Lewis Fennell

Lewis Winfield Fennell, 90, a resident at Concordia in Cabot, passed away Saturday.

Born Sept. 18, 1923, in Fenelton, he was a son of the late Peter Fennell and Gertrude (Oesterling) Fennell.

Lewis had worked at the Armco steel plant in Butler for 25 years, retiring in 1988.

He was a member of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Barb, including two trips to Ireland. He also enjoyed gardening, learning, reminiscing and music including country and big bands.

Lew was always proud of his service in the Merchant mariners during World War II. During his service as seaman first class he served on many vessels including the Thomas Clyde and the Thomas Donaldson.

During World War II, the Merchantmen took dangerous business of transporting Army and Navy cargoes and were recognized as critical to accomplishing the Navy’s mission. Lew was awarded bars for his efforts in the Pacific War Zone, the Atlantic War Zone and the Mediterranean East War Zone and received a Presidential Testimonial Letter.

Military service in his family was important to him, dating back to his relative, Christopher Fennell who served in the Revolutionary War and his uncles who fought in the Civil War and stood guard at Appomattox Court House during Gen. Lee’s surrender to Gen. Grant. Both his daughters, Mary Lou and Kate, along with his granddaughter, Mary Regina Somma, are members of the General Butler Chapter of the DAR.

Surviving are his daughters, Mary Lou (Fennell) Somma and her husband, Russell Somma, of Sparta, N.J., and Kate (Fennell) Ferrick and her husband, Charles Ferrick, of Butler; two grandchildren, Mary Regina Somma and William Somma; one brother, Richard (Carol) Fennell of Florida; one sister, Betty Amon of Walnut Creek, Calif., and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Fennell, who he married Feb. 17, 1953, and who died in March 2011, and one brother, Kenneth Fennell.

Fennell — The friends of Lewis Winfield Fennell, who passed away Saturday, March 1, 2014, will be received at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.St. Paul's Catholic Women and Christian Mothers will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church to recite the rosary.