Minerd.com Biography of James Dumphry and Bertha (Gray) Crosby of Mount Pleasant, PA

James Dumphry Crosby was born on June 10, 1897 near Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA, the daughter of Lewis and Marietta (Minerd) Crosby.

James was joined in holy wedlock with Bertha Violet Gray (March 21, 1893-1969), daughter of Alex and Anna (Suter) Gray of nearby Bridgeport.

The eight children they bore together were Ruth Szczekoski, Bertha C. Wall, Lucinda "Cindy" Kelty, James Lewis Alexander Crosby, Betty Garsteck, Clair Eugene Crosby Sr., Jo-Ann St. John and Lenora "Lee" Connors Snyder.

James' workplace, the Robertshaw plant in Youngwood

James was employed in 1930 as a hospital orderly in Mount Pleasant, Later, he earned a living as a janitor at the Youngwood plant of the Robertshaw-Fulton Controls Company.

He also was a member of the Homestead Volunteer Fire Department, Bunton-Malek Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Slovak Club, Sons of Italy and the local Moose lodge. They are known to have made many visits with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gray of Masontown, Fayette County in the 1920s.

During the World War II years and into the 1950s, the Crosbys resided at 752 West Main Street in Mount Pleasant.

Suffering from rheumatic heart disease, James was admitted to H.C. Frick Memorial Hospital in Mount Pleasant. There, after a week's stay, and having further been stricken with a cerebral embolism, he died at the age of 53, on Feb. 5, 1951.

Bertha outlived him by 18 years and made her home at the end at 760 West Main Street in Mount Pleasant. At the anniversary of James' death in 1962, and then again in 1970, Bertha had this poem published in the Daily Courier:

The way he talked, the smile he wore.
And all the thousand things so dear
We loved about him while he lived
Haven't gone with him from here.
They're planted deep in memory's garden
And watered daily with our tears
To keep them fresh and vivid
Through all the coming years.

She was felled by a sudden cerebral vascular accident and passed away on Oct. 7, 1969 in Frick Memorial. She is buried with her husband at St. John's Union Cemetery.

She was united in matrimony with Louis Szczekoski (June 15, 1918-2007), son of Walter Szczekocki. They remained together for an extraordinary 60 years. Louis had the misfortune of having a widely misspelled name, including variants such as "Szeckocki" - "Szczekocki" - and "Sekosky."

During World War II, Louis joined the U.S. Army and attained the rank of master sergeant. The pair lived in Charles Town (or Charleston), WV in 1942. He was further stationed at Camp Livingston, LA and then was transferred to Fort Meade in April 1945.

Ruth Szczkoski with her grandmother's color-tinted wedding photo portrait and wedding dress. Courtesy Eugene Francis Podraza

The family made its home in Mount Pleasant in 1951 before moving to Morrisvill and Levittown, PA where they stayed to the end of their lives together, a span of half a century. Ruth held a membership in the St. Michael the Archangel Church and served as its senior citizens social director. She also was a founding member of the Levittown Hills Senior Citizens and Faith Reformed Senior Citizens and held a term as president.

Circa 1991, Ruth was photographed by cousin-researcher Eugene F. Podraza holding the color-tinted wedding portrait of her grandfather and grandmother Crosby, a treasured heirloom received as a gift from her uncle Francis Yelaine Crosby.

Ruth passed away on Aug. 29, 2001. An obituary appeared in the Bucks County Courier-Times.

Louis endured for another nearly six years. He died on June 7, 2007. Their cremains sleep for the ages in Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem, Bucks County.

Son Dennis Szczekoski ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). He was joined in wedlock with Maryjo ( ? - ? ). They dwelled in Fairless Hills near Levittown and were the parents of two -- Corie Szczekoski and Joseph Czczekoski. Maryjo is believed to have been employed in the Career Center of the College of New Jersey.

Daughter Bertha Crosby (1919-1976) was born on Feb. 8, 1919 in Bridgeport near Mount Pleasant, PA.

