Stewart

Thomas D. “Stew” Stewart, 72, of Sunset Drive, Butler, died at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday at Butler Memorial Hospital following a lengthy illness.

Stew was born in Lyndora on June 18, 1938. He was the son of the late Vernon Victor and Ann Hilovski Stewart.

Stew was a graduate of Butler High School and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He had been a member of the American Legion in Lyndora and the VFW in Marienville.

He retired in 1993 after 32 years at American Hardware/Servistar of Butler.

He attended the First United Methodist Church in Butler. He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking, snowmobiling, spending time at his camp in Marienville, going out on his boat with his sons and friends and especially enjoyed the company of his grandchildren. He also was fond of his dog, Kirby.

Stew is survived by his wife, “Babs” Fleeger Stewart, who he married in Ft. Myers, Fla., on March 10, 1977; five children, Renee Wagner of Pass Christian, Miss., Thomas D. Stewart Jr. and his wife, Michelle, of Slippery Rock, James Victor Stewart and his wife, Kristen, of Cowansville, Donald Jeffrey Stewart of Butler and Chrissy Suzanne Stewart of Butler; four grandchildren, Sage and Erin Wagner of Carlisle, and Piper and Ziva Stewart of Cowansville; one sister, Sandy Beam of Cranberry; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, James and Patricia Fleeger of Chicora; as well as a number of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Judith Marie Stewart.

<B>STEWART</B> — Friends of Thomas D. “Stew” Stewart, who died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the <B>Hile Funeral Home</B>, 339 Chicora Fenelton Road, Chicora, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., Butler, where funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. J. David Panther, church pastor, officiating.Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church/Seeds of Hope Program, 200 E. North St., Butler, PA 16001.For additional information, directions, or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.