John Sheilds

John A. Shields, 89, of Slippery Rock, formerly of East Butler, passed away at 6:30 a.m. Monday at the VNA Inpatient Hospice.

He was born on July 11, 1925, in North Butler to the late Clayton O. Shields and Lena G. Snyder Shields.

John was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II as an armored engineer in Europe, Normandy and North France.

He was certified as a Hudson Motor Co. mechanic and was the manager of the Penn Drake Service Station on North Street in the city of Butler for more than 40 years, retiring in 1987.

John served in East Butler Borough Council in various positions, including president, treasurer and other areas, and was a member of the 2nd Armored Division Association, the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, the VFW, the Hudson Association, and the American Legion, and was an active member of the North Main Street Church of God.

He enjoyed antique cars, Army reunions, fishing, hunting, reading, history and spending time with his family.

John is survived by his wife, Betty J. Fehl Shields, who he married on May 31, 1947; his two sons, John A. Shields and his wife, Ellen, of Virginia and Richard C. Shields and his wife, Michelle, of Vienna, W.Va.; his daughter, Bonnie J. Homison and her husband, Mike, of Slippery Rock; his three grandchildren, Heather Walton and her husband, Thomas, Jenny Cornelius and Michael J. Homison Jr. and his wife, Alea; his three great-grandchildren, Anna Niederriter, Grace Walton and Steven Niederriter; his three sisters, Mary Sarvey and her husband, Walt, of Butler, Lena “Gert” Sarvey and her husband, Earl, of Renfrew and Kay Joan “Jo” Filges of Butler; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his three brothers and three sisters.

Shields — The friends of John A. Shields, who passed away Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Pastor Gordon Powell officiating.Officers and members of the VFW Post 249, the American Legion Post 117 Butler and the American Legion Post 778 Lyndora will conduct military honors following the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place in the Rose Hill Cemetery.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.