Obituary of Richard James Gilcrest

Mount Pleasant, Richard James Gilcrest, age 92 of Mount Pleasant PA, died Tuesday (1/11/2011) in the Excela Heath- Frick Hospital, Mt. Pleasant, PA. Mr. Gilcrest was born January 26, 1918 in Mount Pleasant, PA, the son of the late George and Margaret Natale Gilcrest. Dick was a member of the Paradise United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school for more than 30 years. He was a graduate of the former Ramsay High School in 1936 and Robert Morris Business College in 1949. Dick was a Veteran of WWII having served in the United States Army Air Force as a radio operator mechanic with the 866th Bomber Squadron HV: 7th Air force and the 98th Bombardment Squadron. He participated in the Air Offensive in Japan, the Central Pacific, Eastern Mandates and Western Pacific Campaigns. He retired from the Metallurgy Department of the United States Steel Corporation. Mr. Gilcrest was a member of the Marion Lodge 562 F & AM, and the American Legion Post 446, and V.F.W. Post 3368 both in Mt. Pleasant. He was an active member in the Bullskin Lions for many years, and was a member of the American Turkey Federation, and numerous Senior Citizens groups. Richard is survived by his loving family: his half brothers, Robert Lee Gilcrest of New Jersey and Harold Gilcrest of Delaware, his cousins, Charles "Chuck" Miller and Peggy Abramowitz, both of Mt. Pleasant . In addition to his parents, Dick was preceded in death by his wife Betty Jean Wilkins Gilcrest in 1989, his daughter, Susan Lynn Gilcrest Miller in 1980, his step mother,Leone Gilcrest, and by his half brothers and sisters; David and William Gilcrest, Mildred Gilcrest Bowers, and Lillian Suzanne Gilcrest. , Family and friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 & 6 to 9PM at the Galone-Caruso Funeral Home, 204 Eagle St., Mt. Pleasant. Additional viewing will be on Friday in the Funeral Home from 9 until 11AM, the time of his funeral service, with the Rev. Charles E. Prevot officiating. Interment with full military rites accorded by the American Legion Post 446 and V.F.W. Post 3368 will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Kecksburg. The Marion Lodge #562 F & AM will conduct Masonic Memorial Services in the funeral home Thursday @ 6 PM, and the Bullskin Lions Club will conduct Memorial Services @7PM. To offer and online condolence, please log on to www.galone-carusofuneralhome.com .