On Oct. 4, 1946, she married Arthur W. Wall (May 20, 1915-1984), son of William and Minnie (Trout) Wall.

Four sons borne of this marriage were Jack Wall, James Wall, Terrence Wall and William Wall.

Arthur made a living in 1950 as a mechanic in a steel mill. The Walls resided in Scottdale at the address of 609 Homestead Avenue. They belonged to the First Baptist Church of Scottdale.

With her health in decline, Bertha was admitted to Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg on June 2, 1976 and spent the balance of the month there until her death on June 30, 1976. An obituary was published in the Connellsville Daily Courier. She was survived by 17 grandchildren. Interment of the remains was in Mount Lebanon United Methodist Church Cemetery in Tarrs, PA.

Arthur lived for another eight years and married again to Mildred Helen (Christner) Nichols Solomon (Dec. 4, 1911-2005), a native of Mount Pleasant Township and the daughter of Curtis H. and Lizzie I. (Pore) Christner. She was twice-widowed prior to her marriage with Arthur, having been wed to Byron J. Nichols and Vernon Solomon.

The Walls resided in Mount Pleasant. Mildred was active with the Sunday School, homebuilders class and sewing circle of the Mt. Joy Church of the Brethren.

Mildred survived as a widow for more than three decades. She relocated to Youngstown, OH and at the end was a resident of the Paisley House. She died on April 18, 2005. Funeral services at Mt. Joy Cemetery were led by Rev. Mark Peachey, with an obituary appearing in the Greensburg Tribune-Review.

Son Jack L. Wall (1941- ? ) was born in about 1941. He lived in Shickshinny, Luzerne County, PA in 1976 and in Berwick, PA in 2005.

Son James H. Wall (1945- ? ) was born in about 1945. He wed Roxanne ( ? - ? ). He settled in Ruffsdale, PA and dwelled there for decades.

Son Terrence C. "Terry" Wall moved to Stanford, VA and was there in the mid-1970s. He then relocated to Iowa and in 2005 lived in Mount Pleasant, IA.

Son James Lewis Alexander Crosby (1923-1986) was born on Aug. 21 or 31, 1923 in Mount Pleasant.

In young manhood, at the age of 18 in 1942, he resided with his parents in Mount Pleasant and was employed at the National Tube Company of United States Steel Corporation at its Christy Park plant in McKeesport. He stood 5 feet, 7Â½ inches tall and weighed 135 lbs.

He joined the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, enlisting on June 1, 1943 and was deployed to Africa from November to December 1945. He again served from December 1945 to February 1946.

Following the close of the war, in June 1946 he re-enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps for another three-year term. He was stationed at the Greater Pittsburgh Airport and in 1947 transferred to Bear Field at Fort Wayne, IN, bearing the rank of corporal. He was in Munich, Germany in 1951 at the death of his father. Then in July 1952, now a staff sergeant, he spent a 30-day furlough with his widowed mother and told a Connellsville Daily Courier reporter that he intended to make the Army his career and would report to New York for a two-year assignment.

James was in Texas in 1955 and spent a 30-day furlough back home, visiting with his uncle and aunt Eathol and Catheryn (Huffman) Crosby in Mount Pleasant. As of 1976, his home was in San Antonio, TX.

He was united in matrimony with Lola Jean Hankins (Feb. 7, 1936-2017), a native of Iraan, TX.

Together, the Crosbys bore a family of seven -- Chyrell Keeling, Dixie Jackson, Debbie Hardin, James Crosby, John Charles Crosby, Terri Filippi and Jerry Crosby.

James passed away in San Antonio on Dec. 19, 1986. Burial was in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Lola Jean outlived her husband by more than three decades. The angel of death cleaved her away at the age of 81 on March 13, 2017. In an obituary, the family requested that any memorial donations be made to Any Baby Can or the Alzheimer's Association.

Daughter Chyrell Crosby married Jimmy D. "Jimbo" Keeling ( ? -2001), son of Allen D. and Peggy Keeling of Canyon Lake, TX. They lived in San Antonio and bore a trio of offspring -- Bo Keeling, Christy Franz and Catharine Franz. Grief blanketed the family when Jimmy died at the age of 45 on April 6, 2001. Burial was in Mission Burial Park South. The San Antonio Express-News published an obituary.

