Hortert Sr.

Albert A. Hortert Sr., 92, of North Washington passed away at 9:55 a.m. Thursday at the Chicora Medical Center following an extended illness.

He was born Jan. 23, 1917, in Butler. He was the son of the late Eugene Hortert and Laura Fontaine Hortert.

He was a member of the St. Louis Roman Catholic Church.

He was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Force, where served as a technical sergeant and a tail gunner. While serving as a tail gunner, he was shot down over Yugoslavia and was missing in action for two weeks.

He retired in 1980 from Armco, where he had been a roller in the cold mill for 33 years.

He was a member of the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department, where he helped with the rodeo for more than 40 years. He also was a member of the French and Belgium Club. He was an avid card player, especially pinochle.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret "Peg" Sherman Hortert, whom he married June 13, 1953; four daughters, Mrs. Philip (Stella) Chiappini of Eau Claire, Mrs. John (Marie) Grimm of Beaver, Mrs. Donald (Grace) Humphrey of Gordonsville, Va., and Mrs. Wally (Sandra) Goff of Texas; two sons, Albert Hortert Jr. and his wife, Wendy, of West Sunbury and Ronald McDonald of Hookstown; 20 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Les (Mabel) Johnson of Renfrew and Mrs. Shirley Crawford of Butler; two brothers, Louis Hortert of Butler and Carl Hortert of Connoquenessing; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jeannette; a son, Sam; a sister; and three brothers.

<B>HORTERT</B> — Friends of Albert A. Hortert Sr., who died Thursday, July 23, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 Monday at the <B>William F. Young Funeral Home</B>, 132 Main St., West Sunbury. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Louis Roman Catholic Church, West Sunbury, with Father James Bedillion, his pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Butler County Memorial Park.Graveside military honors will be provided by the Moniteau Ceremonial Squad.