Louis Anthony Bender Sr.

Louis Anthony Bender Sr., 82, of Butler passed away Saturday at the Butler VNA Inpatient Hospice.

He was born on Nov. 13, 1931, in Pittsburgh, the son of the late Louis Peter Balzaretti and Mary Alands Balzaretti.

Louis was a member of the Holy Sepulcher Catholic Church and a former member of the St. Michael the Archangel Church.

Louis was a construction worker with Laborer Local 323.

He was a member of the East Butler Volunteer Fire Department, the Italian Society of Butler, the Country Music and Dance Club of Butler and the Pymatuning Hunting and Fishing Club. He was an avid fisherman and liked woodcarving. Louis played bass guitar with many local country-western bands and enjoyed teaching kids to play bass guitar. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Surviving are his daughter, Betsy (Richard) Madliger of Butler; his three sons, Pat Bender of Utah, Louis Bender Jr. of California and Gene (Linda) Bender of Butler; his eight grandchildren; his 18 great-grandchildren; his longtime companion, Doris L. Smith of Butler; his sister, Betty Wiegand of Butler; and his sister-in-law, Dolores “Dee” Bender of Butler.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Amelia “May” Campisi Bender, who died on Nov. 18, 2003; his sister, Nell Dugan; and his brother, Joseph Bender.

Bender— The friends of Louis Anthony Bender Sr., who passed away Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Young Funeral Home, 127 W. Jefferson St., Butler.A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Michael the Archangel Church, 432 Center Ave., Butler. Entombment will be in the Butler County Memorial Park, Butler.For more information, go to www.youngfuneralhomes.com.