July 2023

Stephen G. Winston, 65, of Emporium, PA passed away at his residence on Thursday morning (June 29, 2023). He was born December 1, 1957, in North Tonawanda, New York a son of Izola M. “Terry” McIsaac Winston, Westmont, Illinois, and the late Robert J. Winston.

Stephen enlisted in the US Army in 1975 and while in the service he served in Germany as an air traffic controller.

Stephen was a talented musician and stained glass artist. He sang with the Methodist church choir. He loved bicycling, kayaking, and cross-country skiing.  Stephen was also a member of the American Legion Post 194 in Emporium and the Cameron County VFW.

He is survived by three daughters, Faith Winston and Jessica Winston, both of Germany; and Becky Pruitt (Taylor), Arizona; four grandchildren: Wesley, Caroline, Lucy, and Jameson Pruitt; brother, Hubert “Huw” Winston (Julie), Westmont, IL.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Winston, and a brother, David Winston.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. There will be no visitation.

Online Condolences may be placed at www.BarnettFuneralHome.net 

BARNETT FUNERAL HOME, Inc. entrusted with arrangements.

 Barry R. Stauffer, 87, of West Warren Road, Bradford, PA passed away unexpectedly, Friday, June 30, 2023, at Bradford Regional Medical Center. 

Born July 8, 1935, in Zelienople, he was a son of the late Ira and Ethel (Powell) Stauffer. 

Barry was a 1953 graduate of Butler High School. After high school he worked at Western Union.

On November 30, 1957, in Rochester PA, he married Joyce E. (Bittner) Stauffer who survives.

After high school he worked at Western Union until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1958. He was honorably discharged in 1960, he returned to Bradford with his wife and resumed employment at Western Union. He joined Surgical Associates, where he was the Office Manager and Treasurer for the corporation. He retired after 26 years of service.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, twice past master ofthe Bradford Union Lodge 749 F&AM, member of the Coudersport Consistory, member, past board member and former President of the Pine Acres Country Club, member and past board member of Bradford Lions Club, member of the Smethport Country Club as well as the Miles Grant Country Club in Stuart, Fl, where he recorded three hole-in ones.

Surviving in addition to his wife Joyce, of 65 years, are two sons, Kirk(Teena) Stauffer, and Keith (Mary Anne) Stauffer, all of Bradford, five grandchildren, Joshua (McKenzie) Stauffer, Steffani Stauffer, Samantha Stauffer, Brittany Hopfenspirger, and Brianna Stauffer, four great grandchildren, Tayler, Tatum, Teegan, Carter, one sister, Elizabeth Jackson, of Cockeysville, MD, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Kent W. Stauffer who died April 20, 2020, one brother Chester Stauffer, and one sister, Donna Lou Knause.

Family will receive friends on Friday July 7, 2023, from Noon to 2:00 pm in the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc. 33 South Avenue, followed by funeral services with Fr. Jim Gutting, Associate Pastor of St. Bernard Church officiating. Burial will follow in Willow Dale Cemetery. 

Members of the Masonic Lodge 749 will conduct a service at 12:15 pm at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to the Ashley Booth-Griffin CARE for Children, PO Box 616, Bradford PA 16701, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

Robert Daniel (Bob) Sokolski passed peacefully in his home on Friday June 30^th, 2023, at the age of 90. Born in Flushing, Queens, New York, March 7, 1933, Bob went to The Bronx School of Science High School and then on to Dartmouth College. It was at Dartmouth Bob, met his best and lifelong friend Hal Conarro. Hal will tell you one of the smartest decisions he ever made in life was to convince Bob to move to Warren, PA and become lifelong business partners in 1960. Over the next several years Bob and Hal developed several business ventures including the Abadaba Ice Cream Stand, Sparky’s Finer Diner, the Whirley Wash Laundromats, and Sparkle Car Wash eventually owning and operating 7-coin operated laundry mats and car washes. Whirley began manufacturing automated car wash equipment and ultimately established Whirley Industries. As Dustin Hoffman learned in the movie “The Graduate”, the future was in plastics.  Bob and Hal created a global company with numerous successful products including the push button salt and pepper shaker, moo cow creamer, dashboard mounted travel mug and many other products which are marketed to the Convenience Store Industry, Theme Parks including Walt Disney World, Six Flags, Universal Studios, Sea World, and many others. Bob and Hal pioneered the first refill travel mug and Whirley’s strength on refills still grows to this day because of this revolutionary concept. Today Whirley Industries employs over 400 TeamMates and has products sold in over 30 countries.

