Vincent Peter Messina, 84, of Butler died suddenly at his home Saturday morning following a lingering illness.

Born May 29, 1925, in Kaylor, he was the son of the late Samuel and Josephine Tomasello Messina. He was a former resident of Petrolia and attended the East Brady and Karns City School Districts.

Mr. Messina was employed for 45 years at Witco Chemical Company. He retired as a compounder in the Shipping Department in October, 1987.

He was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Butler.

He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the Army in the European Theatre.

As a younger man, he enjoyed fishing. He was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a member o the mall walkers at Clearview Mall until recently when his health failed.

He is survived by three stepdaughters, Joyce (Robert) Zanella of Chicora, Valerie (David) Price of New Castle and Margaret Edinger of Butler; and a stepson, Charles Ferris, of West Palm Beach, Fla.

Also surviving are two sisters, Beatrice (Bernard) Dryden of Cambridge, Md., and Shirley Messina of Fla.; a sister-in-law, Rena Messina of Mesquite, Texas; 10 step-grandchildren, Robert and Mark Zanella, Melissa Callihan, John and James Maker, Jodi Barton, David Price, and Dawn, Scott and Dustin Ferris; 12 step-great-grandchildren; and a few nieces, nephews and cousins. He has a living uncle, Wig (Flo) Tomasello, of Indianapolis, Ind.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Geagan Messina, to whom he was married for 46 years. She died Feb. 4, 2002.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; two stepsons; his sister, Connie Sheakley of Petrolia; and his brother, Frank Messina of Cape Coral, Fla.

<B>MESSINA</B> — Friends of Vincent Peter Messina, who died Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the <B>Martin Funeral Home</B>, 429 Center Ave., Butler.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, with the Rev. Father James Dolan, pastor, officiating.Burial will take place in St. Michael's Cemetery.The Bereavement Group of St. Michael the Archangel Parish will meet at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home to conduct a scriptural wake service.Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by VFW Post 249 of Butler and American Legion Post 778 of Lyndora.More information is available at www.martinfh.net.