Joseph A. Pikulski

Joseph A. Pikulski, 91, of Washington, died peacefully surrounded by his immediate family and caregivers, on Saturday, October 25, 2008, at Southminster Place assisted living facility of Presbyterian Senior Care. He was born November 2, 1916, in Carnegie, a son of George and Sophia Delamata Pikulski. His childhood years were spent in the Burgettstown area. On February 7, 1942, he married his childhood sweetheart, Helen Krocsko, who survives. He first walked her home when she was 12 years old and they have been inseparable partners since then. Mr. Pikulski was a professional soldier for 23 years, during which time he held a variety of command and staff positions in the United States, Germany, Japan, and Korea. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1939 and rose to the rank of Major. He served in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. Major Pikulski earned the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Korean Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Badge, United Nations Service Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. He retired from active duty in 1962. Following his retirement from the military, he worked as an electronics technician at Princeton University until 1980. Since that time, he has lived in Washington, where he remained active in Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of the American Legion, VFW post 927, and the Retired Officers’ Association. He also enjoyed gardening, bowling, mall walking and handyman projects. He was a member and elder of Third United Presbyterian Church in Washington. In addition to his wife, also surviving are a sister, Agnes Backner of Washington, two brothers, Bernard (Patricia) of Burtonsville, Maryland and Edward of Garwood, Texas; a niece, Rosemary (Ed) Guna of McMurray; and several other nieces and nephews. Deceased are two brothers, Leonard and Theodore; and two sisters, Marian Mrockowski and Mildred Bennett. Friends will be received 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 29th, with Pastor Gary Gibson officiating. Military rites will be accorded at the funeral home by Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 of the American Legion. Private burial will be held in Grandview Cemetery, Florence. Memorial donations may be made to Family Hospice, 50 Moffett Street, Pittsburgh PA 15243 (412-572-8800) or to a charity of the donor’s choice.