Kocher

L. Clifton "Keek" Kocher, 85, a lifelong resident of Valencia, died Saturday evening at UPMC Passavant Hospital, McCa-ndless Township.

Born in Valencia, Jan. 16, 1922, he was the son of Louis and Genevieve Hutchman Kocher.

He was a 1940 graduate of Mars High School and one of the chairmen for his class' annual reunion.

During World War II, he was a corporal in the Army's 98th Signal Battalion, served in Manila and the Philippines and earned five Bronze Stars. He was a member of Mars VFW Post 7505.

In the 1940s, he started Kocher's Flowers in Mars with his uncle, Eugene Kocher. The flower shop is still in the family today. In 1956, he started with Pittsburgh Cut Flower as a rose grower and worked his way to vice president. He was the third of four generations of Kocher's to work for Pittsburgh Cut Flower, where his grandfather, Fred Kocher, was one of the founders.

He was a charter and life member of the Valencia Area Historical Society and was known as the town historian in Valencia.

He was a 72-year member of the Valencia Presbyterian Church and a 60-year member of the Valencia Volunteer Fire Department. He also was a member of John E. Mair Lodge 729 F&AM.

He was an avid sports fan — especially the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins. He loved working on family genealogy, Valencia history, photography, fishing, coin collecting and working with flowers, especially roses. He took much pride in his yard and flower gardens, and they were always a showplace. Most of all he loved being with his family.

His wife, Annabelle Painter Kocher, whom he married Aug. 31, 1946, died Feb. 9, 2003.

Surviving are two daughters, Lucinda "Cindy" Homburg of Tarentum and Mrs. Bill (Eileen) Krenach of Valencia; grandchildren, Mrs. Perry (Jaime) Nesselroad of Sarver and Mrs. Steve (Kristene) Reutzel of Valencia; great-grandsons, Chase and Noah Nesselroad of Sarver; an aunt, Lucille Kocher of Mars; and sisters-in-law, Marie Painter of Natrona Heights and Fosca Painter of New Kensington. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews and many, many good friends.

<B>KOCHER </B>— Friends of L. Clifton "Keek" Kocher, 85, who died Saturday, April 14, 2007, will be received from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the <B>McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home</B>, 238 Crowe Ave. Mars. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Valencia Presbyterian Church, 80 Sterrett St., Valencia, with the Rev. Gary Weston, pastor, and the Rev. Dennis Molnar, pastor of the Wallace Presbyterian Church in Greentree, officiating. Burial will be at the West Union Cemetery, Pine Township.Memorials may be made to the Valencia Historical Society, 66 Almira St., Valencia, PA 16059; or to the Valencia Presbyterian Church, 80 Sterrett St. Valencia, PA 16059.Directions and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.