George “Bud” A. Kruise

George “Bud” A. Kruise, 92, of Butler, formerly of Chicora, died Sunday in the Hall of Honor in the Community Living Center at the VA Hospital in Butler, where he had lived for the past two years.

George was born Dec. 21, 1924, in Toronto, Ohio. He was the son of George and Mary “Molly” Kutruff Kruise.

George was a 1942 graduate of Toronto High School and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving aboard the USS Wharton.

Mr. Kruise was employed in Florida by the U.S. Postal Service and retired in 1986. George was a talented woodworker and enjoyed spending time in his wood shop making crafts.

He was a Roman Catholic, and while living in the Chicora area, he attended Mass at St. Patrick Church in Bradys Bend and the Mater Dolorosa Church in Chicora. He also enjoyed attending St. Paul's Community Church in Chicora with his wife, Margery.

George was active on the reunion committee of the Toronto High School as well as the reunion committee for veterans who served aboard the USS Wharton. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Butler and the Kaylor Grange, where he and his wife enjoyed traveling on various bus trips.

George was a volunteer at the VA Medical Center in Butler, where he made various wooden tools to assist veterans with craft building. For some time, George and his wife lived at New Haven Court in Butler, where he was an active member of the Condo Association.

Mr. Kruise was preceded in death by his wife, Margery Wiles Seybert Kruise, in 2012. The couple married in 1992 in Florida.

George is survived by his son, James D. (Robert Treat) Westphal of Detroit, Mich.; two stepdaughters, Brenda Seybert (Harold) Lewis of Conneaut Lake, and Beverly Seybert (Rusty Blankley) Walley of Warfordsburg; a number of step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Kruise was preceded in death by his first wife, Ethel; three brothers; and two sisters.

KRUISE — Friends of George “Bud” A. Kruise, who died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017, will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora-Fenelton Road, Chicora.A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 915 State Route 68, East Brady, with the Rev. John M. Butler, church pastor, as celebrant, assisted by the Rev. Ryan Lucas, pastor of St. Paul's Community Church. Interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery, Sugarcreek Township, Armstrong County.A parish prayer service will be at 4:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Military honors will be accorded at the church by members of the Chicora, Bradys Bend and East Brady American Legion Posts.Memorial contributions in Mr. Kruise's name may be made to the Community Living Center Hospice at the VA Butler Healthcare Medical Center, 325 New Castle Road, Butler, PA 16001.For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.