Obituary of George Keblesh

George Keblesh passed away Monday, March 7, 2016. He was born in Barnesboro, PA, on May 6, 1926. He attended school through tenth grade until he needed to help support his family by working as a butcher after his mother died and his father was killed in a mining accident within a six- month period. George was drafted into the US Army in 1944 and attained the rank of corporal while serving in the European theater of operations as a member of the "Old Gray Bonnet" 8th Infantry Pathfinder Division. He was wounded in combat during the Battle of the Bulge and, as a scout and sharpshooter, was the first to enter the gate in the liberation of the Wobbelin Concentration camp near Ludwigslust, Germany. After VE Day he served as a translator along the Russian border and was discharged from the army in 1946. George earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, EAME Campaign Ribbon and Victory Ribbon. Upon his return to Barnesboro, George worked briefly in the same coal mine where his father was killed before following his brother Joe to Akron Ohio in 1951. A member of the Teamsters Union, his career with Dixie Ohio Express and Duff Truck Lines spanned 34 years. George was an active volunteer at Saint Michael Byzantine Catholic Church. He was president of the local chapter of the GCU Fraternal Organization for ten years and was a senior leader in the Holy Name Society. He was an avid bowler and took pride in mentoring boys by coaching Ellet Little League Baseball between 1963 and 1973, encouraging all boys to play every positions. George is preceded in death by his parents John and Anna (Polaczek) Keblesh; brother Joseph and sisters Anna, Verna, Margaret, Julia, Mary, Evelyn, Catherine and Helen. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Irene (Hazy); brother John (Patricia); five children Anna (Donald) Mantel, Gloria (Todd) Price, George (Rebecca) Keblesh, Stephen (Donna) Keblesh, and John (Diane) Keblesh; 9 Grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held Thursday at 7:30 PM at the Anthony Funeral Home, 4178 Massillon Road, Uniontown OH 44685 (corner of Massillon and Steese Roads in Green, entrance off of Steese), where the family will receive friends Thursday from 5 to 7:30 PM. Fr. Vsevolod Shevchuk officiating. Interment with full military honors will be held FRIDAY at 10 AM at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. The procession will leave the Anthony Funeral Home Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel, 1990 S. Main St. in Akron on FRIDAY at 9:15 AM. (Anthony, GREEN, 330-899-9790, anthonyfh.com)