Andrew Yaracs Jr.
Andrew Yaracs Jr., 88, of Lyndora died Monday evening, March 26, 2012, at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler.
Born Dec. 21, 1923, in Butler, he was the son of the late Andrew and Wanda Yaracs.
During World War II, Andrew served in the U.S. Army with the Signal Company of the 517th Airborne Infantry Battalion of the 17th Airborne Division as a radio operator.
He worked for Allstate Insurance as a claims adjuster for 34 years and as an independent adjuster for an additional nine years. Andrew was a member of the St. Fidelis Parish.
Mr. Yaracs was a charter member of the Michael Kosar American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora, where he served as post Commander for three years. He was named Post Commander of the Year in the 26th district, Legionnaire of the Year in 1985 and Butler County Veteran of the Year in 1992. Andrew was also a past president and a lifetime member of the Lyndora Volunteer Fire Company, governor of the Loyal Order of the Moose, Chicora Lodge and is a lifetime member of the Butler Musical Society.
A lifelong musician, Andrew was the leader and director of the Lyndora All-Girls Drum and Bugle Corps. He also founded both the General Butler Vagabond Drum and Bugle Corps and the Vagabond Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Yaracs was the organizer of the American International Open Drum and Bugle Corps competition in Butler and is in the DCA Drum Corps Hall of Fame. He also had his own band, taught accordion lessons and was president of the Butler High School Marching Band Boosters. Mr. Yaracs also hosted the Polka Party on WISR for many years.
A tireless community servant, Mr. Yaracs has been involved in fundraising for Childrens' Hospital, the Salvation Army, the Heart Fund, the Cancer Crusade, March of Dimes and the Sunnyview Christmas Fund. He received the Butler Jaycees Distinguished Service Award in 1976.
He served on the Lyndora-Highfield Little League Field Committee, the American Legion State Parade Committee, the Penn Township Veterans Committee, the Penn Glades Lions Club and the Butler Transit Authority.
Andrew was a founder of the Spirit of Christmas parade, an organizer of Lyndora Community Days, instrumental in getting the new post office in Lyndora and was part of a group of businessmen that convinced Citizens National Bank, now NexTier Bank, to build a branch office in Lyndora. He was also responsible for the JFK Memorial at the Honor Roll in Lyndora and for having American flags placed on Main Street in Butler and the Pullman Viaduct in Lyndora on all national holidays and special days.
Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Sophia (Potyka) Yaracs; two sons, Ron Yaracs and his wife, Pat, of Conshohocken and Andrew Yaracs and his wife, Gloria, of Butler; daughter, Barbara Bailey and her husband, Paul, of Butler; four grandchildren, Aaron Yaracs, Adam Yaracs, Christopher Yaracs and Bradley Bailey; a sister, Dolores Moffitt; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers; and one sister.
<B>YARACS</B> — Friends of Andrew Yaracs Jr., who died Monday, March 26, 2012, will be received at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at the St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church, 303 Penn Ave., Lyndora. The Rev. George Palick will officiate. Interment will follow in North Side Cemetery.Members of the Bereavement Committee of St. Fidelis Parish will meet at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home for a Vigil Service.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA, 16001.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.
