Vandevort

Ray W. Vandevort, 83, of Cranberry Township died this morning at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Wexford, June 6, 1926, he was the son of the late William and Bernice Palm Vandevort.

Ray was a crane operator for J&L Steel in Aliquippa. Before that, he worked as a bricklayer for Otto Helm and Claude Herbert.

He was a member of the St. Ferdinand Roman Catholic Church in Cranberry Township.

A Navy veteran of World War II and Korea, he belonged to the Mars VFW Post 7505 and the Perry Highway American Legion.

An avid trap shooter, hunter and fisherman, he was a member and past president of the Mars Rod and Gun Club, and he also belonged to the Millvale Sportsman's Club.

Surviving are three daughters, Barbara J. Swinderman and her husband, Charles, of Sugarloaf, Pa., Karen L. Fritz, and her husband, Robert, of Satellite Beach, Fla., and Michele R. Daugherty and her husband, Mark, of Harmony; and two sons, Raymond M. Vandevort and his wife, Vincene, of Freedom and David J. Vandevort and his wife, Kathleen, of Elizabeth. He also helped raise his wife's brother and sister, Gloria Drambel and her husband, George, of Gibsonia and Joseph Eichenlaub and his wife, Theodoret, of Wexford.

Also surviving are two brothers, Clair Vandevort and his wife, Helen, of Harmony and Robert Vandevort in Maryland; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha Eichenlaub Vandevort, who he married Nov. 20, 1948, and who died Feb. 19, 1999; and a sister, Betty Harshall.

<B>VANDEVORT</B> — Friends of Ray W. Vandevort, who died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home</B>, 238 Crowe Ave., Mars. Additional funeral arrangements are incomplete. Burial, with military honors, will be at Allegheny County Memorial Park, McCandless Township.Memorials may be made to Odyssey Hospice, 190 Bilmar Drive, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-4611.Directions and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.