McElroy

Samuel Wallace "Toots" McElroy, 93, of Redwood Road, Karns City, formerly of Bradys Bend Township, Armstrong County, passed away at 9:50 p.m. Friday at the Chicora Medical Center following a period of failing health.

He was born in Sugarcreek Township, Armstrong County, April 25, 1915, and he was a son of the late Henry Harvey McElroy and Dora Emma Snyder McElroy.

He was a Protestant and a member of the United Mine Workers Local 1412 of Butler.

He had attended school at the River School and the Snyder School, both in Armstrong County.

He was an ardent baseball fan and especially enjoyed all broadcasts and games of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He was a lifelong coal miner. He started his career at the Kincaid Mine near Karns City and then worked for 10 years at the Jane and Emily mines near Elderton. He retired after 30 years in 1975 as a motor operator and roof bolter at the Wildwood Mine in Allegheny County owned by the R and P Coal Co.

He married the former Armeda Esther Heginbotham Dec. 4, 1945, in Chicora, and she preceded him in death Nov. 3, 2006.

Surviving are two sons, Terry Lee McElroy and his wife, Frances, of Chicora and Keith Wallace McElroy of Karns City; a daughter, Carol Sue Ryan and her husband, Kenneth, of Karns City; five grandchildren, Rachel Kuhns and her husband, Steve, of Karns City, Mandi Metcalfe and her husband, Michael, of Chicora, Dana Brewer and her husband, Joseph, of Chicora, Samantha Ryan of Karns City and Justin Ryan of Karns City; seven great-grandchildren, Darin and Lauren Kuhns, both of Chicora, Mallick Metcalfe of Chicora, Kirsten Hiles of Chicora, Draedan Brewer of Chicora, Mikala Brewer of Chicora, and Harper Brewer of Chicora; a half-brother, Clyde Young and his wife, Elsie, of Cowlesville, N.Y.; two sisters, Estella Smith and her husband, Samuel of Emlenton and Marie Smith of Cowansville; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death, along with his parents and wife, were four brothers, Henry "Buss," William, John T. and Clarence Lee McElroy; two sisters, Ethel Wolfe and Nellie Dunhoff; one half-brother, Emery Roy Young; and three half-sisters, Edna McCanna, Edith Crouch and Eleanor Thompson.

<B>McELROY</B>— Friends of Samuel Wallace "Toots" McElroy, who died Friday, March 27, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Richard d. Hillis funeral home</B> in Petrolia. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Glenn B. Kohlhepp a retired Methodist minister, officiating. Interment will follow in the Bradys Bend cemetery.Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hillisfuneralhome.com.