Ethel MCCandless

Ethel Mary McCandless, 97, of Slippery Rock passed away at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday at the Butler Inpatient VNA Hospice.

She was born Jan. 16, 1915, at home in Clay Township, Butler County. She was the daughter of the late Edward W. Ralston and the late Elizabeth Margaret Fleeger Ralston.

Ethel attended high school in West Sunbury, and she married Donald E. McCandless in 1932. He passed away July 29, 1995.

She was a homemaker her entire married life, and she enjoyed cooking, tending her garden until into her 90s, canning and visiting with her family and friends. She attended the St. John's United Methodist Church of Slippery Rock since the mid-1930s and was the oldest living church member.

Surviving are three children, two sons, Donald McCandless Jr. (Shirley) of West Sunbury and Robert McCandless at home and one daughter, Nellie McCandless Arblaster of Slippery Rock. She also helped to raise a nephew, Donald Snow (Karen) of West Sunbury. Also surviving are a brother, Kenneth Ralston of Slippery Rock; a sister, Millie Ralston Bell of Canton, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Myrtle McCandless Johnston of Hilliards; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 19 step-great-grandchildren; 21 step-great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by one brother, three sisters, a son-in-law and one great- granddaughter.

MCCANDLESS — Friends of Ethel Mary McCandless, who passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2012, will be received at the William F. Young Funeral Home, 132 Main St., West Sunbury, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the St. John’s United Methodist Church, Slippery Rock. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with her pastor, the Rev. Barbara Moore, officiating.Interment will be in the St. John’s Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory be made to the memorial fund at the St. John’s United Methodist Church, Hallston Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.