Immediately following college, Bob served in the U.S. Army Ordinance Corps in the Korean War attaining the rank of Captain, at the completion of his military service in 1954. He spoke proudly of helping to keep peace and restore order in the war- torn country.

Following his tour of duty in Korea and discharge from the Army, Bob was introduced to his future wife and lifelong partner Sally Plumb Sokolski (thanks to Hal Conarro). Their marriage was a true partnership and they always “spoke with one voice” in the parenting of their 3 children and all major decisions they faced. Bob and Sally are now re-united in heaven and looking down with peace and love to all. Bob and Sally always put philanthropy as a top priority. Their fingerprints and heart and soul are found in over 100 nonprofits throughout Warren County including Warren County United Fund, Warren County YMCA, Salvation Army, A Safe Place, Hospice, Paws Along the River, Allegheny Valley Veterans Center, Casa, Association for the Recovery of Children, Caring For Life, Children’s Advocacy Center, Crary Art Gallery, Family Services of Warren County, Jefferson Defrees Family Center, Robert Jackson Center, Ruth M. Smith Center, Struthers Library Theatre, Warren County Library. Philanthropy came in both monies, donated to help with operations but also with lifelong coaching and mentoring to truly make numerous non-profit entities sustain and achieve greater results.

Bob served on numerous boards including Warren General Hospital (past president), Warren County YMCA (past president), Audubon Center, Allegheny Valley Veterans Center, Conewango Valley Country Club, Conewango Club, Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry, and many others. Bob always focused on helping others improve and achieve their very best in all aspects of life.

In addition to his philanthropic interests, Bob attained Life Master in Bridge, was a 50-year member of the Warren Shakespeare Club, was the longest tenured member of the Conewango Club. Bob was also a member of the Conewango Investment Club, Conewango Paddle Tennis Group, and the Conewango Valley Country Club where he “tolerated” golf.

Bob is now re-united with his wife and most trusted friend and partner Sally. They were married for 55 years until Sally’s passing in 2011. Bob is survived by his 3 children: Andrew and his wife Michele and six grandchildren Zach, Emily (plus 2 great grandchildren Clover and Arthur), William, Sara, Edward, and Joseph; Lincoln and his wife Salsa and two grandchildren, Lincoln Nathaniel, and Oliver; Elizabeth Sokolski Deambrosio and her husband Juan (Cao) and three grandchildren, Gabriela, Juan (Nicolas) and Alejandra.  Nothing made Bob happier than to spend time with his grandchildren and coach / mentor them in their business careers and life in general. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, W.T. (Tim) Cashman of Wilmington, DE.,

Hal and Mary Conarro and their 5 children are particularly acknowledged as 73-year extended family friends and business partners.

In addition to his wife, Sally, Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Letecia Lynch Sokolski and Nathaniel M. Sokolski, his stepmother, Josephine Sokolski, a sister, Carol Plotkin and her husband, Arthur, a sister-in-law, Diana Chambers Plumb Cashman.

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday, July 6^, 2023, at 10 AM with Rev. Lee Beckes, Interim Pastor, officiating, followed by a celebration of life and reception at the Conewango Club.

E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.delewisfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to United Fund of Warren County. https://www.unitedfundwarren.org/

The Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., Warren, PA. has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Caleb Elias Goforth, 43, of Elkland, Pennsylvania passed suddenly on Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Caleb was born in Renton, Washington on November 21, 1979, the day before Thanksgiving. Caleb moved with his family to Wellsboro, Pennsylvania in March 1989. He graduated from Wellsboro Area High School in June of 1998 and then after a short jaunt to Seattle, he joined the Marines.

He fought in Iraq and came home. He went to college in Indiana, PA and worked as a diesel mechanic for Genesee & Wyoming Railroad.

Caleb married Madeleine Hodge in 2017, cared greatly for his stepson, Alex, and completed his family with the arrival of his daughter, Peyton Camille.

