Walter D. Lonick

Saturday, December 19, 1998

Walter D. Lonick

Guard for JFK during presidential campaign
Walter D. Lonick, 79, of Atlasburg, died Thursday, December 17, 1998, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, after a lengthy illness.

He was born January 29, 1919, in Bulger, a son of Charles and Anna Ostroski Lonick.
Prior to retirement in 1975, Mr. Lonick was an assistant superintendent for the state Department of Transportation in Washington. In his earlier years, he was assigned to protect candidate John F. Kennedy during the presidential election. He also served as Smith Township constable and justice of the peace.
Mr. Lonick served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged following service in Panama. During World War II, he re-enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving under Gen. Clare Chenault, flying in the China-Burma-India Theater.
He was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, Burgettstown.
He was a charter member of Fischer-Lonick Post 6490 in Atlasburg and Raccoon Valley Sportsmen Club, and a member of Burgettstown Senior Citizens, SNPJ and Society of Highway Engineers.
On June 27, 1948, he married Josephine Baic, who survives.
Also surviving are four sons, Gregg and Robert, both of Slovan, Dean of Lowell, Mich., and Richard of McMurray; a daughter, Marsha Buyny of Moon Township, a brother, Anthony Lonick of Ocala, Fla.; two sisters, Shirley Capozzoli of Weirton, W.Va., and Laura Robb of Virginia; seven grandchildren, Saundra J., Elizabeth Anne, Amanda Sue, Joseph Dean-Walter, Nicole Lynn and Bryanna Jo Lonick and Krysten Buyny; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are five brothers, Henry, John, Charles, Chester and Stanley Lonick; and two sisters, Betty Vajentic and Josie Dunkovich.