Charles Cruny, 72, of Avella, died at 8:50 p.m. Thursday, January 22, 1998, in Washington Hospital. Mr. Cruny was a lifelong resident of Avella. He was a member of St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, American Legion Bert C. Siders Post 643, Polar Star Mutual Benefit Society, the SNPJ Lodge No. 292, Avella Sportsmen Association, the Cross Creek Valley Senior Citizens, the Avella Volunteer Fire Department, AARP, the Moose Lodge No. 1564 of Wellsburg, W.Va., and Eagles No. 1891 of Elm Grove, W.Va. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy as a boatswain's mate, second class, on the USS Menifee, which was involved in many amphibious landings. He enjoyed coaching Little League baseball. He was employed as a coal miner and was a foreman at the Valley Camp Coal Co. of Triadelphia, W.Va. In his last 12 years of employment, he worked as a federal mine inspector. He became disabled in 1985. On July 2, 1947, he married Mary Bernardi, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Charles of Washington; a daughter, Rosemary Rush of Avella; four grandchildren, Michael and Tonya Cruny and Donald and Charles Rush; two brothers, Anthony Cruny of Avella and George Cruny of San Francisco, Calif.; a sister, Mary Cruny of Burgettstown; and many nieces and nephews. Deceased are five brothers, John, Michael, Andrew, Joseph, and Nicholas Cruny; and a sister, Ann Rupnik. Copyright ©1998 Observer Publishing Co.Last updated Saturday, January 24, 1998Charles Cruny
WW II veteran and former coal miner
He was born August 1, 1925, in Colliers, W.Va., a son of John and Mary Najolic Cruny.