Daughter Debra Lee "Debbie" Crosby (1958-2021) was born on Jan. 18, 1958 in Lubbock, TX. She spent most of her years in San Antonio. She was joined in wedlock with Hugh Hardin ( ? - ? ). He brought three stepchildren into the union -- Ty Hardin, Amy Hardin and Justin Hardin. The pair put down roots in San Antonio and were the parents of one daughter of their own, Jennie Nes. Said an obituary, "Debbie was a friend to all and full of life." Sadly, after a brief illness, she surrendered to the angel of death at the age of 63 on Nov. 21, 2021.

Son James "Jimmy" Crosby entered into marriage with Naomi. They dwelled in Round Rock, TX in 2021.

Son John Charles Crosby (1960-2021) was born on Oct. 26, 1960 in San Antonio. He grew to manhood in San Antonio and was a 1978 graduate of East Central High School. He was twice wed. His second bride was Mary ( ? - ? ). John liked to bowl and hunt. Said an obituary, "He was employed by Cappel Farms for several years where he was able to enjoy farm life and working outdoors. He helped numerous kids in the area with demo derby cars over the years which earned him the nickname 'Grandpa John'. John was a very selfless person who readily taught the next generation about cars and trucks." His final years were spent in McCook, NE. There, he died at the age of 60 on July 2, 2021.

Daughter Terri Crosby is an alumna of East Central High School. In Oct. 2002, she was united in matrimony with Steven Filippi. In 2021, they made their home in Converse, TX.

Daughter Lucinda "Cindy" Crosby (1921-2007) was born on July 3, 1921 in Mount Pleasant, PA.

On July 15, 1943, when she was 22 years of age, she traveled to Louisiana to marry Robert Elmore Kelty (Oct. 7, 1919-1993). They tied the knot in Alexandria, LA.

Robert joined the U.S. Army during World War II. While he was away, Lucinda was employed by the Elliott Company of Jeannette on the auxiliary police force.

James was located in November 1943 at Ardmore, OK. As of October 1944, he was stationed at Camp Howze, TX, holding the rank of first sergeant. When he became ill on post, Lucinda traveled from Mount Pleasant to be at his side. Fortunately, he recovered and was posted to Kassel, Germany. Lucinda and their young daughter joined him in Germany in November 1946.

The Keltys' dwelling in 1952 was in New York -- in 1963 in Chickasha, OK, at the address of 903 Chickasha Avenue -- and in 1976 back in Ardmore, OK. Said an obituary, "Cindy loved to cook, especially buttermilk pie, and collect recipes. She also enjoyed gardening, sports, politics and was a member of Maranatha Freewill Baptist Church. She always loved dogs..." Her best friends, whom she considered family, were Peggy Parker, Gloria Wood, Lil Turnbull and Julia Carpenter.

Sadly, Robert died in Ardmore on Oct. 26, 1993. Burial was in the local Rose Hill Cemetery.

Lucinda spent the balance of her years as a widow, and endured the untimely death of grandson Jeffrey Headley in 2001. The angel of death swept her away on Oct. 11, 2007. Pastor Leroy Holman led the funeral rites.

Daughter Karen Kay Kelty (1945- ? ) was born in about 1945. She was a 1963 graduate of Chickasha (OK) High School and then enrolled in the Chickasha Beauty Academy. On Sept. 10, 1963, Karen entered into the rite of marriage with Lanny H. Headley ( ? - ? ), son of Albert Headley of Anadarko, OK. The wedding ceremony was held at the First Christian Church of Chickasha, OK, with Rev. Fred Miller presiding. A photograph of the couple cutting their cake was printed with an announcement of the union in the Chickasha Daily Express. Lanny was a 1960 alumnus of Anadarko High where he was president of the student council, drum major of the marching band, National Honor Society member and delegate to the Oklahoma White House Convention. He attended Oklahoma University and at the time of marriage was employed with Oklahoma Tire and Supply in Chickasha. Three sons born of this family were Jeffrey Headley, Blake Headley and Courtney Headley. The marriage dissolved by 2001, with Karen and the sons living in Hurst, TX and Lanny in Dallas. Grief swept over the family when son Jeffrey died at the age of 22 in 2001.

Daughter Betty Crosby (1928-1978) was born on June 23, 1928 in Mount Pleasant. At the age of three, she was struck by an automobile on a street near their home and was hospitalized.

On July 27, 1949, she entered into marriage with Anthony P. Garsteck Sr. (June 30, 1921- ? ), son of Walter and Mary (Keitz) Garsteck of Mount Pleasant.

Anthony was a 1939 graduate of Ramsey High School. He went on to serve as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, from 1939 to 1945, and received a Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal and American Theater Seervice Medal.

Among their five children were Anthony P. Garsteck Jr., James W. Garsteck, Richard C. Garsteck, Roberta Garsteck and Michael R. Garsteck.

The Garstecks lived in 1956 and 1972-1976 at 760 West Main Street -- in 1958 at 271 Main Street -- and in 1963 at 716 West Main Street -- all in Mount Pleasant and remained in the town for years. Anthony was employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier. Both were active with the James E. Zundel Post of the American Legion, with Betty serving as chaplain in 1958 and Anthony as president in 1967. He also was active with the Mount Pleasant Firemen's Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.

Betty died in April 1978. Burial was in the Roman Catholic Polish Cemetery of the Transfiguration in Mount Pleasant.

Anthony lived for another 17 years. He passed away at Frick Hospital at the age of 74 on July 6, 1995. He was survived by six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. After a funeral mass held in the family church, he was laid to rest beside his wife.

Son Anthony P. "Andy" Garsteck Jr. is believed to have been a 1974 alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh. He wed LeeAnn "Lee" ( ? - ? ). Their trio of children include Jason garsteck, Alexandra Garsteck and Nikki Garsteck. The Garstecks have made a home in Greensburg, with Anthony employed by Volkswagen of America as a production supervisor at its New Stanton plant, and later working as a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier from 1994 to 2017.. In 2022, the Pitt-Greensburg Alumni Association presented him with a Volunteer Excellence Award. In a story about the award, the Connellsville Daily Courier said that "Garsteck is active with the PGAA alumni board of directors and serves as a member of the Events Committee. He also is the president of the Pitt-Greensburgâ€™s Menâ€™s Alumni Basketball Club (MBAC), having previously served as treasurer of the group... Garsteck is a familiar face at PGAA events, assisting with set-up, volunteering, and welcoming alumni, new students, families, and other guests."

Son James W. Garsteck (1954- ? ) was born in about 1954. He married Kristy Renee Poole ( ? - ? ). They may be the parents of Emily Garsteck. The family were in Mount Pleasant in 1995-2017.

Son Richard C. Garsteck ( ? - ? ) wed Paula Jancowski ( ? - ? ), daughter of Louis Jancowski of Mount Pleasant. They lived in the Orchard Hill section of Mount Pleasant in 1976. They became the parents of Michelle Louise Garsteck.

Daughter Roberta "Bobbi" Garsteck (1950-2017) was born on No. 7, 1950 in Mount Pleasant. She attended the School of the Transfiguration in Mount Pleasant. In 1963, as a seventh grader, she competed for the title of Westmoreland County parochial school spelling bee champion. She was a 1968 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School. Roberta spent her years in Mount Pleasant, earning a living at Kraisinger's Market, CoGo's and Amy Lynn's/Valero convenience store. She held membershipos in the ladies auxiliary of the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department and followed the fortunes of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers sports teams. Sadly, at the age of 66, she died in Excela Health Frick Hospital on Sept. 26, 2017. Rev. Greg Butler performed the funeral rites, with inteerment following in the Roman Catholic Polish Cemetery of the Transfiguration. The Greensburg Tribune-Review published an obituary.

