Frank Gloden Obituary

Frank Gloden Jr., 89, of Plum, died Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, at home. He was born Oct. 19, 1917, in Creighton, son of the late Frank and Anna (Slukis) Gloden. Mr. Gloden lived in the New Kensington/Plum areas all of his life. Mr. Gloden served nearly six years in the U.S. Army, including three years in the South Pacific during World War II as a mechanic and heavy machine gunner. He was a member of the 925th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, which saw action on Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Green and Bougainville Islands during the Northern Solomons and Bismarck Archipelago campaigns. His numerous awards and medals include two Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II and the Marksman Badge with riffle bar. After the war, Mr. Gloden worked as a boiler repairman at the Springdale Power Station of West Penn Power Company for 34 years. In June 2002, he was recognized with an honorary diploma from Burrell High School in appreciation of his military service. He also received special citations from the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the United States House of Representatives. He was a member of Logans Ferry Presbyterian Church in Parnassus, the VFW Post 92 of Lower Burrell, Eagles, Elks Lodge #512 and the Seventh Street Sportsmen's Club, all of New Kensington. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou (Clark) Gloden; brother, Michael Gloden; and three sisters, Katherine Tomlin, Mary McCloskey and Anna Clark. He is survived by three sons, Earl (Paulette) Gloden, of Emmitt, Mich., Mark (Katharine) Gloden, of Raleigh, N.C., and David Gloden, of Plum; three grandchildren, Erin (R.J.) Bowen, Earl Gloden Jr. and Robert Gloden, all of Michigan; and three great-grandchildren, Nicholas Bowen, Tyler Bowen and Veronica Bowen, all of Michigan. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the JOSEPH J. CARDARO FUNERAL HOME, a service oriented funeral home, 1125 Kenneth Ave., New Kensington, PA 15068, 724-337-3325, where services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday with Pastor Robert Henry, of Logans Ferry Presbyterian Church, Parnassus, officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell.