Paul L. Gleditsch

Paul L. Gleditsch, 85, of Elizabeth Township, died Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. He was born Dec. 29, 1927, in McKeesport, the son of the late Carl and Edith Borowski Gleditsch. Paul was raised in the Grandview area. As a young man, he worked for the Peters Packing Company, delivering 25 pound blocks of ice, which likely enabled the strong shoulders and large hands we all knew him so well for. Paul graduated from McKeesport High School in 1945 where he competed in Cross Country. He was a World War II Army veteran and also served in Korea, where he learned to like burnt toast and cold coffee. He also served at the Army Training Center at Carlisle Barracks, where he was trained as a firefighter. Paul was a charter member and the first fire chief of the Central Volunteer Fire Company in Elizabeth Township. Paul married Jean Miller, Aug. 14, 1948. They raised two sons, Paul and David, in the Elizabeth Township home that Jean's uncle, Lates Howell, built for them. Paul retired in 1993 as a lineman and crew leader with more than 42 years of service with the Duquesne Light Company answering countless "trouble" calls in the middle of the night during bad weather. Paul helped build many of the high tension electric towers we see across Allegheny County today, so he was clearly not afraid of heights. Paul served as Grand Tall Cedar of the Al-O-Mon Forest No. 138 in 1976 and he was a member of the precision Ranger Drill Team that we watched in so many parades and events around the country. Paul was a dedicated member of Faith Lutheran Church in White Oak and very active in his community as a 3rd Degree Mason with the Youghiogheny Lodge No. 583. He was a member of the Mon Valley Lifespan, Versailles AARP and VIP Clubs, and he enjoyed so many of his trips with the Elizabeth Township Senior Citizens over the years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean; son, Paul B. Gleditsch; and brother, Charles and his wife, Doris Gleditsch. He is survived by his son, David B. (Anne) Gleditsch, of Loveland, Colo.; grandchildren, Michael and Christopher Hill, Tara, Tyler Paul, Bradford and Brandon Paul Gleditsch; daughter-in-law, Donna Gleditsch, of Denver, Colo.; a niece, Cathy (George) Shabla, of Erie; a nephew, Dr. Scott (Christina) Gleditsch, of Charlotte, N.C.; and very special friend, Barbara Iouale, of Greenock. There is no visitation. Memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, in Faith Lutheran Church, White Oak. Private burial with military honors will be in Round Hill Cemetery, Elizabeth Township. Arrangements are by the GILBERT FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., 6028 Smithfield St., Boston, Elizabeth Township. Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 1656 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131.