James Junior Elliott (1939-2026)

James Junior Elliott, 87, of Center Township, passed away on March 22nd, 2026, at Good Samaritan Hospice House in Wexford. He was born on January 13th, 1939, the son of the late James Elliott. He is survived by his sister, Mildred Elliott.

James attended Beaver County Rehabilitation Center and was a beloved figure known for his magnetic personality and sweet tooth for peppermint patties. He found joy in the simple pleasures of life. His love for shopping and dining out was matched only by his enthusiasm for music. A graveside service will be held on Friday, March 27th at 2 p.m., at the Clinton Cemetery, 1171 Old Route 18, Wampum. We would like to extend a special thank you to HAP LLC for the care that they provided for James. Professional Services and arrangements were entrusted to CORLESS-KUNSELMAN FUNERAL SERVICES, LLC 3801 4th Avenue, Beaver Falls.

Thomas R. Miller, Sr. (1932-2026)

Thomas R. Miller, Sr., 94, of Conway Borough, passed away peacefully on March 22nd, 2026, at Concordia at Villa St. Joseph in Baden. He was born in Ambridge on January 25th, 1932, the son of the late Chester and Ann Miller. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Joan M. (Sinovic) Miller. He is survived by his son, Thomas Miller, Jr., his grandson, Matthew, his granddaughters, Caitlin and Ashley, his daughter, Cynthia “Cindy” Engelman, his grandson, Shawn and his wife, Stephanie, his great-grandchildren, Sophia, Sarah, and one on the way.

Thomas enjoyed attending and watching sporting events and spending time in his garden. His favorite pastime was spending time with his family.

In accordance with his wishes, he will be cremated and no services are being planned.

The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., Chippewa Township, 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, was honored to provide care and guidance to Thomas’ family, and was the funeral home that was in charge of his arrangements.

Grace Ann (Faulk) Bussard (1947-2026)

Grace Ann (Faulk) Bussard, 79, of Ohioville Borough, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 21st, 2026.

She was born in Darlington on January 15th, 1947. She was a longtime resident of Ohioville Borough before moving in recent years to Pepperberry Suites in Chester, West Virginia. She was a daughter of the late Mervin Faulk and Geraldine (Hairhogger) Reed. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Darlene and Nancy, her beloved husband, Paul Bussard and her son, Mark Bussard. She is survived by her loving children: Brian (Deb) Bussard of Ohioville, Pam Lewis-Betke of Newell, West Virginia, Jeremy (Katie) Bussard of York, Pennsylvania, and Jennifer (Dave) Mester of New Cumberland, West Virginia. She will be dearly remembered by her grandchildren: Bradley Lewis; Tyler (Caitlynn Yerger) Betke of Ohioville, Ashley (Caleb) Kress of Hookstown, Allison Blake of New Cumberland, West Virginia, Gabriella and Alexandra Bussard of York, Pennsylvania, Jennifer Badgett of Sanford, North Carolina and Melissa (Ryan) Presutti of Ohioville; along with four great-granddaughters and her loving friend who became her sister, Mitzi Delaney of Midland.

Grace will be remembered for her love of family, her strength, and the care and love she gave to those around her. She leaves behind a legacy of devotion and cherished memories that will live on through her family.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 24th from 4-7 p.m. and a service will be held on Wednesday, March 25th at 11 a.m. at the Schwerha-Noll Funeral Home, 629 Midland Avenue, Midland, who was in charge of her arrangements. Her son, Pastor Brian Bussard, will be conducting the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer & Association or the Susan G. Coleman Breast Cancer Foundation.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Grace Ann Bussard, please visit the flower store of the Noll Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.

Gene Kershbaumer (1954-2026)

Gene Kershbaumer, 71, of Daugherty Township, passed away peacefully on March 22nd, 2026, at Mercy Health Hospice of the Valley in Youngstown, Ohio. He was born on July 21st, 1954, a son of the late Eugene and Thelma (Morgan) Kershbaumer. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Terry and his mother-in-law, Betty Cochran. He is survived by his wife, Carol, his daughter, Erin Kershbaumer, his sister, Barbara and her husband, John Fowler, his brothers-in-law Mel Cochran, Jr. M.D. and Kenneth (Tina) Cochran, as well as many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.

Gene was a 1972 graduate of North Western High School in Darlington. He retired from working at Consolidated Supply Chain Services as a Director of Strategic Sourcing. There will be no public visitation for Gene. Professional Services and arrangements were entrusted to CORLESS-KUNSELMAN FUNERAL SERVICES, LLC, 3801 4th Avenue, Beaver Falls.

