) and Ryan (34). Bill went on to marry Michele Essey Murray in October 1999; and together became the center of the Murray family. Michele was at his side at the time of his passing. Bill was an accomplished businessman. He owned and operated Century Medical Systems; which provided X-ray services to doctors and hospitals in the tri-state area. His work in this field earned him numerous awards and accolades within the medical and business communities. He was an avid drummer and baseball player in school and carried those passions with him to this very day. Bill marched with several drum and bugle corps throughout his life and was a well respected musician and composer within that community. He was often invited to play as a guest drummer with some of the most prestigious drum and bugle corps in the nation. His other passions included model railroading; amassing quite the collection of Lionel trains over the years. His other passion — his twin grandchildren; Cailyn and Aidan (9). He is survived by his wife; Michele Essey Murray; his sons; William and Ryan; and his grandchildren; Cailyn and Aidan. He is also survived by his brother; Tim; his sister; Bonnie; and brother-in-law; George Stanley. He was especially proud of his extended family including his daughters-in-law; Amy (Tufts) Murray and Kathy Stokes. Friends were received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the COSHEY-NICHOLSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; 319 W. Pittsburgh St.; Greensburg. Memorial prayers were held at 7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Morning prayers will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home; followed by funeral service at 10 a.m. in St. Michael’s Orthodox Church; Greensburg; with Father John Nosal officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Alvin P. Oskin Jr.; supervisor; in charge of arrangements.