Steve Podroskey

Steve Podroskey, 90, of Scenery Hill, West Pike Run Township, died Monday, February 9, 2009, at Monongahela Valley Hospital.

He was born July 21, 1918 in Monongahela, a son of Martin and Susan Slebodnick Podroskey.

He was a graduate of Monongahela High School.

Steve joined the CCC's (the Civilian Conservation Corps) in 1939. His first placement was in New Mexico where the Corps did work to aid and improve land conditions for local ranchers. Later, after transferring to Montana, he served in Glacier National Park making improvements to the park and becoming the lead sergeant of a side camp in Glacier NP. Then in Oct. 1941, while still in the CCC's, he was recruited and volunteered into the US Army Air Corp. And the next four years he would serve with the US Army Air Corp. Steve took army training and duty stations in many states across the USA including Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Arizona. He was trained as an aircraft mechanic and armorer. Steve earned his silver aerial gunner's wings and was destined for combat duty in Europe, during WW II, as a ball-turret gunner. Staff Sergeant Podroskey was assigned, together with 9 other fliers to form a crew of a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber. Steve and crew were sent into action by 1944 and did fly bombing missions from Grottaglie Air Field, Italy. Steve flew more than 24 combat missions in the battles of Apennines, Po Valley, Rhineland and the Balkans as part of the 15th Air Force, 47th Bomb Wing, 449 Bomb Group, 717 Squadron, and known as "The Flying Horsemena€?. Steve earned and was awarded these service medals: World War II Medal, American Campaign Medal, American Defense Medal, European a€" African a€" Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and The Air Medal. Steve suffered ear and lung problems due to flying high altitude missions but remained very proud of his Army Air Corp service. He was a member of The 15th Air Force a€" 449 Bombardment Group Association. Also, years after the war, Steve helped bring his crew together in thoughts and spirit by writing a yearly newsletter he called The Bull-Turret. Steve would gather details of his surviving crewmembers activities and happenings and write the news in this yearly publication that was sent out as a 'Christmas present' to his crewmates. He would always include a special feature called "Out Of the Diarya€? which was an actual diary entry written during the time of their service together and recopied into the newsletter. Steve's crew enjoyed these gifts for the next 30 years. Prior to WW II, he was also an avid golfer, having spent his youth as a caddy and groundskeeper at Mon Valley Country Club for 35 cents a round and continued to pursue this hobby as an adult for years afterward. He also was a starter for Chippewa Golf Course, Bentleyville.

He was a carpenter by trade but in his retirement years he and his wife pursued country life on their small farm in Scenery Hill where he also enjoyed gardening and recycling metals. He was past president of the Mon Valley Coin Club and also served as a Captain in the 31st wing of the Pennsylvania Civil Air Patrol.

He enjoyed Western movies and donuts.

He was a member of Ave Maria Parish, Bentleyville.

On September 19, 1947 in Clarksville, he married Mary Dolores Paulick, who died March 20, 2007.

Surviving are three sons, Dave Podroskey (wife Mary Lou), Stefan Podroskey and Phillip Podroskey, all of Scenery Hill; a daughter, Roberta Williams (husband Nick) of Bentleyville; a brother, George Podroskey of Monongahela; a sister, Helen Bugar of Monongahela; two grandchildren, Brett Williams and Heather Podroskey and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased are two brothers, Andrew and Joseph Podroskey and a sister, Mary Ditta.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Thompson-Marodi Funeral Home, Inc., 809 Main Street, Bentleyville (724-239-2255), where a prayer service will be held at 9:30 a.m., Friday, February 13, followed at 10 a.m. by a Mass of Christian Burial at Ave Maria Church, Bentleyville with Rev. Gary W. Krummert, as celebrant. Interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery, Monongahela, with graveside military rites by American Legion Post 165, Bentleyville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Three Rivers Hospice, 1195 Jacks Run Road, North Versailles, PA 15137 or Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Drive, Pine Ridge, SD 57770. For those unable to attend, condolences can be sent at www.thompson-marodi.com.

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To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Steve Podroskey, please visit our floral store.