David A. Ford
Sewickley resident

On Saturday, June 28, 2008, while surrounded by loving family, David A. Ford of Sewickley died in his home on Henry Avenue after a long and hard battle with mesothelioma.

He was born June 30, 1940.

He was happily married to his wife of 46 years, Carole J. (Moore) Ford.

He was the proud father of three sons; David of Denver, Colo., Jeffrey of Bonsall, Calif., and Glenn of Sewickley.

Loving family members also include Glenn's wife, Tonya (Walkauskas) Ford and beloved grandchildren, Alicia and Alivia Makepeace, and Alexa and Daniel Ford, the joys of his life.

Mr. Ford, formerly of the North Side, Pittsburgh and Ross Township, was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Florence (Yant) Ford.

He also is survived by his loving sisters and their families, June and Jim Graham of Oakmont, and Beth and Don Ellisher of Gibsonia; and many nieces and nephews.

A graduate of Oliver High School in Pittsburgh, he served in the U. S. Navy on the USS Forrestal.

He attended Pittsburgh Technical Institute and was employed by the H. J. Heinz, Co., for 31 years. He worked in the engineering department as a senior project engineer.

While at Heinz, he made wonderful friendships and was highly respected.

In addition to being a devoted husband, father, grandfather and a friend of many, he enjoyed many hobbies over the years. He was a member and Director of the International Betta Congress board and bred and showed Bettas, Siamese fighting fish.

He was voted the world's top Betta breeder for two consecutive years. He developed a new strain/color of Bettas called the Lemon Meringue Butterfly Betta. He also produced the first film of the Bettas titled "Bound to Be Betta," which continues to be shown throughout the country.

Next, he became involved with breeding and showing Boxers. A member of the Allegheny Boxer Club, he succeeded with three championships.

He loved thoroughbred horse racing. He eventually owned, bred and raced thoroughbred horses and became a licensed trainer. He was in the winner's circle many times.

He also enjoyed gardening and traveling, and was a member of the Edgeworth Club.

Often seen walking throughout the Village; a city boy turned small town boy, he loved his life here in Sewickley.

He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Funeral arrangements were made by Richard D. Cole Funeral Home with interment in Sewickley Cemetery.

The family requests donations to the Cochran Hose Company of Sewickley, Sewickley Valley Historical Society or the American Cancer Society.

Gary Reck
Bayer vice president

Gary L. Reck, 61, husband and father of three, passed away June 24, 2008, in his home in Holland, Mich.

Born Oct. 13,1946, in Dayton, Ohio, to June and Guy Reck, he is survived by his wife of 39 years, Kate; daughters, Laura Shipman and husband, Jerry, and Abigail Larner and husband Marcus; son, Joseph Reck and wife, Karina; and grandchildren, Raymond Reck and Celeste Shipman.

He also is survived by sister, Cathy Robbins and husband, Lynn; brother, Dennis Reck; mother-in-law, Laura Verplank; brothers-in-law, Dick Verplank and wife, Gail, and Bill Verplank and wife, Eleanor; sisters-in law, Christine Verplank, Janet Verplank and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Reck retired in 2007, as vice president of human resources for Bayer Material Science in Pittsburgh.

He began his career in human resources with MeadJohnson in Zeeland, Mich., in 1973, then went on to hold several positions with Bristol-Myers in Evansville, Ind.

In 1988, he joined Miles as director of organizational development in Elkhart, Ind.

He was later named director of human resources for the Elkhart site. In 1996, he and his wife, Kate, moved to Pittsburgh with Bayer Corp. Mr. Reck was a creative and expansive thinker, well known for problem-solving and his keen analytical mind.

Mr. Reck was an adjunct faculty member for Grand Rapids Junior College and University of Evansville for 13 years. He earn-ed his undergraduate degree in education from Wright State University and his master's degree in communications from Western Michigan University. Mr. Reck was known for his dry wit, his strength and his sense of fairness.

He was a lover of and participant in the fine arts and shared this passion with his students as a young teacher at Grand Haven High School in Michigan.

He was an outdoor enthusiast, who enjoyed running, canoeing and hiking. He was the quintessential family man: a devoted father to his children and a loving partner to his wife.

He began his church life at Grace United Methodist in Dayton, Ohio, and most recently, he was a member of The Presbyterian Church of Sewickley.

A private memorial service is scheduled for family members.

Donations may be made to Amyloidosis Support Groups Inc. at www.amyloidosissupport.com.

Arrangements were made by Yntema Funeral Funeral Home in Zeeland Mich.

Dolores Farley
Sewickley resident

Dolores J. Bowman Farley, 84, a lifelong resident of Sewickley, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on June 24, 2008. She was born in Pittsburgh on Dec. 4, 1923, to the late Everett and Viola Rose Uffelman Bowman. On Jan. 19, 2004, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years, Albert F. Farley.

Mrs. Farley was a hard worker, enjoying 25 years as assistant manager at Sewickley Fish and Poultry.

She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

She was an avid lover of animals, feeding her wild birds and squirrels, and pampering her pet cat,Garfield, and dog, Baxter.

As the matriarch of the family, she is fondly remembered by her family with the nickname "Sarge," which meant she ran a tight ship.

She is survived by her two loving children, Richard A. Farley and wife, Edith, and Kathy Joyce, all of Sewickley; and eight cherished grandchildren and 14 precious great-grandchildren.

Burial was in Sewickley Cemetery.

Copeland's, Sewickley made the arrangements.

Harold Buckley
Sewickley High grad

Harold Lawrence Buckley of Jacksonville, Fla., formerly of Sewickley, passed away June 23, 2008, at Acosta Rua Hospice in Jacksonville, surrounded by his family, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born April 21, 1939, and having graduated from Sewickley High School in 1957, he was preceded in death by his father, Robert Bertram Buckley, and mother Ruth Marie Rexroad (Smith), an infant brother and many aunts and uncles.

Harold is survived by his six children: Jeffrey Wayne and wife, Dawn, Loretta Lynn Sizemore and husband, Marion, Michael Lawrence and wife, Betty, Randy Wayne and wife, Deborah, Outler, Cindy Kay Elam and Becky Jo Crews and husband, Jason; 16 grandchildren, who were the joy of his life; two brothers, John Edward and wife, Ann, and Robert James and wife, Barbara; many nieces and nephews; and a great-niece and great-nephew.

A memorial service was conducted on June 28 in Folkston, Ga.