Eugene Richard "Rich" Topeka, 74, of Blairsville, PA passed away peacefully from this life on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at his home, with his loving family at his side after a short but courageous battle with cancer.A son of Charles and Julia M. (Virgili) Topeka, he was born November 1, 1937 in Ligonier Twp., PA.Richard lived most of his growing up years in Wilpen, PA. He graduated from Ligonier High School, class of 1956. He began his career in the grocery business, spanning 41 years, at the Blairsville A&P store and was the assistant manager when it closed. He became a partner in the Cozy Corner Coffee Shop, now the Fox's Pizza location, Blairsville. He was then employed by Shop'n Save, working in the Indiana and Blairsville stores, until his retirement in 1998.He was an avid bowler, bowling in the Monday Night Men's league and the Friday Seniors league at Lincoln Lanes, Latrobe, and the Tuesday Night No Tap league at Mohawk Lanes, Indiana.Richard loved spending time with his grandkids and family. He enjoyed watching the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins play, playing poker with family and going to the casino, meeting with his Ligonier classmates and snoozing with his special buddy, Duke.He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.He was a member of SS Simon & Jude Roman Catholic Church, Blairsville; the First Catholic Slovak Union of USA and Canada; Jednota; Sokol Club; Italian Club and U.T.C.W. International.He married the love of his life and soul mate, Mary Ellen Simoncini on June 27, 1959. They resided in Blairsville almost all of their married life. Besides his wife of 53 years, Mary Ellen, he is survived by his children, a son, Richard D. (Shari Guile) Topeka of Homer City; a daughter, Darcie (Richard) Dickson of Blairsville; his five grandchildren, Michael, Emily and Megan Topeka and Alex and Andrew Dickson; his sister, Charlene (William) Shank of Ligonier; sister-in-law, Carol Lash of Blairsville; brother-in-law, Ray Simoncini of Blairsville; his special aunts and uncle, Jeannie Carr, Leonard and Brigitte Virgili and Ann Virgili and his loving nieces, nephews and cousins.He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Dennis Eugene in 1960; an infant brother, Roger Andrew in 1946; his grandparents, Julia and Andrew Topeka and Amedio and Venetta Virgili; sisters-in-law, Edith McClelland and Victoria Simoncini and his in-laws, Roy and Ellen Simoncini.The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Friday at the Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc., 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville, PA where a Wake service will be held at 8:30 P.M. Friday. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Saturday at SS Simon & Jude Roman Catholic Church, Blairsville, with Fr. Chester J. Raimer as celebrant.Interment will be in SS Simon & Jude Cemetery, Blairsville, PA.In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Richard's memory to Excela Health Home Care and Hospice, 134 Industrial Park Road, Suite 1600, Greensburg, PA 15601 or to the SS Simon & Jude Building Fund.
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