Gilhousen

James E. Gilhousen, 82, of Buffalo Township passed away peacefully at 10:30 p.m. Saturday at his home.

James was born in Dixonville, Pa., Aug. 20, 1927, the son of the late Blair and Gertrude (King) Gilhousen. His mother passed away when he was 17 months old, and he was raised by his stepmother, Ruth King Gilhousen, who is deceased.

He was married to Martha Carnahan, Sept. 1, 1947, at the home of her grandparents by her Methodist minister, the Rev. John Tempelton. James was a Protestant.

James served in the Army during World War II as a T/4 sergeant radio operator in Germany.

He worked as a crane operator at General Electric in Erie for 18 years. After GE, James went to work for Pullman Standard in Butler, retiring in 1982 after the plant's closing. James also worked for Steve Hranica Refuse in Sarver for 25 years.

James was a member of the Butler VFW Post 249 and the Rimersburg Shearer Schick American Legion Post 0454.

In his younger years, James enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing sports. Later in his life, he enjoyed watching sports on TV, especially the Steelers.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Martha (Carnahan) Gilhousen; their five daughters, Shari (David) Houser of Chico, Calif., Starr Coleman of Fort Worth, Texas, Jamie (Berry) Atkinson of Buffalo Township, Stacy (James) Bollinger of Freeport and Dana (Mark) Clinton of South Buffalo Township; and his sister, June Harper of Columbia, S.C. James also is survived by his 15 grandchildren, Tracy Houser, Kelly (Rob) Kamisky, Lindsay (Brendan) Goren, Charles Coleman, Cynthia (Darrell) Drake, Jason Coleman, Merle (Christy) Atkinson, Tammy (John) Hoffman, Marcee (Michael) Klixbull, Jacob Atkinson, Marty (Sue) Bollinger, Misty (Tommy) Smulick, Matthew Bollinger, Nadine Bollinger and Dylan Clinton; and 12 great-grandchildren, George and Abigail Drake, John III, Lauren, Avery and Brandon Hoffman, Paige and Andrew Atkinson, Natalee and Samuel Klixbull and Ashley and Sean Swartzlander.

James always said he was not wealthy in money but was wealthy with family.

He was preceded in death by his three sisters, Dorothy and Shirley Gilhousen and Betty Stephens.

<B>GILHOUSEN</B> — Family and friends of James E. Gilhousen, who died Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Redmond Funeral Home</B>, 524 High St., Freeport. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home with the Rev. Keith R. Black of the Raccoon United Presbyterian Church, Hopewell, officiating. A burial service with military honors will be held at the Rimersburg Cemetery.The family would like to thank Carolyn Mogel and all who prayed on James's behalf, Freeport Meals on Wheels, the Rimersburg American Legion Post, Vitas Hospice Care of Greater Pittsburgh and the staff at VA Butler Healthcare.To send a condolence, visit www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com.