J. Richard “Dick” Vernon

J. Richard “Dick” Vernon, 85, of Butler passed away Tuesday at his home.

Born Dec. 4, 1932, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Joseph McGinnis and Roberta Forbriger O'Brien.

Dick worked at West Penn Power and Butler Memorial Hospital.

He and his wife, Danna, were the original owners of Minuteman Press.

Dick was a member of the North Main Street Church of God.

He was the founder of the C.B. Rangers and also a founding member of the Tri-State Country Music Association.

Dick and Danna hosted Danna's Radio Diner. He was a lifelong country musician, playing steel guitar in many local country bands, including the WWVA Jamboree Staff Band.

Surviving are his loving wife, Danna Mae Lewis Vernon, whom he married Aug. 31, 1954; his sons, Daniel (Shirley) Vernon of Butler, Glenn (Claudia) Vernon of Logan Mills, Pa., and Garry (Debbie) Vernon of Rochester, N.Y.; his daughters, Cindy (Vince) Vinay of Pine Mountain Club, Calif., Sue “Peach” Vernon of Sebring, Fla., and Sherry (Scott) Chrystal of Mount Lebanon; his sisters-in-law, Carol Morgain of Butler and Becky Wood of Sarver; his brother-in-law, Johnny Booher of Sarver; and his 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

VERNON — Friends of J. Richard “Dick” Vernon, who died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Fox Funeral Home, 410 W. Main St., Saxonburg.Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with Pastor Brandon Lenhart officiating.Interment will follow in Saxonburg Memorial Church Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to the North Main Street Church of God, 1201 N. Main Street Ext., Butler PA 16001.For more information, please visit www.foxfuneralhomeinc.com.