Charpentier

A.J. "Phill" Charpentier, 78, of Butler died at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, after a long illness following a stroke.

Born Feb. 1, 1930, in Ticonderoga, N.Y., he was son of Leo and Mary Brewer Charpentier.

He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with an English degree.

During the Korean War, he served with the Army from 1953 to 1955.

He retired in 1995 as an intake interviewer from the Pennsylvania State Employment office in Butler.

Mr. Charpentier was a member of the Thorncreek United Methodist Church in Butler and the Sunday school class of the church. He was a member of St. Paul Choir, the Blazing Star Choir Society and the Barbershoppers.

He enjoyed reading, gardening and music, especially classical. He was a foster parent to numerous foster children over 15 years.

Surviving are his wife, Beverly Barrington Saeler Charpentier, whom he married June 1, 1985, at the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler; three sons, Richard and Michael Charpentier of Butler and Phillip Charpentier of Florida; three daughters, Mary Wetzel of Butler, Dawn Charpentier of Nevada and Robin Charpentier Kraus of Florida; 10 grandchildren; 21 step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; seven stepsons, Raymond Saeler of Chicora, Kenneth Saeler of Slippery Rock and Richard, Daniel, Randall, Timothy and Michael Charpentier, all of Butler; a stepdaughter, Sharon Saeler Valent of Butler; two sisters, Mary Dressell of Watervliet, N.Y., and Judy Malone of Troy, N.Y.; two brothers, Leo Charpentier of Waterford, N.Y., and William Charpentier of Maine; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Michael McFarland; a sister, Regina Marchese; and a stepson, Steven Saeler.

<B>CHARPENTIER</B> — Friends of A.J. "Phill" Charpentier, who died Tuesday, May 13, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>STEIGHNER FUNERAL HOME</B>, 111 E. Slippery Rock St., Chicora. Visitation also will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Thorncreek United Methodist Church, 142 Rockdale Road, Butler, where funeral services will follow at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Curtis Knoble officiating. Burial will be at the Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora.Military honors will be provided by the Chicora VFW and American Legion posts and the 99th Regional Readiness Command from Coraopolis.