R. Victor O'Donnell
R. Victor O'Donnell, 93, of Chicora died Monday in the VNA Inpatient Hospice, Butler.
Victor was born on the family farm in Donegal Township, Nov. 20, 1918. He was the son of the late John Jerome O'Donnell and the late Veronica A. Slater O'Donnell.
His wife, Ethel Michel O'Donnell, who he married June 20, 1942, predeceased him. She died Nov. 9, 2005.
Vic was the chief electrician at PENRECO, Petrolia, for more than 31 years before he retired. He joined PENRECO in 1982.
Before that he held several jobs. He was a teamster for a saw mill, earning $1 per day, and he worked at Rainbow Rubber, the Bantam Car Co., the Valvoline Refinery, as a school bus driver, at A&P Grocery and at Montgomery Ward.
He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, Herman, of the church's Holy Name Society, and he was a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Butler.
Vic was a member of the Tanglewood Center, Butler, the Chicora Senior Center and the AARP.
He loved telling stories, repairing things and playing cards, and he grew Christmas trees for 35 years.
Vic was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
He and his wife were the parents of eight children. Four sons and three daughters survive. His sons are Ralden 'Bud' (Norma) O'Donnell, of Chicora; Duane (Phyllis) O'Donnell, of Owings, Md.; David (Jean) O'Donnell of Butler; and Rodney (Tina) O'Donnell, also of Butler.
His daughters are Diann Cullen of Broomfield, Colo.; Raylene Bastacky of Clairton, Pa.; and Marian Hansen, also of Clairton.
Vic also is survived by 21 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, daughter-in-law Diane (McGarry) O'Donnell of Blairsville, sister-in-law Mary O'Donnell of Chicora; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his son, Melvin O'Donnell, who died Dec. 22, 1973; baby sister, Esther Mae O'Donnell, who died April 15, 1908; and son-in-law Bob Hansen, who died Aug. 28, 2005.
Two brothers and another sister also predeceased him. They were Clyde O'Donnell, who died March 13, 1984; Chuck O'Donnell, who died July 6, 1987, and Agnes O'Donnell, who died Sept. 19, 1989.
O'DONNELL— Friends of R. Victor O'Donnell, who died at 1 a.m. Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the STEIGHNER FUNERAL HOME, 111 E. Slippery Rock and Main streets, Chicora.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday by the Rev. Ward Stakem, pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption church, 821 Herman Road, Butler. Private burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, North Oakland, Chicora.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 821 Herman Road, Butler, PA 16002, or to the VNA Inpatient Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA 16001.
For directions, information and to extend condolences to Victor's family, go to www.steighnerfuneralhome.com.