Son Michael R. Garsteck ( ? - ? ) put down roots in Mount Pleasant and was there in 2017.

Son Clair Eugene "Bing" Crosby (1930-2001) was born on June 2, 1930 in Mount Pleasant.

Clare resided in Alaska for more than half a century, first having been posted to Elmendorf Air Force Base at the age of 18 in 1948.

When he was 20 years of age, in 1950, he entered into marriage with Shirley Mae (Shell) Sutton (Jan. 25, 1927-2007), a native of Seldovia, AK and the daughter of Lewis and Emma Shell. Their union endured the ups and downs of a remarkable 51 years. Shirley's parents, of Russian and Native American heritage, were considered pioneers of the gold fields of the Nenai Peninsula.

She brought a son into the union from an earlier marriage, Elias Gray Sutton. Clair and Shirley went on to bear three more offspring of their own, Vickie Jean Wise, Clair Eugene Crosby II, and Carol Ann Hartvigson.

Anchorage, Alaska, 1986. Courtesy the late Gordon Sykes Jones

After an honorable discharge, Clair worked as an airline mechanic. At one time, they dwelled in Hope, AK where he mined gold at Bear Creek and Mills Creek. In about 1954, the family pulled up stakes and moved back to Clair's native Pennsylvania in a motor home, with their son Clair II born there in June 1954. During the 1960s, he was employed on the North Slope by Union Oil Company in Anchorage, helping in the creation of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the 800-mile oil transport system linking the North Slope with the port of Valdez.

In 1976, at the death of his sister Bertha Wall, he was back in Anchorage and named in the newspaper obituary. He changed careers after a heart attack in the mid-1970s, with Shirley managed apartment complexes. He retired in 1997.

Said the Anchorage Daily News, Clair's "hobbies and interests included gold mining, electronics, photography, cooking, home repairs and Bible studies. Most recently, he was immersed in family history and research that he often claimed were just like prospecting for gold."

800-mile-long Alaska oil pipeline. Courtesy the late Gordon Sykes Jones

Sadly, burdened with heart disease, Clair passed away at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage on Nov. 7, 2001. His sister Lee traveled to be with him at the end. His remains were cremated, and an obituary was published in the Daily News. The headcount of his survivors was a dozen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Shirley outlived her husband by six-plus years and endured the death of her son Clair. Said her obituary in the Daily News, "Shirley was a lover of flowers and family gatherings. Many a gathering included her famous fried chicken and unending giggles. Shirley struggled to raise a son born with a disability but was blessed with patience and grace to overcome the challenge. She was a quiet person by nature but loved to joke and laugh. Shirley was a fan of Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley. You could always find her singing a hymn or jingle of some sort to herself."

Toward the end she made her residence at Macinnes House in Anchorage. The angel of death swept her away at the age of 80 on Jan. 7, 2008.

Son Clair Eugene Crosby II (1854-2005) was born on June 15, 1954. He had birth defects and was "a strong advocate for accessibility for the disabled in public buildings," said an obituary. "His many interests included painting, studying the Bible, and computers." Clair was the father of Clair Eugene Crosby III. Grief blanketed the family when he passed away in his home in Anchorage at the age of 50 on March 26, 2005. He sleeps for eternity in Valley Memorial Park in Palmer, AK.

Daughter Carol Ann Crosby was twice-married. She first was joined in wedlock with John Hartvigson. The pair divorced. By 2007, she was the wife of John East.

Michael died in Parkland on Jan. 10, 2011. An obituary was published in the South Florida Sun Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale.

Daughter Lenora Ann "Lee" Crosby (1934-2020) was born on Dec. 13, 1934 in Mount Pleasant.

She made news in the Connellsville Daily Courier at the age of 12, in August 1947, when undergoing surgery at H.C. Frick Memorial Hospital. Her home in the early 1950s was in Scottdale.

Lee was twice married. Her first husband, circa 1952, was Eugene Francis "Gene" Connors Sr. (Feb. 3, 1929-1982) of Everson. News of their marriage license was printed in the Connellsville Daily Courier.

