Obituary of Joseph Edmund Etters
Crescent, Pennsylvania
January 6, 1929- March 14, 2002
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle on March 14, 2022.
After a brief illness, Joseph Edmund Etters, age 93 passed away surrounded by his loving family at Anthology Senior living facility in McCandless, PA under the care of Transitions hospice. We are so grateful for their care. Ed was born at home on Pine Ally in Coraopolis to the late Melvin James Etters and Anna Merle Debold Etters.  He was preceded into heaven by his loving wife of 66 years, Gertrude, "Trudy” Hall Etters and is once again dancing the jitter bug with the love of his life. Also, preceding Ed into heaven is his son Thomas Kyle Etters and siblings Melvin (Nook), Thomas, Francis (Bups), Mary Lou and Betty. Ed was a 1947 graduate of Coraopolis Senior High School where he played football for the Coraopolis Blue Devils. He also enjoyed playing recreational basketball at the Coraopolis YMCA and loved all sports. Ed was inducted into the US Army as a mortarman and proudly served his country on the front lines of Korea as a Sargent First Class. Prior to his deployment he and Trudy were married on May 12,1951 at Greystone United Presbyterian Church. While in Korea Ed befriended a South Korean soldier, Yukiwan who lost his life while protecting Ed from enemy fire. After returning from Korea, he resumed his employment at Pittsburgh Coke and Chemical which later became Shenango Incorporated on Neville Island where he worked on the coke and steel furnaces as an instrument repair technician for 43 years before retiring.  Ed enjoyed coaching little league baseball in Coraopolis sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. He had the pleasure of coaching his son and many neighborhood boys on the Giants, winning the league championship often. A longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Coraopolis he enjoyed participating in the service projects conducted locally and across the country. He earned many honors including being Lieutenant Governor for Pennsylvania several times, recognition of leadership and service as Lieutenant Governor by Kiwanis International, interclub awards, and the John G. Miller Faculty Advisor Recognition award. He was also named a George Hixson Fellow in 1997. Ed was a member of the former Greystone United Presbyterian Church in Coraopolis where he served as a deacon and elder for the congregation. More recently he attended Riverdale Presbyterian church in Moon Township. He was also member of the VFW, Post 402, and the Steelworkers of America. He loved to travel with his Kiwanis friends to state and national conventions but most of all he loved family beach vacations at Ocean City and Avalon New Jersey and Sunset Beach North Carolina. Many happy memories were made by all and now these memories gives us comfort. His beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of his family, daughter, Debra, Son-in-law, Dennis, Grandson Douglas, grandson, Drew and wife Janis, daughter-in-law, Eileen, granddaughter, Erin and Husband JJ, granddaughter Lauren and husband, Adam, 7 beautiful great grandchildren, Connor, Hayden, Ella, Tanner, Morgan, Ben, and Sam, many nieces and nephews and dear friend Kyle who was like another grandson. 
We are so grateful for the care Ed received as a resident at Anthology. His care managers treated him with kindness and respect as if he were their grandfather. A special thank you to Cherrie Kline, unit manager who walked this journey with us and helped to support and guide us. A very special thank you to Samantha Cooper, our end-of-life doula who helped us all but especially dad to pass into heaven where he is now at peace with his Lord and Savior. A celebration of Ed’s life will be held at R.D. Copeland Inc, 981 Brodhead Road Moon Township, PA 15108. Family and friends will be received on Sunday, March 20th from 1-4pm with a service and military honors following. Pastor Christopher Dericks, officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the VFW, Post 402 or Riverdale Presbyterian Church.