Andrew Joseph Lovrencic

Universal Cyclops retiree was veteran of WWII. Andrew Joseph Lovrencic, 86, of Washington, died at 9:11 p.m. Thursday, March 2, 2006, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. He was born May 25, 1919, in Washington, a son of Anthony and Frances Zupancic Lovrencic. His stepfather was Abyjias Logay. Mr. Lovrencic worked at Universal Cyclops in Bridgeville from 1935 to 1941 and from 1948 until his retirement in 1980. He served with Company A, 644th Tank Battalion in Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland. He earned the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, Bronze Star Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He received a Purple Heart for injuries received September 16, 1944, in Brest, France. Mr. Lovrencic attended Mt. Hermon Baptist Church in Amity. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 927, SNPJ Lodge 138, Disabled American Veterans and Purple Heart Association. Mr. Lovrencic enjoyed giving to Washington City Mission and Salvation Army. He played the button box and, for many years, he and lifelong friend Russell Podboy entertained in the Washington area. Mr. Lovrencic enjoyed flea markets and yard sales. On October 7, 1950, he married Artalissia June McCartney Beatty, who died September 26, 1999. Surviving are a son, Robert H. Beatty of Wewahitchka, Fla.; three daughters, Lois Jean Beatty Anthony of Washington, June Darlene Beatty (Victor) Bober of Washington and Ruth Ilene Beatty (Kenneth) Anthony of Durham, N.C.; two sisters, Anna Logay (Joseph) Banich of Indianapolis, Ind., and Aloysia Logay of Washington; 18 grandchildren, Rhory, Shelley, Van, Wendy, Greg, Michael and Kimberly Anthony, Jeffrey and Mark Bober, Robert, Tammy, Andy and Donald Beatty, Artalissa Dunn, Rachael Brower, Marguerite Cannella, Bonnie Hernandeze and Becky Norris; 38 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Deceased are a daughter, Artilissia Beatty; a grandchild, Margie Cain; sisters Mary Lovrencic Chunko, Frances Lovrencic, Julia Lovrencic Bukoski and Elizabeth Lovrencic Yemiola; and a brother, Anthony Lovrencic. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, with the Rev. Rick Futrell and the Rev. Bob Bytner officiating. Entombment will follow in Washington Cemetery Mausoleum.