Fred P. Kofler Jr., 85, of the LAS/Passavant Retirement Home of Zelienople, formerly of Hopewell Township, passed away Wednesday at Passavant.

Born Sept. 12, 1923, in Connellsville, he was a son of the late Fred P. Sr. and Elizabeth (Rusbosin) Kofler.

Mr. Kofler was a retired employee of the A&S Railroad. He was an Army veteran, having served in Normandy and Central Europe during World War II and received a Bronze Star for valor.

He was a member of St. Titus Roman Catholic Church, Aliquippa. He was a former Boy Scout and Eagle Scout leader for Troop 430.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sophie (Dravich) Kofler, who died in 2004. They were married Oct. 31, 1948. Two sisters, Suzanne Kofler Godich and Helen Bible, also preceded him in death.

Surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Michael F. Drozdibob of East Palestine, Ohio; two beloved grandsons, Michael F. Drozdibob of Beaver Falls and Matthew F. Drozdibob of Aliquippa; two sisters, Pat Neish of Center Township, Beaver County, and Betty Fath of Aliquippa; a brother-in-law, Nick Dravich of Cincinnati; two sisters-in-law, Helen Perunko of Los Angeles, and Martha Seltz of Philadelphia; his lifelong friends, Julia Reft, Rosina Dobo and Kay Koerbel; and many loving nieces and nephews.

<B>KOFLER </B>— Friends of Fred P. Kofler Jr., who died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the <B>Tatalovich Funeral Home and Cremation Services</B>, 2205 McMinn St., Aliquippa, where a service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Titus Roman Catholic Church, Aliquippa, with Father Paul Householder, his pastor, officiating. Entombment will follow at noon at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum, Hopewell Township, where the Beaver County Special Unit will conduct military honors.The family would like to thank with deepest appreciation the 4th floor staff of LAS/Passavant Retirement Home and Dr. Janet Vhla for all the kindness and loving care they gave Fred.