Keffalas

Pete Panagiotis John Keffalas, 87, of Butler died Wednesday at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born Oct. 20, 1920, in Butler, he was the son of John Leondis Keffalas and Katherine Lemos Keffalas.

He was a member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Castle.

He graduated in 1939 from Butler High School and from Penn State University in 1944 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. After graduating college, he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Ohio State University in 1945, where he terminated government war contracts at the conclusion of WWII.

On April 28, 1946, he married Elizabeth Vasilion in Dayton, Ohio. He was discharged from the Army in 1947.

He worked with his father in 1956 and, upon his death, took over John L. Keffalas Painting Contractors, who were independent contractors for Armco. In 1971, he started Pete J. Keffalas, Inc. a rental property business that he operated until his death.

He was a circus enthusiast and built many scale model circus wagons. In the late 1960s, he owned and operated a zoo in Butler called Circustown USA. He also hand carved a life-size Popeye figurine. He truly was an entrepreneur his entire life.

He was a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association, AARP, the Republican National Committee, the American Legion in Lyndora, the VFW Post 249, the Moose Lodge 64, a longtime member of the Butler Stamp Club and a member of the Boy Scouts of America, where he was on the executive council and the camp committee.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth Vasilion Keffalas; three sons, John P. Keffalas and his wife, Mary D., William P. Keffalas and Alexander P. Keffalas and his wife, Shelly, all of Butler; three grandchildren, Andrew, Matthew and Lexi Keffalas, all of Butler; two sisters, Evelyn J. and Alberta J. Keffalas, both of Apple Valley, Calif.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Elias J., Spero J. and Petros J. Keffalas; and two sisters, Alice J. Penar and Dorothy J. Gregory.

<B>KEFFALAS</B> — Friends of Pete Panagiotis John Keffalas, who died Wednesday, June 18, 2008, will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the <B>Young Funeral Home</B>, 127 W. Jefferson St., Butler. A memorial service will follow at 7 p.m.Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday at St. Andrew's Orthodox Church, 201 Penn Ave., Lyndora, with the Rev. Joseph Wargo officiating. Interment will be in the North Side Cemetery with military honors by VFW Post 249 and American Legion 778.Contributions may be made to the Butler Area Public Library, 218 N. McKean St., Butler, PA 16001.Information is available at www.youngfuneralhomes.com.