IN MEMORY OF DECEASED MEMBERS WE ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS, IF THEY WISH, TO LEAVE A MESSAGE IN REMEMBERENCE OF OUR DEPARTED BROTHER.
IN MEMORY OF LION RALPH GEORGE AUGUST 19, 1920 - AUGUST 8, 2010.
LION RALPH WAS BORN IN PEABODY, MASS AND WAS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE FROM NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY. HE RETIRED FROM COBER ELECTRONICS IN STAMFORD, CT. A ARMY VETERAN OF WORLD WAR TWO LION RALPH WAS GIVEN A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT WORKING ON THE MANHATTAN PROJECT IN OAKRIDGE, TN., THAT DEVELOPED THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH IN BUTLER. HIS REMAINS ALONG WITH HIS WIFE ARE INTERNED IN THE NATIONAL CEMETARY OF THE ALLEGHENIES, BRIDGEVILLE, PA.
Thoughts and prayers for Ralphs friends and family with his passing. Lion Ralph shared many interesting facts, and funny stories. It was great to get to know such a fun and caring man. He volunteered his time and knowledge to help better our community. He will be missed by many. Lion Jennifer
Lion Ralph was an intelligent, inquisitive, fun loving guy; who enjoyed talking (on any subject and at anytime!) We didn't get to know him until his later years; but, from his stories and the fact that he did not let his age and failing health stop him from living life; we can imagine what kind of a character he was in his younger years. I think we were fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know him. I know that I learned from Lion Ralph that age and your health are just states of mind. You can let them drag you down or you can continue to live life to the fullest. Lion Ralphie was a Lion for 47 years and he served Lionism up to the end. Lion Ralph was a good man and he will be missed.
Lion Wink
In Memory of Lion Ralph George:We have donated two large print books to the Butler Area Public Library in his memory; “Healing Herbal Teas: A complete guide to making delicious, healthful beverages” and “The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine”.
IN MEMORY OF LION JOSEPH M. DITULLIO JULY 17, 1933 - JANUARY 25, 2011
LION JOSEPH M. DITULLIO, 77 OF BUTLER DIED PEACEFULLY TUESDAY EVENING AT HIS HOME SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY. HE WAS BORN IN BUTLER, JULY 17, 1933, A SON OF THE LATE GUISEPPE AND MARY DIBACCARO DITULLIO. HE WAS A GRADUATE OF BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL AND HAD PLAYED GUARD ON THE 1950 WPIAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, A GROUP THAT RECENTLY WAS INDUCTED INTO THE BUTLER AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME. JOE RETIRED FROM THE SILICON DEPARTMENT OF AK STEEL'S BUTLER PLANT IN APRIL 1995, WHERE HE WORKED FOR 44 YEARS.
HE PROUDLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY WITH THE U.S.ARMY FOR TWO YEARS DURING THE KOREAN WAR AND FOLLOWED THAT WITH 27 YEARS IN THE PENNSYLVANIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.
MR. DITULLIO WAS A MEMBER OF AMERICAN LEGION POST 243 IN WEST SUNBURY AND THE VFW BUTLER POST 249.
HE WAS A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE BUTLER LIONS CLUB, WHERE HE HAD SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 20 YEARS AND HAD VOLUNTEERED AT BEACON LODGE, THE LIONS CLUB CAMP FOR BLIND CLIENTS. IN APRIL, 2010, HE WAS HONORED TO RECEIVE THE MELVINJONES AWARD, WHICH SERVES AS LIONS CLUB RECOGNITION FOR DEDICATED HUMANITARIAN SERVICES.
HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH AND VOLUNTEERED AT THE KATIES'S KITCHEN PROJECT AS WELL AS HAVING BEEN A FORMER MEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEER.
HE ENJOYED CAMPING AT SMITH'S GROVE CAMPGROUND NEAR HERMAN AND WAS A MEMBER OF THE BUTLER BOCCE ASSOCIATION. HE WAS A FORMER BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL COACH FOR THE CENTER TOWNSHIP TEAMS AND HAD BEEN PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BUTLER BAND PARENTS ORGANIZATION.
SURVIVING ARE HIS WIFE, VIRGINIA "GINGER" BOWSER DITULLIO, WHO HE MARRIED JULY 25, 1970; THREE CHILDREN, KAREN MURDICK AND HER HUSBAND, RONALD, OF BUTLER, JOANN DITULLIO OF TENNESSEE AND SCOTT DITULLIO AND HIS WIFE, JOYCE, OF CLARION; FOUR GRANDCHILDREN, MATTHEW MURDICK, JAMIE (JOSH) BELK, MACKENZIE DITULLIO AND NOAH DITULLIO, TWO GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, TALAN MURDICK AND AVA BREWSTER; AND A SISTER, VIVIAN WITTIK, OF BUTLER.
JOE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS FIRST WIFE, RUTH CRAWFORD DITULLIO, WHO DIED IN 1964; HIS GRANDSON, ANTHONY MURDICK, WHO DIED IN 2001; A BROTHER, ANTHONY DITULLIO; AND A SISTER, LOUISE NANNI.
FUNERAL SERVICES WERE AT THE TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 120 SUNSET DRIVE, BUTLER. HIS PASTOR, THE REV. THOMAS PIEROTTI, OFFICIATED. INTERMENT FOLLOWED AT THE WEST SUNBURY UNION CEMETERY WITH MILITARY HONORS PROVIDED BY THE JOINT CEREMONIAL SQUAD OF VFW POST 249 IN BUTLER AND LYNDORA AMERICAN LEGION POST 778.
THE BUTLER LIONS CLUB CONDUCTED A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME.
I've known Lion Joe Ditullio since Carolyn and I came to Butler in 1988. Lion Joe and I did all the club's projects from selling Christmas trees to brooms and bags (and light bulbs, years ago); cleaning the highway; traveling on many club visitations and serving on the Club's Board of Directors. Lion Joe and I would often talk after a night of selling brooms or after a Board Meeting. We would talk about Scott, we would talk about Tom, we talked about the club or anything else that came along. Lion Joe was loved and respected by his fellow Lions. He was an unassuming and quiet man. Lion Joe did not want the spotlight, this is why he never became King Lion. He always felt that he was more effective leading by example and staying in the background. It was my distinct honor to present Lion Joe with a Melvin Jones Fellowship in 2009; ten years earlier, in 1999, Lion Joe presented me with the Club's Lion of the Year Award. Things will be different without Lion Joe Ditullio; but, he will always be with us in spirit. Good bye to a special Lion and man! Lion Mike Winkler