Joseph M. Aquino (1948-2026)

Joseph M. Aquino, 77, of Beaver, passed away on March 10th, 2026. He was born on August 2nd, 1948, the beloved son of the late Lillian (Keneski) Aquino. Joseph was a well-known and faithful man in his community for many years. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 25th at 10 a.m. in St. Monica Church, 116 Thorndale Drive, Beaver Falls. Inurnment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Mausoleum, 2927 Clayton Road, Beaver Falls. Arrangements have been entrusted to the branch of Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Richard Eugene Howard (1950-2026)

Richard Eugene Howard, 75, was born on July 24th, 1950 at Allegheny General Hospital on Pittsburgh’s North Side and died on March 20th, 2026 at the same hospital. He was the son of the late Mary Imogene Howard and Murray McKnight Howard, who loved him very much and who Richard loved so dearly. He married Marilynn Ann Campbell on June 23rd, 1972, and enjoyed 53 years of a marriage that was truly blessed by God. Throughout Richard’s work-life that began at age fourteen with a work permit, he was employed by: Farmer’s Pride Inc., Gateway Fruit Company, Glenshaw Glass Company, Etna High School, Brody Brothers Inc., and Zeiden’s Men’s Clothing; which he and Marilynn bought from Louis Zeiden in 1986. He served on the Passavant Memorial Homes Board and became the Founding Chairman of the Board for a start-up related corporation, Life Enrichment Trust. He was employed by Passavant Memorial Homes Family of Services and Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls and finally helped found River Communities Fiduciary Services, Inc. in 2016, where he served as President to lead the company. He and Marilynn both studied music education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). A series of chronic illnesses prohibited him from receiving his degree. However, he was able to provide several churches with the fruits of music education for him serving as Choir Director for First Methodist Church in Punxsutawney, First Methodist Church in Indiana, Pennsylvania, First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Falls and Christ Anglican Church in New Brighton. He had a love-based faith to lead all the music programs and to use his vocal abilities to serve in church choirs where he attended. He faithfully served God and Jesus Christ. He was a kind, generous, compassionate man who looked at each person as a child of God. The family is grateful for the care and support by the entire staff at Allegheny General Hospital throughout his hospitalization and final days. A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 3-7 p.m. at Corless-Kunselman Funeral Services, LLC, 3801 4th Avenue, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of his arrangements. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 26th, at 10 a.m. at Christ Anglican Church, 1217 Third Avenue, New Brighton. Private interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery, 139 Norwood Drive, Beaver Falls. Prior to his death, one of the last projects Richard was working on was to establish, “The Richard E & Marilynn A Howard Foundation,” a charitable organization for the non-profit River Communities Fiduciary Service. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to this foundation.

Mary S. Birris (1930-2026)

Mary S. Birris, 95, of Aliquippa, passed away on March 21st, 2026 in Tapestry Senior Living in Coraopolis. She was born in Aliquippa on December 1st, 1930, a daughter of the late George and Thames Skeriotis. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul T. Birris and her sisters, Sandra Babich and Nancy Ball. She is survived by her two children, Atty Thomas P. (Dorthea) Birris and Tami Segerson, three cherished grandchildren, Talia Birris, Ashley (Zach) Loechner and Damien Segerson and two great grandchildren, Theo and Ariella.

Mary was a member of the Kimmisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church and a member of the church’s Senior Citizens Group. She was employed by the Visiting Nurse Association of Allegheny County for 24 years before her retirement in 1993. She greatly enjoyed working with stroke survivors and since retirement was a volunteer for the Visiting Nurse Foundation Stroke Survivors Group of Moon Township and Sewickley. She was also a member of the Aliquippa Community Hospital Auxiliary.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, March 25th from 3-7 p.m. in the Huntsman Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Aliquippa, 2345 Mill Street, Aliquippa, who was in charge of her arrangements. A Funeral Service  will be held on Thursday, March 26th at 11 a.m. in Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, 2111 Davidson Street, Aliquippa.

Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, 450 Penn Avenue, Aliquippa.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church 2111 Davidson Street, Aliquippa, PA 15001.

Jeffrey T. Deltino (1966-2026)

Jeffrey T. Deltino, 59, of Chippewa Township, passed away on March 20th, 2026 at Allegheny General Hospital. He was born in Beaver Falls on June 18th, 1966, a son of the late John Sr. and Dorothy (Singo) Deltino. He is survived by his brothers, John and Samuel Deltino, his nephew, Joshua Paul Deltino, his niece, Jenna (Joshua) Krizan, his great-nieces, Kyla and Kenna Jo Krizan, his beloved dog, Mia and numerous cousins & relatives.

