Albert P. Gruber

Albert P. (Al) Gruber, 87, of 323 Parkview Drive, Saegertown, died Thursday April 17, 2008 at the Crawford County Care Center, Saegertown, after a period of declining health.

He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, December 18, 1920, a son of the late Ray F. and Isabelle Pierce Gruber.   He married Martha J. Scannell July 1, 1950 and she survives, and resides at the Crawford County Care Center.

Al was a veteran of World War II having served with the U. S. Army Air Corps in Italy and Africa as a flight engineer on B 24’s with the 15th Air Force, 461st bomb group.

He retired in 1988 as Chief of Quality Assurance at Talon, after 47 years of service.  He was raised on a farm west of Venango and worked for several farmers and also had served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, before entering the service.

He was a member of Saegertown United Methodist church and was a former church trustee.  He was a member of Saegertown Volunteer Fire Department, Saegertown Sportsmans Club, a former member of Meadville Elks Lodge 219, and had served as Treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 254 of Saegertown.  He enjoyed fishing and especially hunting.  He was an avid reader, and both he his wife enjoyed traveling to visit their family.

Survivors, in addition to his wife Martha of 57 years, include a daughter, Lynn E. Gruber of Longview, TX and a son, Ray A. Gruber and his fiancée Marlene Cardwell of Baltimore, MD; 2 brothers, Donald R. Gruber and his wife Jeanne of Miraloma, CA and Robert D. Gruber and his wife Donna of Meadville; and also nieces and nephews.  He was also preceded in death by one brother, David M. Gruber.

Calling hours will be Sunday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville with a Veterans of Vietnam Post 52 service at 7 p.m.

The funeral service will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Kenneth Custer, Pastor of Saegertown United Methodist Church and the Rev. Leo Cramer, retired United Methodist Pastor, officiating.

Interment will be in Kiser Hill Cemetery, East Mead Township with military honors provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2006, Meadville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saegertown United Methodist Church, 620 Euclid Ave., Saegertown, PA 16433, the Saegertown Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 164, Saegertown, PA 16433, or Hospice of Crawford County, 464 Pine St., Meadville, PA 16335.