McCaslin

John Joseph McCaslin, 89, of the Passavant Retirement Community in Zelienople, formerly of Renfrew, died at 8:53 a.m. Monday at UPMC Passavant, Cranberry Township.

Born June 4, 1919, in Butler, he was the son of the late Wilbert J. McCaslin and the late Barbara Hutchison McCaslin.

Mr. McCaslin began a 31-year career at the YMCA in 1946 as youth director in Sewickley and Butler. He then served as executive director in Butler from 1954 to 1969, then as executive director at the Reed House YMCA in Philadelphia and the Chemung County YMCA in Elmira, N.Y., retiring in 1977.

Following eight years as house manager for the Chemung County, N.Y., ARC, he and his wife, Helen, retired in 1985 and returned to Butler a year later.

He was a member of Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church, where he also served as an elder.

Mr. McCaslin was a graduate of the Butler High School class of 1937 and a graduate of Geneva College, the University of Pittsburgh and George Washington College.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, having fought in the Battle of Makin and the Battle of Saipan, earning the Bronze Star during the Battle of Saipan.

Mr. McCaslin was the past president, secretary and pianist of the Butler Kiwanis Club; past president of the state YMCA Senior Citizen Clubs; founder, past president and pianist of the Butler County Family YMCA MORA Club; past president of Meridian Senior Citizens; executive director for 15 years of the YMCA Industrial Management Club; executive director for 15 years of the Butler Area Council of Churches; past president of the Harbison Chapter of Retired YMCA Directors; and a member of the UCT, the Butler Gideons and the Meridian Veterans Club. Mr. McCaslin also was a choir member of churches in Meridian, Somerdale, N.J., Horseheads, N.Y., and Saint Andrews in Butler. He was a member of the Who's Who in American Colleges. Mr. McCaslin, along with his wife, received the Good Samaritan Award in 2002.

Mr. McCaslin enjoyed gardening, table tennis, golf, playing the organ and piano, traveling, playing baseball in his youth with the Meridian United Presbyterian Church and his lifetime health club membership at the Butler County Family YMCA.

Mr. McCaslin is survived by his wife, Helen Heist McCaslin, whom he married June 28, 1946; a son and his wife, John J. and Joyce McCaslin of Renfrew; three daughters, Margaret Ann and her husband, Dave Schlicter, of Spring Grove, Rebecca McCaslin of Runnemede, N.J., and Mary Lou and Kerry Osterman of Voorhees, N.J.; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; his sister, Mrs. Albert (Mary Margaret) Robinson of Newville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. McCaslin was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Robert Orr McCaslin and Dr. Richard E. McCaslin.

<B>McCASLIN</B> — Friends of John Joseph McCaslin, who died Monday, Dec. 22, 2008, will be received from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, 124 E. North St. A graveside service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at St. John's Reformed Church Cemetery in Butler. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Merry H. Meloy of Saint Andrews U.P. Church officiating.Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church, 201 E. Jefferson St., Butler, PA 16001 or to the YMCA, 339 N. Washington St., Butler, PA 16001.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.