Cress

DeWitt Junior Cress, 87, of Butler passed away Monday at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Born on Dec. 17, 1925, in Meridian, he was the son of the late DeWitt C. and Eleanor M. Grossman Cress.

He was retired from Butler Armco, now AK Steel, on March 31, 1988, after working 37 years in the tractor shop.

He was a member of the St. John's Reformed Church, Meridian.

Junior was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, who served on the USS Pennsylvania. He also served on the USS Macon during the Korean War.

He was a life member of the VFW Post 249 of Butler.

He was an honorary member of the WPIAL for 37 years, and was known by many for umpiring in the American Legion League, which is now the Butler County Sports Association.

His hobbies were watching hockey and NASCAR.

He is survived by his wife, Annabel Myers Cress, who he married on Sept. 12, 1947; his two daughters, Mrs. Bernard (Diane) Riley of Butler and Dawna Cress and her companion, Russell Layton, of Butler; his two sons, Russell Cress of Colorado and Ronald (Jane) Cress of South Carolina; his nine grandchildren; his 16 great-grandchildren; his great-great-grandson; his brother, Robert (Dorothy) Cress of Butler; and his sister, Mildred Cress of Butler.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, one granddaughter and one grandson.

CRESS — The visitation for DeWitt Junior Cress, who passed away Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Edward L. Raisley Funeral Home, 387 Main St., Prospect.The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Butler County Memorial Park Cemetery, Butler.To leave the family an online condolence, visit www.raisleyfuneralhome.com.