Gillis

Frank R. Gillis Sr., 88, formerly of Vets Club Road, died Monday at Newhaven Court, Center Township.

Born Sept. 27, 1920, he live his entire life in Meridian and was the son of the late A.O. Gillis and the late Lois Smith Gillis.

Mr. Gillis Sr. was a member of Meridian United Presbyterian Church.

He worked as an equipment operator and truck driver for the Russell Standard Construction Co., Wingert Inc., Dillick Lumber, Pullman-Standard and Farm Bureau, which then became Agway. He retired in 1985 from Kradel's Greenhouse. Following his retirement, he owned and operated the Gillis Greenhouse for 20 years.

Mr. Gillis was a member of the Meridian Vets Club, a former member of the Meridian Volunteer Fire Department, the Butler Boat Club and the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 73. He was a founding member of the Butler Boat Club.

He was the caretaker of the Vets Club Park. Mr. Gillis also was a honey beekeeper before entering the U.S. Army in 1942 and was a veteran of World War II, 44th Infantry 127 Division. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was a Purple Heart and a Gold Star recipient.

Mr. Gillis Sr. is survived by his two sons, Frank R. Gillis Jr. of Renfrew and Ronald G. Gillis of Connoquenessing; a brother, Edward Gillis of Baltimore, Md.; two sisters, Margaret Fullerton of Pittsburgh and Helen Christy of Butler; five grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Gillis Sr. was preceded in death by his wife, Esther Gillis, who he married July 31, 1941, and who passed away Jan. 26, 2007; two sisters, Anna Mary Kerr and Harriet Sankey; and two daughters, Lucille Doutt Gillis and Gloria Jean Gillis.

<B>GILLIS</B> Friends of Frank R. Gillis Sr., who died Monday, April 20, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, 124 E. North St. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Meridian United Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John Porter of Meridian United Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will follow in St. John's Reformed Church Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Meridian United Presbyterian Church, 4150 Highland Ave., Butler, PA 16001 or to the Meridian Veterans Club, 125 Meridian Veterans Club Road, Butler, PA 16001.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.