P. Miller Lydick

Ordained minister and funeral director. P. Miller Lydick, 84, of Washington, died unexpectedly Sunday, July 30, 2006, in his home. He was born May 10, 1922, in Atlasburg, a son of Charles Percy and Margaret Isabelle Miller Lydick. He was a member of Evangelical Friends Church in Damascus, Ohio. Mr. Lydick was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He served during World War II in the European Theater, the 14th Field Artillery Observation Battalion in England, France, Belgium and Germany. He was discharged May 9, 1946, as first sergeant at Ft. Meade, Md. He enlisted in the Army Reserve at Ft. Meade the same day. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and a first lieutenant and was discharged in 1956. He attended Atlasburg Elementary School and Union High School, Burgettstown, graduating in May 1940. He attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 1940 to 1941. He graduated from Nyack Bible College, Nyack, N.Y., in 1952, and Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1973. He was an announcer for WJPA from 1947 to 1950 and founder of Light in the Valley radio ministry in 1952. Mr. Lydick was an ordained minister and evangelist for Evangelical Friends Church, headquartered in Canton, Ohio. He began his ministry in 1950. He was a licensed funeral director, starting in the profession in 1942. He had been employed at A. Blaine Day Funeral Home, Abel Funeral Home and William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd. He was a 50-year member of Sunset Lodge 623, F&AM, former member of Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh as a 32nd degree Mason, Washington Royal Arch Chapter 150, Washington Council 1, Jacque DeMolay Commandery 3, Lions Club of Washington and George Washington Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution. Surviving are a son, Michael (Peggy) Daniels of McMurray; a daughter, Michele "Marty" Alderson of Pittsburgh; a sister, Jean Hanas of Washington; and two grandchildren, Nathan and Abigail Daniels. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 2, with the Rev. Neal Rodgers officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded by Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of the American Legion.