Person Page - 1189

Charles Henry Davidson¹

• Last Edited: 7 Feb 2010

• Charles Henry Davidson was born in 1901.¹
• He married an unknown person in 1930, PA.¹
• He married Ellen Vertie Klinger, daughter of Edwin Guerney Klinger and Dorsey Angeline Williard, in 1930, PA.¹
• Charles Henry Davidson died in 1953, PA.¹

Martin Van Buren Stewart¹

• Last Edited: 17 Nov 2009

• Charts: Descendants of Peter Klinger

• Martin Van Buren Stewart was born on 20 September 1923, Bloomsburg, Columbia Co., PA.¹
• He died on 25 December 2005, Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA, at age 82.¹
• He was buried on 8 January 2006, at San Juan Valley Cemetery, San Juan Island, WA.¹

Andrew J. Drebitko III¹

• Last Edited: 18 Feb 2024

• Charts: Descendants of Peter Klinger

• Andrew J. Drebitko III was born on 3 February 1985, Reading, Berks County, PA.²
• He was the son of Andrew Joseph Drebitko Jr. and Michele Marie Leonard.^1,2
• Andrew J. Drebitko III died on 1 May 2006, Union County, PA, at age 21.¹
• He was buried on 4 May 2006, at Schuylkill Memorial Park, North Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA.²

• Father*: Andrew Joseph Drebitko Jr.¹
• Mother*: Michele Marie Leonard²

Andrew J. Drebitko Sr.¹

• Last Edited: 18 Feb 2024

• Charts: Descendants of Peter Klinger

• Andrew J. Drebitko Sr. was born on 29 September 1927, Branchdale, Schuylkill County, PA.^2,1
• He was the son of Michael Drebitko and Suzanna Urban.²
• Andrew J. Drebitko Sr. married Dorothy Ellen Klinger, daughter of Clinton John Klinger and Margaret Rachael Sykes, on 2 July 1950, SS Peter and Paul Church, Minersville, Schuylkill County, PA.^3,1
• Andrew J. Drebitko Sr. died on 24 June 2010, Lehigh Valley Hospital at age 82.²
• Newspaper obituary:
  Andrew J. Drebitko Sr.
  June 24, 2010
  Andrew J. "Andy" (Red) Drebitko Sr., 82, pilot and miner, of West West Terrace, "flew west" on Thursday from Lehigh Valley Hospital after a brief hospital stay.
  Born on School Row in Branchdale, Sept. 29, 1927, he was a son of the late Michael and Suzanna Urban Drebitko.
  Andy's passions were many; his careers extensive. Proud to be a second generation coal miner, Andy was a founding member of the Independent Miners Association and instrumental in creating the first anthracite underground coal miner rescue team. He was a past member of the Pennsylvania Anthracite Mine Foreman Examining Board.
  Most notably he was "Mr. X," the volunteer who descended through a bore hole to search for a missing miner as the world news followed the Sheppton mine disaster in 1963. Although seeking to remain anonymous, his identity was soon revealed by the extensive worldwide news coverage of the accident. Andy was known for his volunteer efforts for all fellow miners and their families and was recognized with numerous awards and citations by such organizations as the Schuylkill County Airport Authority, Media Lions, Media PA, ASUR Man of the Year, and he was even recognized in song. He was appointed to President Carter's National Coal Council.
  Flying was his passion. Andy was co-owner of and chief pilot for King Coal Aviation, which was the first fixed-based operator at the Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport. A certified flight instructor, Andy had the pleasure of shepherding countless students to become licensed pilots. As a charter pilot, he was known by many as their pilot to many destinations.
  In 2008, Andy was awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration with the prestigious Wright Brothers "Master Pilot" award, recognizing 50 years of dedicated service in aviation safety.
  He was a member of the "QB's" one of the oldest pilot organizations in existence, and accumulated more than 15,000 hours of safe flying in a wide variety of aircraft. He was the owner of many different airplanes and flew into all regions of North America and was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
  Andy attended school in Reilly Township and was the owner of various coal companies and the former Drew Development Co.
  Andy developed and implemented one of the first successful processes to extinguish mine and refuse pile fires. The company continued to extinguish many fires that dotted the anthracite area landscape and expanded into general excavating and surface mining operations.
  Andy was of the Catholic faith and was a member of the former St. Mary, Star of the Sea parish in Branchdale.
  He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Minersville Legion.
  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved grandson, Andrew J. "AJ" Drebitko III; brothers, Michael, Joseph and John; sisters, Mary Hiller and Helen White.
  Surviving are his wife, Dorothy with whom he would have celebrated 60 years of marriage July 2; a daughter, D.
  Sharon Drebitko Kolenick, wife of Leo Kolenick, West West Terrace; a son, Andrew J. Drebitko Jr., married to his favorite daughter-in-law, Michele Leonard Drebitko, Minersville; grandchildren, Laurie Drebitko Marks, wife of Harold J. Marks III, West West Terrace, Heather Drebitko and Jonathan Drebitko; a great-grandson, Harold J. "Mel" Marks IV; sisters, Margret "Midge" Renninger, wife of Clyde Renninger, Branchdale, Susan Fisher, wife of Duane Fisher, Bradentown, Fla., and Ann Bartholomew, wife of the late George Bartholomew; nieces and nephews.
  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Monday from St. Matthew the Evangelist Church, Minersville. The Rev Leo Maletz will officiate. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 7 a.m.until the time of service Monday at Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc., 104 S. Fourth St., Minersville. Interment will be in Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven, with a planned airplane fly-by. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Andy's precious AJ Drebitko Memorial Fund, c/o the funeral home. Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc., Minersville, has charge.
  Republican and Herald, June 26, 2010, Page A9.²
  
• He was buried at Schuylkill Memorial Park, North Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA.^4,2

• Father*: Michael Drebitko²
• Mother*: Suzanna Urban²