Even in death, Jeffrey showed his love and selflessness to help others and turn a personal loss into a “gift of life” by being an organ donor with CORE. He attended Life Family Church in New Brighton. He was a faithful Christian, son, brother, uncle, and great-uncle who loved the Lord, his family, and friends. He retired from working at the Beaver County Rehabilitation Center in December of 2024. He was an avid daily reader of the Beaver County Times. He loved watching and cheering on the WWE, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. He was an avid weather channel watcher even if it was not in our area. He loved to play Bingo and games with his family during the holidays. He was the one always saying prayer before the meals.

Friends will be received on Wednesday, March 25th from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. and on Thursday, March 26th at 10 A.M. until the time of a service at 11 A.M.at GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME AND CREAMATION SERVICES, INC., 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, who was in charge of his arrangements.

The service will be held by Pastor Sam DeMarco from Life Family Church of New Brighton on Thursday, March 26th at 11 a.m. Private interment will follow at the Beaver Falls Cemetery, 2045 Darlington Road, Beaver Falls.

Family requests contributions to be made to the Special Olympics of Beaver, 128 Friendship Circle, Beaver, PA 15009 or to CORE Memorial contributions can be made at dfs@core.org.

August J. “Buzz” Tuffie (Passed on March 20th, 2026)

August J. “Buzz” Tuffie, 83, formerly of Monaca, passed away on March 20th, 2026, at his Center Township residence. He was born in Canonsburg, a son of the late Anthony and Mary (Russo) Tuffie.

August was a 1960 graduate of Monaca High School. On March 14th, 1964, he married the love of his life, Jeanette Dyche, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Monaca. Their marriage was a testament to love and partnership, lasting until Jeanette’s passing just days before his own on March 15th, 2026. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Ralphine Lintz, as well as his infant son, Trent. He leaves behind a legacy of love and perseverance and is survived by his daughter, Lainie Liptak, and her husband, Benjamin, their children, Trent and P.J. Liptak, his son, Dean Tuffie, his sister, Diane Bedison and her husband, John.

August’s professional life was characterized by over four decades of commitment to Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Beaver, where he worked as a millwright and was a member of the IBEW Local 201. Beyond his professional endeavors, he was a member of the Monaca Sons of Italy Club. He was of Italian heritage, which was reflected in his love for Italian cuisine, with spaghetti and pizza being his most favorite dishes. His zest for life extended to various pastimes; in his younger years, he was an avid golfer, bowler, and softball player. Even in his later years, he could often be found with a crossword puzzle in hand. Visitation and services for both August and Jeanette will be held on Monday, March 23rd from 1–3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. followed by a blessing service at 7 p.m., at SIMPSON FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, who was in charge of his arrangements. Deacon Robert Bittner, of St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church, will officiate. Interment for both August and Jeanette will take place at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery, 1270 Chapel Road, Monaca.

Carol A. Crudden (1951-2026)

Carol A. Crudden, 75, of Zelienople, passed away on March 19th, 2026, at Passavant Community Homes. She was born on February 3rd, 1951, a daughter of the late Clinton and Verna (Brenneman) Marshall.

For many years, Carol worked as a legal secretary in Lawrence County, where her strong work ethic and professionalism left a lasting impression. Outside of her work,  sh e found great happiness in life’s quieter and more personal moments. She shared a wonderful life with her husband, Jim, and together they created many moments through their travels, especially their beloved trips to Florida and Aruba. She also found joy in her time working at Rosalind’s Candy Castle, a place that reflected her sweet spirit and love of connecting with others. Above all, her greatest joy was her family. She adored her grandchildren and treasured every moment with them which became some of the most meaningful chapters of her life. In her younger years, she had an adventurous spirit. She embraced challenges by participating in cross-country skiing and roller blading in the park. During quieter times, she could often be found doing one of her favorite things: reading by the pool, soaking in the sun with a good book in hand. It was in these peaceful moments that she found contentment.

All in all, she will be remembered for her kindness, her love of family, her adventurous spirit, and her ability to find joy in both life’s big journeys and simplest pleasures. She is survived her son, Michael (Bryanne) Crudden, of Center Township, her daughter, Jennifer E. Crudden of New Brighton, her sister, Kathy M. Lee, of Fombell and two grandchildren, Patrick and Rosie.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James “Jim” Crudden, her brother, Larry Marshall and her nephew, Jonathan David Lee.

Friends and family will be received on Tuesday, March 24th, from 4 p.m. until the time of a blessing service at 6 p.m., at the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc., 1612 3rd Ave, New Brighton,

Private interment will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, New Brighton.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carol A Crudden, please visit the flower store of the J&J Spratt Funeral Home, Inc. by clicking here.