Caleb was proud of his service in the Marines and greatly enjoyed working for the railroad. He enjoyed playing pool with the leagues, riding his dirt bike and golfing. At family gatherings, we could count on Caleb to keep the fire going. He liked creating a fireworks show and was absolutely the best at it.

Caleb is survived by his wife, Madeleine, his stepson, Alex and his daughter, Peyton. He is also survived by his parents, Renee and Karl Hider, his sisters: Alexis (Lon) Savini; Poppy (Jared) Breining and Jessi Hider, and his brothers: Silas Goforth and Wesley (Cat) Hider; his many nieces and nephews, his maternal grandparents, Clyde & Theo Derting, his many aunts and uncles and cousins both here and out West,  his grandmother, Kathleen Hider, as well as his wife’s grandparents: Jerry and Susan Metzler, whom he loved. He is also survived by his biological father, Herschel Goforth, his Aunt Nancey and his Uncle Jerry.

Friends and family are invited to pay tribute to Caleb’s life from 1-3pm Saturday, July 8, 2023 at the Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home, 139 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA, followed by military honors at 3pm. 

To share a memory or condolence with his family visit www.tusseymosher.com.

Alice Nielson Steis, 96 years old, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 30, 2023 at her home, surrounded by family.

Born June 12, 1927 to the late Walter and Margaret Nielson at their home in Johnsonburg PA, she graduated from Johnsonburg High School in 1945, where she was class president and head cheerleader.

Employed in the office of Pure Carbon Company where she met the love of her life, Harry (Hal) Steis who had recently returned home from the Navy. Married in 1949 in Johnsonburg Methodist Church, they were married for 62 years until Hal’s passing. Hal built a home on Taft Road in 1952, the first home on that road, were they raised their five children.

Active in her local Methodist Church, she held many different offices including financial secretary for over 50 years. With the help of her church family, she collected and delivered thousands of stuffed animals to a summer camp near Eldrid for inner city young children over a period of 14 years. She also shopped for Elk Haven residents until Covid and as she put it ” I enjoyed shopping for the old people.” Many people may remember her as the hostess for the local merchants’ Welcome Wagon program for new residents during the 1960s and 70s.

Alice is preceded in death by sisters Dorothy and Jean; three brothers, Walter, Robert, and Donald Neilson, granddaughter, Abby Horchen, and grandson, Ryan Steis.

She is survived by three daughters; Janet (Ron) Fiele, Sharon (Michael) Herzing, Laura (James) Horchen; two sons, Dr. Robert (fiancée Angela) Steis, Roger (Doreen) Steis; nine grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service for Alice L. Steis will be held at the St. Marys Methodist Church pavilion at a later date.

Memorials Contributions mav be made to the St. Marys Methodist Church.

Lynch-Green Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 151 N. Michael St., St. Marys, PA  15857 is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.lynchgreenfuneral.com

Gerald “Jake” Hallock, 72, of Wellsboro, PA passed away Thursday, June 29, 2023, at UPMC Soldiers and Sailors in Wellsboro. 

He was born February 7, 1951, in Bradford, PA to Charles Marion and Freida (Deivert) Hallock. 

Jake graduated from Wellsboro High School in the class of 1969.  He was a manager for Cisco Systems, Inc. 

He thoroughly enjoyed life, was an avid motorcyclist and enjoyed walking through Wellsboro with his friend Geoff Coffee.  He was a sports enthusiast and coached baseball, basketball, and football, and loved playing ball himself, the competition, the companionship, his teammates and his friends.  A favorite pastime was smoking cigars and drinking bourbon, especially on the beach.

Jake is survived by his mother:  Freida Cox; two sons:  Jacob Hallock (Sarah) of Littleton, CO, and Josh Hallock of Tioga; a daughter:  Heather Covert (Lance) of Wellsboro; six grandchildren; a great-grandchild; two brothers:  Roger and Jeff Hallock; and a sister:  Kathy O’Neal.  He was preceded in death by his father and a son:  Luke Hallock.

His family will hold a memorial service at a later date. 

Those wishing to make a donation in his memory are encouraged to remember the Second Chance Animal Rescue, 725 Gee Rd, Tioga, PA 16946.  To share a memory or condolence with his family visit www.tusseymosher.com.