Girdwood

Aylmer H. "EM" Girdwood Jr., 86, of Gibsonia died Friday at Concordia Lutheran Care, Cabot.

Born Oct. 7, 1920, in the Mount Washington area of Pittsburgh, he was the son of Aylmer H. and Frances Randall Girdwood Sr.

A World War II Army veteran, he served with the 65th Infantry Division and earned a Purple Heart.

He went on to be a biology teacher, headed the science department and coached football and basketball at Pine-Richland High School for more than 27 years. He also taught and coached at Mars High School for five years.

He was a longtime recreation director for the Pine-Richland Youth Foundation and was a retired scout master for the Boy Scout Troop in Gibsonia. He was a member of the Gospel Fellowship Church in Valencia and the Mars VFW Post 7505.

Surviving are his wife, Naomi J. Craft Girdwood, whom he married Aug. 23, 1947; his children, Jessica Husarik of Russelton, Roxanne Keefer of Michigan, Aylmer H. "Scott" Girdwood III of Gibsonia, Erin Williams of Gibsonia and Patrick Girdwood of Gibsonia; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.

<B>GIRDWOOD</B> — Friends of Aylmer H. "EM" Girdwood Jr., who died Friday, June 29, 2007, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the <B>Schellhaas Funeral Home</B>, 5864 Heckert Road, Bakerstown. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Barry Wollner officiating. Military honors will follow. Private burial will follow at the Deer Creek United Presbyterian Church Cemetery, West Deer Township.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pine-Richland Youth Foundation, 5554 Community Center Drive, Gibsonia, PA 15044; or to the Boy Scouts of America, Flag Plaza, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.Please pay tribute at www.schellhaasfh.com.