US ARMY

Robert Dale "Poppy" Chestnut, 72, of Petrolia, in Washington Township, Butler County, passed away Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at the VNA Hospice Inpatient Facility on Technology Drive, Butler, after a lingering illness. He was known to his friends and family as Uncle Bob and Poppy. He was born in McGrann in Armstrong County, July 23, 1938, a son of the late Kenneth A. Chestnut and Bessie Marie Anthony Chestnut. He was of the Protestant faith and was a veteran of the Army Infantry stationed stateside from 1955 until 1958 and was a member of the American Legion Post 243 of West Sunbury. He enjoyed cooking, crocheting, hunting, fishing, spending time with his grandchildren, camping and gardening. He retired due to an injury received while working at GE in Erie. He married the former Carol L. Mercatell, March 27, 1993, in Saxonburg, and she survives along with one son, Samuel Chestnut, of Middlefield, Ohio; three daughters, Tammy Weinheimer, of Erie, Pa., Lisa Craig, of Erie, Pa., and Sherrie Roache, of Northeast, Pa.; two stepdaughters, Theresa Collier, of Chicora, and Marie Philips, of New Bethlehem; three grandchildren, Austin Mark Roache, of Northeast, Pa., and Fallon Corina Collier and Mia Elizabeth Collier, both of Chicora; two brothers, James Chestnut and his wife, Jody, of Kittanning, and William Chestnut and his wife, Mary Ann, of McGrann; three sisters, Kathy Kunst and her husband, Joe, of Ford City, Wanda Hankey and her husband, James, of Kittanning, and Sandy Lettrich, of Decatur, Ill.; and a number of nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, A. Kenneth Chestnut, Samuel Chestnut, John Chestnut, Gerald Chestnut, Richard Chestnut and Jackie Chestnut; and one sister, Barbara Chestnut. A reception of friends will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the RICHARD D. HILLIS FUNERAL HOME in Petrolia. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at a tent at the North Washington Union Cemetery. The Moniteau Ceremonial Squad will provide military honors at the cemetery following the service. Memorial contributions may be sent to the VNA Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA 16001.
Leader Times, Kittanning, PA 9/20/2010