Nesbitt

Roy J. “Pete” Nesbitt, 90, of Zelienople passed away Tuesday at Butler Hospital.

Pete was born Feb. 6, 1922, in the home of his parents on Clay Street in Zelienople. He was the son of the late George E. and Elizabeth (Nagel) Nesbitt of Zelienople.

In his youth, Pete played drums and guitar in the high school band and sang in the school choir. When softball was a very popular sport, he was one of the best fast pitch softball pitchers in this area.

He also was a pin boy at the three-lane bowling alley on Main Street, drove a coal truck and worked at the Iron City Sanitation Works and Johns Manville. In 1947, he started working at Universal Manufacturing of Zelienople, missing only four days of work due to illness during 37 years of shop and office employment.

He also worked weekends as a traffic police officer in Zelienople before the days of I-79, when thousands of cars traveled north along Route 19 to Lake Erie from Pittsburgh. He used a manual counter to record them and had that number listed weekly in the newspaper. His count was very accurate, and he had family members fill in for him during meal times.

Later, he worked part-time at the St. Peter's Reformed Church, serving as the custodian for 26 years. He was active in the church, serving as deacon and singing in the choir for many years. He was a member of the Men's Fellowship and Bible study.

In 1944, he married Betty Mae (Koah) Nesbitt of New Brighton, his wife of 68 years. They lived for 60 years at their home on Beaver Street and were known in the neighborhood as “the walkers.” They were members of the Keenagers and enjoyed many bus trips with them.

Pete was preceded in death by his three older brothers, Ray, Dutch and Fritz, all former football stars at Zelienople High and proud military veterans.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Nesbitt, a sister, Mary Lou Burkett and a son, Tom Nesbitt, all of Zelienople; and daughters, Barbara Freshcorn of Ellwood City and Joanne Patterson of California. He also is survived by six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

<B>NESBITT</B> — The family of Roy J. “Pete” Nesbitt who passed away Tuesday, March 20, 2012, will welcome friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the <B>Boylan Funeral Home</B>, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.Funeral services will be at St. Peter’s Reformed Church, Zelienople, at 2 p.m. Sunday with the Rev. Dr. Maurice Smith officiating. Please meet at the church. He will be laid to rest at St. Peter’s Reformed Church Cemetery in Zelienople.If desired, memorial contributions may be made in Pete’s honor to the St. Peter’s Reformed Church, 314-320 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople, PA 16063.Online condolences and directions are available at www.boylanfuneralhome.com.