Five offspring were born to this marriage -- Ruth Earnesty Stewart, Eugene Francis Connors Jr., Linda Casey, Dr. James Connors and Jamie Jo Thorpe.

The Connorses dwelled in Scottdale in 1956 at 104 Second Avenue and in 1972-1976 at the address of 23 Third Avenue. Lee was honored with a surprise birthday party in her home in December 1972, hosted by her children and grandson.

After nine years as a widow, on March 9, 1991, she wed George Domer Snyder (March 11, 1928-2007), the son of Braden and Daisy (Barron) Snyder of Indian Head, Fayette County. In an interesting twist, George's sister Doreen was married to Lee's diatant cousin Richard C. Anderson of the family of George E. and Althea "Alice" (Prinkey) Rowan.

George was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, attaining the rank of corporal. George spent his career with the National Tube Works Division of United States Steel Corporation in McKeesport, retiring as a foreman. He was a life member of the Donegal post of the American Legion, and belonged to the Everson and Scottdale posts of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and worked for all three as a bartender. He liked to bowl and hunt and in 1985 began making Meals-on-Wheels deliveries to senior citizens of Connellsville. He held a membership in the Mt. Joy Church of the Brethren.

They remained in Scottdale for good. Said an obituary, "She was a member of the Partner Parish of St. John the Baptist RC Church in Scottdale, PA, where she served as a eucharistic minister and volunteered for many activities. She was also a member of In His Image International Ministry in Bryantown, MD. Outside of spending time with her family, Lee enjoyed playing bingo and listening to music at the Brownfield Community Center."

Circa 1999, as a health aide working in the home of distant cousin Dora (Minerd) Detweiler Richter Hall in Connellsville -- of the family of Frank J. and Elizabeth (Shipley Glover) Minerd -- she met the founder of this website.

Lee was rendered a widow for a second time when George died at age 79 on Oct. 27, 2007, as a resident of the Harmon House Care Center.

Lee surrendered to the angel of death on July 5, 2020, at the age of 85. Her funeral mass was held in the family church, led by Rev. Elmer Alforque. Burial was in St. John's Cemeteery.

Daughter Ruth Connors (1954- ? ) was born in about 1954. She was a 1973 graduate of Southmoreland Senior High School. Ruth was the mother of Christopher Lee Connors, born in 1972. Then on June 9, 1973, in nuptials held in St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church of Scottdale, she wed Larry E. Earnesty ( ? - ? ), son of A.E. Earnesty of 121 Broad Street, Scottdale. Presiding was Rev. Daniel C. Mahoney, with the marriage announced in the Connellsville Daily Courier. The newlyweds made their first home at 209 Pittsburgh Street, Scottdale. Larry was a 1968 graduate of Southmoreland and at the time of marriage worked for Lenox Crystal Inc. of Mount Pleasant. The pair bore a son of their own, James E. Earnesty. After the Earnesty marriage ended, Ruth was joined in wedlock with Mark Stewart and in 2007 lived in South Connellsville.

Son Eugene Francis Connors Jr. (1956- ? ) was born in 1956 in Frick Memorial Hospital. He was a 1974 graduate of Southmoreland High School and in 1975-1976 was employed by Skovira Machine. He is married to Stpehanie. In 2007, the pair dwelled in Adamsburg, PA.

Daughter Linda Connors (1961- ? ) was born in 1961. She entered into marriage with Jack Casey. They moved to New Hampshire and were there in 2007.

Son Dr. James Connors (1967- ? ) was born in 1967. He married Dr. Lisa ( ? - ? ) and reside in Maryland.

Daughter Jamie Jo Connors (1974- ? ) was born in 1974 in Frick Memorial Hospital. At her first birthday, she was pictured in the Connellsville Daily Courier. She tied the marital knot with Tad Thorpe ( ? - ? ).

The late Lee (Crosby) Connors Snyder, Eugene Francis Podraza and Diane (Ohler) Newton have contributed valuable content for this biography.