Frank Ghessie Jr., 89, of Blairsville, Indiana County, passed away Tuesday at the Barnes House, Latrobe.

A son of Frank Ghessie Sr. and Emma R. (Paris) Ghessie, he was born June 29, 1921, in Aultman, Indiana County.

Mr. Ghessie was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Kent, Indiana County; a third degree knight of the Knights of Columbus, Kittanning; a fourth degree knight of Knights of Columbus, St. Fidelis Assembly, Butler; IUP APSCUF; IUP APSCURF; a life member of VFW Post 1989, Indiana; Delta Pi Epsilon, Honorary Business Fraternity; Penn State Alumni Association and RSVP Volunteer Programs.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force, 8th Air Force 308th Airdrome Squadron, Pacific Theater, during World War II.

Mr. Ghessie taught accounting at high school, junior college and at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for a total of 35 years.

Surviving are three nephews, Dennis W. Funk and his wife, Debbie, of Derry, Pa., August Ghessie and his wife, Lisa, of Fulton, Md., and Donald Funk of Huntsville, Ala.; a niece, Mary Kay Posey and her husband, Ken, of New Carrolton, Md.; four great-nieces; and his best friend and companion, Alfie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, August Ghessie Sr.; and a sister, Irene Muka.

A special thank you is made to Sister Maria for her kindness.

<B>GHESSIE</B> — The family of Frank Ghessie Jr., who died Tuesday, July 6, 2010, will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the <B>Shoemaker Funeral Home</B>, 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Kent, with Father Donald Conroy as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Bernard's Cemetery, Indiana, Pa.Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, P.O. Box 99, Kent, PA 15752.Military services will be accorded by the Blairsville VFW Post 5821 and the American Legion Post 0407.To view the online obituary, sign the guest registry or send condolences, visit www.shoemakerfh-monuments.com.