Cress

Alva Edward "Eddie" Cress, 77, of Concordia, formerly of Sandy Point Road, Emlenton, died Saturday at 11:20 p.m. in Concordia.

He was born Dec. 20, 1931, in Mercer County, the son of the late Nelson L. Cress and the late Clara E. Messmer Cress.

He was a member of St. Marks Evangelical Church.

He was an electrician for Butler Armco Steel, retiring in May 1991 after 39½ years.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and Korean War, serving in the infantry and was awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge.

He was a lifetime member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, 2nd Infantry Division and the 23rd Infantry Regiment. He also was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 249, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Legion Post 778 Michael Kosar, William H. Miller Lodge 769 F & AM, the AASR Valley of New Castle.

He was a member of the United Bow Hunters, the Oneida Bow Hunters and was a past president of the Keystone Squares.

Surviving are two sons, Jeffrey E. Cress of Butler and John N. Cress of Chicora.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon R. Cress, who passed away June 23, 2003, and also by two sisters.

<B>CRESS</B> — Friends of Alva Edward "Eddie" Cress, who died Saturday, July 18, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, 124 E. North St., Butler. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Ralph Storm, a retired Lutheran minister, officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Burial Estates.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the donor's favorite veteran group or charity.Information is available at www.thompson-miller.com.