Paul P. Hilovsky, 83, of Butler died Thursday at UPMC-Cranberry Hospital in Cranberry Township.

Born Nov. 25, 1923, in Morgantown, W. Va., he was the son of Thomas and Mary Petras Hilovsky.

He retired from the Bulk Mail Center of the U. S. Postal Service in Warrendale, and he was a certified boilermaker and a certified auto mechanic.

He was a member of St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church in Lyndora, the VFW Post 249 in Butler, and the American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora, where he was a past commander and a member of its honor guard.

Mr. Hilovsky was a former Little League coach in Meridian and Center Township, and was active in Junior Achievement and the Knights of Columbus when he lived in Louisville, Ohio.

He served in the U.S. Army in World War II, where he reached the rank of sergeant with the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion and served as a pathfinder. He made 39 jumps, including seven in direct combat earning a Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star, and a Bronze Arrowhead.

Also, as part of the 509th, he participated in the first parachute combat jump in World War II, which received three presidential citations.

Surviving are two daughters, Diane Anderson of Butler and Michelle Follett and her husband, William, of Cranberry Township; two sons, Dr. Jeffrey P. Hilovsky and his wife, Marcia, of Millsboro, Del., and Larry Hilovsky and wife, Joan, of Douglasville, Pa.; 10 grandchildren, Valerie Aponte, Krystal Anderson, Timothy, Katie, Brad, Kelly and Allison Hilovsky, and Ben, Dan and Pat Follett; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice L. Kravits Hilovsky, whom he married June 19, 1948, and who died May 18, 2007; six brothers, John, Andrew, Thomas, Michael, Steven, and Frank Hilovsky; and four sisters, Mary, Helen, Stella, and Ann.

<B>Hilovsky — </B>Friends of Paul P. Hilovsky, who died Thursday, May 24, 2007, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the<B> geibel funeral home</B>, 201 E Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church, 303 Penn Ave., with the Rev. George Palick, parochial victor, officiating. Burial will follow in the Chapel of Devotion Mausoleum at Butler County Memorial Park Cemetery.The Bereavement Committee of the church will meet at 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home to conduct at parish vigil service. The American Legion and the VFW will perform a joint memorial service at 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.Memorials may be made to the American Legion Post 778, 150 Legion Memorial Lane, Butler, PA 16001.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.