John E. McNallen

John E. McNallen, 92, of Chicora passed away Monday morning at Good Samaritan Hospice in Cabot, following a brief illness.

Born Dec. 12, 1922, in Troutman, Concord Township, he was the son of the late John M. and Margaret (Diskin) McNallen of Chicora.

He was the loving husband for 68 years of Mabel (Coyle) McNallen. She survives. He was a lifelong member of the Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served for four years during World War II in New Guinea and the Philippines in the Pacific Theatre of operations, ending his service as a master sergeant.

He was a member of the Dierken-Ritzert American Legion Post in Chicora. During his life, he was a Little League baseball coach in Chicora, served on the school board and was on the board of directors of the Butler County AAA. 

As an employee of Heckett Engineering of Butler, John traveled the world, selling services to steel manufacturers. After 40 years of service, he retired from Heckett Engineering as vice president of worldwide sales in 1987.

He was an avid golfer and tennis player and closely followed all of the local high school sports teams. Gardening and especially tending to his flowers were favorite pastimes. However, his world revolved around his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren encouraging them to work hard for success. 

With exception of his time spent in the Army and some short overseas assignments with Heckett Engineering, you could not have gotten him to live anywhere else other than his beloved Chicora. He sincerely appreciated all his friends and neighbors and all that they did for him over the years.

Survivors include his daughters, Kathleen Steiner of Butler, Maureen Gray of Butler and Melissa McNallen of Fox Chapel; his sons, Michael McNallen and his wife, Pam, of Annapolis, Md., and Patrick McNallen and his wife, Anne, of Amherst, N.H.; his sisters, Ann McCarren of Butler and Patricia Ashbaugh and her husband, William, of Butler; his brother, William McNallen of Chicora; his grandchildren, Megan, Erin, Michael, Brianne, Lucas, Tyler, Cory, Keelen and Jack; his great-grandchildren, Tobias, Hadley, Quinn, Reese, Olivia, Eden, Christian, Seamuis, Eibhlin and Clodagh; and great grand dog Daisy, all of whom will miss him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Foley and Margaret McNallen.

MCNALLEN — Friends of John E. McNallen, who died Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Hile Funeral HomeofChicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Road, Chicora.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at the Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, 409 N. Main St., Chicora, with the Rev. Richard Thompson, church pastor, and the Rev. William Ashbaugh, a Roman Catholic priest, and Mr. McNallen's nephew, concelebrating.Interment with military honors accorded by the Chicora, Bradys Bend and East Brady American Legion Posts and the Chicora VFW Post will follow at Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora.Memorial contributions may be made to the Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church or to Catholic Charities at www.catholiccharities.usa.org.For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.