Kocher

Frank H. Kocher, 77, formerly of Kocher Lane, Chicora, died Sunday at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born Sept. 5, 1929, in Butler, he was a son of Joseph and Sadie Kriley.

He retired in 1991 from the Hilltop maintenance department of Armco-Butler Works after 36 years.

Mr. Kocher was a member of St. Wendelin Roman Catholic Church in Carbon Center. He also belonged to the American Legion, the South Butler Volunteer Fire Company and Knights of Columbus 866 Butler Council. He was a life member of the VFW Post 249 and the East Butler Volunteer Fire Department.

During the Korean War, he served with the Navy.

He enjoyed baking, especially pies, pastries and cakes.

Surviving are his wife, Pearl I. Kriley Kocher, whom he married Oct. 2, 1954; two sons, Anthony H. "Tony" Kocher of Fayetteville, N.C., and Eric Kocher and his wife, Nancy, of Columbia, Tenn.; two daughters, Karen Kocher of Fort Mill, S.C., and Renita Beale and her husband, Jerry, of Alexandria, Ohio; eight grandchildren, Daniel and Cindy Perry, Edward Kocher, LaTacha Cauthen, Chris and Alica Beale and Zachari and Machenzi Kocher; and two great-granddaughters, Alexis and Madison Perry.

Also surviving are a brother, Robert Kocher of Woodland, Calif., and seven sisters, Catherine Russ of Grove City, Theresa Campbell of Monks Corner, S.C., Marcella Angert, Mary Matson and Ruth Shulik, all of Butler, Lois Jacobison of Washington and Ann Galan of Cabot.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Edward Kocher and Elmer, Regis and Wilmer Kriley; four sisters, Dorothy Skrabak, Hilda Matson, Genevieve Adamosky and Dorothy Consolo, and a granddaughter, Jamie Noelle Kocher.

<B>KOCHER</B>— Friends of Frank H. Kocher, who died Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Wendelin Roman Catholic Church, 210 St. Wendelin Road. The Rev. Kevin McKnight, church pastor and the Rev. Victor Kriley, will concelebrate. Burial will follow at the Butler County Memorial Park Cemetery, Butler Township.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Respiratory Alliance, 201 Smith Drive, Suite E, Cranberry Township, PA 16066.A prayer service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.