Garnet William Blower Jr.; 79; of Fayette City; died Thursday; June 21; 2007 in his home. He was born Jan. 23; 1928 in Fayette City; the son of the late Garnet William Sr. and Rose Mezella Blower. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Mr. Blower was retired from the Fisher Body Plant of General Motors. He was a member of Little Redstone Presbyterian Church; Fayette City; Moose Lodge No. 1358 of Sutersville; Belle Vernon American Legion Post No. 659; and the Naomi AC and Fairhope Rod & Gun clubs. He is survived by his wife; Lois Crouch Blower; a son; William E. Blower; at home; and a sister; Shirley Wolfe; of Grindstone. Friends will be received in the ELEY-McCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC.; 334 Main St.; Fayette City; on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.; Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.; and Monday; June 25 until 10 a.m.; the hour of services. Interment will follow in LaFayette Memorial Park; Brier Hill. For those unable to attend; on-line condolences will be accepted at the funeral home Web site; www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.com
(MOVED TO BELLE VERNON CEMETERY MAUSOLEUM ON 10/27/2008)

Frederick W. Schmidt; 83; of North Belle Vernon; died Thursday; Oct. 30; 2008; in his home. A son of the late Fred and Pauline Heath Schmidt; he was born in Belle Vernon on Oct. 30; 1925. Mr. Schmidt retired in 1987 from the Corning Glass Works in Charleroi and was a member of the Corning Retirees. A Purple Heart recipient; he was a U.S. Marine veteran of World War II. Survivors include his sister; Margaret Louis; of Fairless Hills; five nieces; and several great-nieces and great- nephews. In addition to his parents; he was preceded in death by one brother; William Heath; on Jan. 18; 2008. Friends will be received from 8 to 9 p.m. Sunday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORY INC.; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon (724-929-5300); www.fergusonfuneralhomeandcrematory.com. Funeral services will be in the funeral home on Monday; Nov. 3; at 10 a.m. with Pastor Eugene Spear officiating. Entombment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

After a courageous battle with cancer; Lanny Sarber; 75; of Belle Vernon; with his family surrounding him at home; went to be with his Heavenly Father on Monday; June 4; 2012. Lanny was born in Scottdale on July 24; 1936; the son of the late Dorothy Ries Sarber and James Lloyd Sarber. He was a graduate of Rostraver High School; where he was a member of the Historical Society and sang in the choir. He was an avid athlete who played basketball; and captained the Rostraver football team. He attended Slippery Rock College for a semester; but then decided to enlist in the U.S. Air Force. He served in Biloxi; Miss.; Waco; Texas; Panama City; Fla.; and a remote radar site in Alaska. After serving four years in the U.S. Air Force; he returned home and enrolled in the Pittsburgh Barber School and opened his own barber shop in Belle Vernon. After an engaging conversation with two of his customers; he was offered a job with Quigley Co.; a subsidiary of Pfizer. He started at the bottom of the ladder; but he achieved the position of regional sales manager before his retirement. When not working; Lanny continued his love of sports throughout his life. In addition to singing; he enjoyed cooking; golf; tennis; racquetball; cards and playing Monkey with his toy poodle; Bailey. He was a member of Pricedale Union Church; a member of the choir; and assisted the treasurer for a term; before falling ill. He was a former member of Fells United Methodist Church and sang in the choir there as well. His family; church and sports were the most important things in his life. He was known in his neighborhood for his walks and his infectious smile as he took five to 10 short walks a day and would wave to all his neighbors. He is survived by his wife of 55 years; Janice Quinn Sarber; three daughters; Kelly Sarber Fletcher and husband Wayne; of Laurel; Md.; Ginger Sarber; of Belle Vernon; and Sherri Sarber and fiance; Brian Salyers; of Gambrills; Md.; two sisters; Sally Sarber Baumgardner; of Lake Worth; Fla.; and Susan Sarber; of Monessen; two granddaughters; Kim Picchiarini Pallo; of Belle Vernon; and Amber Picchiarini; of Gambrills; Md.; one great-grandson; Trey Pallo; of Belle Vernon; and numerous nephews and nieces. In addition to his parents; Lanny was predeceased by his brother; James Sarber; and sister; Jan Sarber Bell. Friends and family will be received on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the JAMES C. STUMP FUNERAL HOME INC.; 580 Circle Drive; Belle Vernon/Rostraver Township; (724) 929-7934; www.jamesstumpfuneralhome.com; where a funeral service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. with Pastor James Mimidis; of Pricedale Union Church; officiating. Entombment with full military honors will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions in memory of Lanny Sarber to the Pricedale Union Church Memorial Fund; 203 Johnson Ave.; Belle Vernon; PA 15012.

Janet Kay Snodgrass; 63; of Rostraver Township; went home to be with the Lord on Monday; Oct. 20; 2008. A daughter of the late Carl I. and Gladys G. Morgan Watkins; she was born in Sistersville; W.Va.; on Jan. 20; 1945. Formerly of Friendly; W.Va.; Janet had resided in Rostraver Township for the past 19 years and was a member of the Christian Center Church. She loved and enjoyed her family; gardening and teaching the word of the Lord. Survivors include her husband of 43 years; Pastor Gary Snodgrass; two sons: Gary Dean Snodgrass; of East Pittsburgh; and Cary Dean Snodgrass; of Arvada; Colo.; two sisters; Mary Lou Cart; of Roswell; Ga.; and Linda Hudson; of New Martinsville; W.Va.; and three grandchildren: Michael; Kaytelin and Ethan Snodgrass. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by a brother; Okey Watkins. Friends will be received from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORY INC.; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon (724-929-5300); www.fergusonfuneralhomeandcrematory.com. Additional visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday in the Christian Center Church; Ridge Road; Belle Vernon; where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. with Pastor John Derrico Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

Ann E. Matta; 88; of Monessen; died Monday; Oct. 20; 2008; at the home of her daughter in Perry Township. She was born in Monessen on May 2; 1920; the daughter of the late John and Barbara Pfiester Chackovics. Mrs. Matta was a lifelong resident of Monessen; a member of Epiphany of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church and the Epiphany Ladies; the Hungarian Beneficial Society; and she was active at the Monessen Senior Center; where she enjoyed playing bingo with her friends. She was retired from Brookvale Manufacturing Company; having worked as an inspector. Mrs. Matta had also worked for Corning Glass in Charleroi. She was a loving mother and grandmother who was a great cook and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law: Daniel P. and Teresa Matta; of Belle Vernon; two daughters and sons-in-law: Janey and Manuel Rodriguez; of Perry Township; and Kathleen and Donald Wolf; of Delaware; Ohio; eight grandchildren: Brian Wolf and wife Glenna; Greg and Michael Wolf; Alicia; Jeremy and Noelle Matta; Chad Warfield and wife Renae; Matthew Warfield; and nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents; she was preceded in death by her husband; Paul T. Matta; a brother; John; and four sisters; Elizabeth Weibl; Barbara Darcy; Helen Matta and Margaret Wasilewski. Friends will be received Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the DALFONSO-BILLICK FUNERAL HOME INC. and CREMATION SERVICES; 441 Reed Ave.; Monessen (724-684-8750). Funeral services will be held Thursday; Oct. 23; beginning with a 9:30 a.m. Blessing in the funeral home; followed by a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass in Epiphany of Our Lord R.C. Church. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Monessen Public Library or the American Diabetes; 300 Penn Center Blvd.; Pittsburgh; Pa. 15235. Condolences accepted for the family at www.dalfonso-billick.com