Velma Delores Ortz, 75, of South Buffalo Township died at 4:35 p.m. Thursday while in the company of family members at Allegheny Valley Hospital, Harrison Township.

Born Dec. 25, 1931, in Leechburg, she was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Stella Lydia Schultz Burns.

She attended the Evangel Heights Assembly of God Church in Buffalo Township and was a member of the TOPS weight-loss program, where she lost 108 pounds.

She enjoyed crocheting, knitting and was an avid archery shooter.

Surviving are her four daughters, Lonna and her husband, John, Thomas of Waynesburg, Gloria Stull of Butler, Jamie and her husband, Jeffery, Crissman of North Buffalo Township, and Betty and her husband, Henry, Stivers of Ford City; a son, James H. and his wife, Debbie, Ortz Jr. of South Buffalo Township; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Charles and his wife, Carol, Burns of Kittanning; and two sisters, Betty J. Henry and Dorothy Phillipi, both of Leechburg.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James "Pete" Ortz Sr., who died in 2003; four brothers, Harvey, William, Steven and Victor Burns; and two sisters, Alice L. and Shara Burns.

<B>Ortz — </B>Friends of Velma Delores Ortz, who died Thursday, May 17, 2007, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the <B>REDMOND FUNERAL HOME INC.</B>, 524 High St., Freeport. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Richard Molgaard of Templeton Church of God officiating. Burial will be in the Brookland Cemetery in Allegheny Township.To send a condolence, visit www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com