Edward S. Dera

Edward S. Dera, 90, of Charleroi, passed away Thursday, May 1, 2008, in The Washington Hospital. He was the son of the late Stanley and Wlada Niewiadomy Dera. He retired as a foreman from Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel after 41 years of service. Mr. Dera proudly served during World War II as an Airplane Maintenance Technician (Crew Chief) with the 1040th Army Air Force Unit and flew as an Aerial Engineer on B-25 bombers in Tunisia, India, Burma, Egypt and Libya. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ruth Good Dera; three sons, Thomas E. Dera and wife Sharon, of Ft. Worth, Texas, John M. Dera, of Redlands, Calif., and Edward D. Dera, of Charleroi; one daughter, Rebecca L. Ulrich of Kinsman, Ohio; five grandchildren, Nathan and Justin Dera, Rachael Klim, and Bethany and Kate Ulrich; two great-grandchildren, Cody Kemper Day and Jacob Michael Dera; two sisters, Stella Zilavetz, of New Jersey, and Irene Jasinski, of Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Zigmund and Chester Dera; nephew, Raymond William Dera; and four children, Susan J. Dera and triplets Barbara A., Deborah A. and Patricia A. Dera. Friends will be received Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the ED MELENYZER FUNERAL HOMES INC., 825 Fallowfield Ave., Charleroi, where a funeral service will be held Monday, May 5, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. David Dzermejko officiating. Interment will follow in Grandview Cemetery, Monessen.