Bilowick

Esther Bilowick, 89, formerly of Butler and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., died Feb. 1 at her home in Sarasota, Fla., after an extended illness.

She was born Oct. 31, 1919, in Perkasie, Pa., to Mary Gochnauer and Lewis Wagenhorst.

She was a member of the Butler Country Club for 69 years, during which time she won the Women's Golf Championship 12 times and the Senior Championship three times. She also was a longtime member of the Women's Western Pennsylvania Golf Association and captain of the Butler Country Club women's golf team that won the Western Pennsylvania Championship in 1974 and 1975. This was a first for the local organization after trying for 67 years.

She also was an accomplished bowler. From 1959 to 1971, she competed in most of the high average Butler leagues, organized the Met "A" League and bowled in the prestigious Pittsburgh Metropolitan Traveling League, which had 90 teams to rank as the largest of its kind in the country.

She was co-owner of Lar-Wick Lanes and actively promoted bowling in the Butler area.

Her numerous achievements in these sports led to her induction into the Butler Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

She is survived by her daughter, Esther Miller (Robert) of Sarasota; her son, Dr. George Bilowick (Sally) of Butler; her grandchildren, Eric Ballon of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Dyane Bilowick of Butler, and Dana Greenblatt (Dan) of Pittsburgh; and a great-grandson, Caleb Greenblatt.

<B>BILOWICK</B> — As per the wishes of Esther Bilowick, who died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, there will be no funeral services.Memorial donations may be made to the Butler County Humane Society, 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053.