Bert Samuels of Oil City passed quietly in his sleep Wednesday night.
He was born Jan 11, 1917 in Detroit, Michigan, as the son of Adolf and Ida (Krow) Samuels and spent his developmental years in the McKeesport and Pittsburgh Areas until joining the Army Air Corps during WWII where he became a staff sergeant aircraft mechanic.
During the war he was introduced to Shiphrah Magdovitz (deceased) and they wed in 1946 and shortly thereafter moved to Oil City.
He was a traveling salesman in the clothing industry, and also was the manager of Mogilowitz’s clothing store. After his regular retirement he worked with his son, Allen, who owned Sam Magdovitz & Co.
Bert was very active in the leadership and congregation of the Tree of Life Synagogue, former President of the local Bnai Brith chapter, and former Commander of the Carnick/Cohen/Magdovitz chapter of the Jewish War Veterans.
He had been also been a leader in the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of American Legion and Moose Club.
At the age of 82 he joined the “Over-55″ softball league, becoming the oldest man to ever join the league.
In recent years he was active in the Silver Sneakers program at the YMCA and an avid participant in the McDonald’s morning gentlemen’s gathering group. Bert was very easy going and known for being a very likeable, sincerely caring individual; it will impossible to find anyone who knew him who didn’t like him.
He is survived by his younger son Allen who lived with him in the original family homestead that he purchased in 1952 and by his older son Sam (wife Judith); three granddaughters, Rachael, Nicole, and Abigail; two step grandsons, Yitchak and Daniel; a stepdaughter, Rus and her husband Ariel; and six great grandchildren.
He also leaves behind an extended family that will miss him greatly, including many nieces, nephews and their families and last, but certainly not least, his very special companion dog Rocky who will be the equivalent of 105 years old in August.
Funeral services will be held in the Morrison Funeral Home at 12 noon Friday.
Interment will follow at the Tree of Life Cemetery in Titusville.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Humane Society or American Legion.
Please visit the Tribute Wall at www.morrisonhome.com to share a memory or leave a condolence.