LeVern L. “Barney” Erich, 99, and in this past July began his 100th year of life, of 1598 Rosely Road, St. Marys, entered into eternal rest surrounded by loving children and friend on Saturday, October 29, 2016, at Penn Highlands Elk, after a brief illness.
He was born July 11, 1917, in St. Marys, son of the late Louis and Molly Schaberl Erich. He was a lifelong resident of the area and attended St. Marys Catholic Schools.
Barney began his working career as an employee of the St. Marys Tannery for three years. He then worked at the St. Marys Brewery in the bottle house for three months and then at Speer Carbon in Plant Three for three months. He later went to work at Stackpole, working in the finish department. Barney was also an employee of the highway department and for the Federal Housing Project in Buffalo, NY for eight months. He was also a co-owner of the former Elk Building Materials and St. Marys Clay Products.
After the war, Barney formed Erich Brothers and bought lots and built houses for the soldiers coming home. They stick built homes until 1960 and then bought the brick yard on State Road and started St. Marys Precision Homes. He bought Bunker Hill and started Erich Development, where 123 houses were built.
In 1942, Barney bought his farm on Rosely Road, which he still farmed along with the farm on Eschbach Road, which houses the Black Angus cows he has raised for many years.
He was a member of the Queen of the World Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, and he loved spending time at his camp.
On March 4, 1935, in the St. Mary’s Church, he married Marie O’Dell, who preceded him in death on April 7, 1977.
Barney is survived by four daughters, Helen “Tubby” Rhines, JoAnn Dippold, Donna Roseberry, and Linda Mohr and her husband Bill, all of St. Marys; two sons, Vern “Oats” Erich and his wife Jen and Blaze Bauer and his wife Marilyn, both of St. Marys; 21 grandchildren; 5 step grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; 6 step great grandchildren; and 17 great, great grandchildren. He is also survived by his loving dog and man’s best friend, Pix.
In addition to his wife and parents, Barney was preceded in death by his longtime companion, Ruth “Toots” Nero, on November 30, 2013; his very special friend, Mary Bauer, on September 7, 2016; three sons-in-law, Robert Rhines, Richard “Dick” Dippold, and Herbert Roseberry; two grandchildren, Tammy Erich Fiedler and Scott Bauer; one great grandson, Dustin Fiedler; two sisters, Rose Marie Kerner and Ruth Erich; and by three brothers, Earl, Alfred, and Louis Erich. He was the last member of his immediate family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Queen of the World Church on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, at 10:00 AM, with the Rev. Richard Allen, Pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Visitation is at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Queen of the World Church, 134 Queens Road, St. Marys, PA 15857; the Hahne Regional Cancer Center, 100 Hospital Avenue, DuBois, PA 15801; or to the Community Nurses, Inc., 757 Johnsonburg Road, Suite 200, St. Marys, PA 15857.