Andrew Kotora

Andrew Kotora, 87, of Washington, died Monday, July 7, 2008, in his home. He was born October 5, 1920, in Van Voorhis, a son of Michael and Barbara Matay Kotora, and grew up in Monessen with two brothers and three sisters. Mr. Kotora was a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Forces navigating a B24 in the South Pacific. On his return to the states, he met a beautiful girl in a bowling alley near the base in Lakeland, Florida. He and Marjorie Sweat were married six weeks later, July 20, 1945, and loved each other dearly to the end. After the war, they moved to Washington, Pennsylvania, and settled down to raise four children. For 35 years, Mr. Kotora worked for IBM repairing business computers. He served as an elder of the Washington Church of Christ for many years. Mr. Kotora was a kind and good man, a loving husband and father, and a man of great integrity and great warmth, respected everywhere he went. He could figure out how to build and fix just about anything, and he loved his garden, especially tomatoes. Mr. Kotora passed on to his kids a love of classical music and the joy of reading. When he was not working hard, he loved to play cards with family and friends or to work crossword puzzles. Right to the end he�d make silly faces and laugh with his family. He will be greatly missed. Surviving are his wife, Marjorie; sister, Barbara Tomocik of New Mexico; brother, Joseph Kotora of Memphis, Tennessee; children, Andrea Kotora at home, Tim and Robin Kotora of Nashville, Tennessee, Jenny and Jeff Lynch of Apex, North Carolina, Gail Kotora of Nashville, and Betsy Kotora of Hundred, West Virginia; grandsons, Sean and Jeremy Kotora, Chris and Nick Lynch, Tanner Kotora and Jason Lauze. He was preceded in death by a son, Lanny Kotora; a brother, Michael; and two sisters, Ann Torkos and Sue Linski. Friends will be received Tuesday, July 15th from 5 till 6:30 p.m., the hour of service, in Church of Christ, 700 Allison Avenue, Washington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Albert Gallatin Hospice, 275 Meadowland Boulevard, Washington PA 15301. Arrangements are being handled by William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington.