Edward Fencik

On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, Edward Fencik, loving husband and father of two children, passed away at the age of 96.

Edward was born on July 5, 1925 in Port Vue, PA to George and Mary (Gavula) Fencik, Slovak immigrants from Austria-Hungary.  He had four brothers and two sisters.  They were a hard-working family.  Upon graduation from high school he enlisted in the US Navy, joining three of his brothers for service in WWII.  He was deployed to Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois, where he requested to go seaborne and was assigned as a pharmacist’s mate to the USS Texas battleship, participating in the invasions at Normandy, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.

After returning from war Edward married on July 11, 1947 his high school sweetheart, Garnett Miller.  Together they happily raised a daughter Cathy, and a son Don.  He became a design draftsman in the engineering department at the U.S. Steel Irvin Works Plant, where he worked until retirement.  His drafting skills, lettering, and penmanship were superb.

As a family man Edward was an excellent handyman, meticulous with home maintenance and improvements.  He lovingly provided wife and children often with presents, places to go, and vacations.  He sacrificed for his children, and fostered in them the values of education, diligent work, and being good and respectful.  He was an excellent duckpin and tenpin bowler, bocce player, and devoted sports fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an avid golfer, achieving a Hole-in-One in retirement at Sun City West Arizona.  His family, friends, and all who knew him will remember his humility, kindness, and immediate willingness to help others and in the community.  He will be missed greatly.

Edward was preceded in death by his mother Mary, father George, all of his siblings, and his wife of more than 74 years, Garnett, who passed away just 24 days before him.  He is survived by his two children Cathy and Don, grandson Eddie, several nieces, and a nephew.

A funeral service with military honors will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona at 1:00 p.m., where the ashes of Edward and Garnett will be interred.  Donations may be sent to The American Legion or Department of Veterans Affairs.

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