Elijah Gauden

Elijah T. Gauden Jr., 85, of Roscoe, passed away peacefully Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, in St. Clair Hospital. Born March 16, 1928, in Rosedale, Pa., he was the son of the late Jessie (David) and Elijah T. Gauden Sr. In 1974, he proudly graduated third in his class from the PA State Police Academy and was a World War II veteran, having proudly served his country in the Army Air Corp. A longtime resident of Roscoe, he was a member of the Roscoe United Methodist Church, served as the Roscoe chief of police for 28 years, and on the Roscoe Street Commission for 30 years. Mr. Gauden also served as the last chief of police in Newell, was a deputy sheriff with the Washington County Sheriff's Department and worked in the security division of Hamot Hospital in Erie. He retired in 1990 from the New Haven Terminal in Connecticut as an inventory specialist. Left to cherish the many wonderful memories are five daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and John Palfrey, Bonnie and Bill Hotz, Janet and Wayne Cox, Bridget Gauden, and Denise and Jerry Fink; three sons, Samuel, Gary and James Gauden; 17 grandchildren, Robert and Shawn McGarry, Pamela Drylie, Heather and Neil Palfrey, Sarah Anderson, Steven and William Hotz Jr., Kellie Goodman, Kenneth Jacobs, Katie Stankus, Steven, Justin, Michael and Matthew Gauden, and Justin and Amey Fink; 12 great-grandchildren, Jeffrey, Michael, Keenan, Caitlyn and Liam McGarry, Courtney and Jeremy Drylie, Nicole, Varian, James, Cohen and Cooper Hotz; three great-great grandchildren, Oliver, Jonas and Peyton McGarry; three brothers, Ira, Albert and Sidney Gauden; and a son-in-law, Robert McGarry. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret (Bell) Gauden; daughter, Wanda McGarry; granddaughter, Carrie Ann; brothers, Houston, James and George Gauden; and sisters, Anna Marie Gordon and Jessie Watkins. Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the MELENYZER-DuBARR FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATION SERVICES INC., 1008 Furlong Ave., Roscoe, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 30., with Pastor Brian Carroll presiding. Interment will follow in Howe Cemetery, Coal Center. American Legion Post 801 will conduct their service in the funeral home 7 p.m. Sunday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Roscoe United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 507, Roscoe, PA 15477-0507.