Samuel Wooster

Samuel Frederick “Ted” “Whitey” Wooster, 87, of Clearfield died on Monday, March 26, 2007 at Clearfield Colonial Courtyard.

He was born on February 27, 1920 in Karthaus, PA, a son of the late Mark G. and Mary (Hugar) Wooster.

Mr. Wooster went into the deep mines digging coal at the age of 15 with his older brother Rip. In 1939 he went to the C.C.C. Camp in Winslow, Arizona. In 1941 he continued to work in the deep mines and then went to Clarence and worked in the brickyard. He returned to Karthaus and worked in the strip mines in the Pottersdale, Philipsburg and Grassflat areas. In 1955 he joined the Operating Engineers Local 66, Pittsburgh and retired after 40 years of service as an operating engineer.

He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield, where he had served as an usher and greeter. He was a Third and Fourth Degree member of the Knight of Columbus, Clearfield Council #409. In addition, he was a member and past master of the Oak Hill Grange #717 of Karthaus, in which held several offices and a past master of the Pomona Grange No. 33. He was also a past President of the 7th Degree Club.
With his wife Ruth, he belonged to the Chinklacamoose Square Dance Club, Clearfield and the Traditional Square Dance Club. They also danced with Young of Heart Square Dancers, Clearfield.

A veteran of the US Army, he served during WW II and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Clearfield American Legion John Lewis Shade Post #6.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Catherina (Leigey) Wooster, whom he wed February 26, 1941, at St. Marys Catholic Church, Frenchville; two daughters, Billie Jean Steinback and husband Jerry of Weatherford, TX and Lois Ann Knepp and husband Daniel H. of Bigler; 8 grandchildren,
Jay, Tony, Scotty, Kim and Suzie Steinback, Don F. ‘Beaver’ Read, Gail Goss and Dale Read; 10 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Lester Eugene ‘Matt’ Wooster and wife Hope of Karthaus, Irvin ‘Boxy’ Wooster and wife Jessie of Karthaus and Donald ‘Weiss’ Wooster of Frenchville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson Billy Read, a great grandson Joey Steinback, three sisters, Margaret Reiter, Virginia Moore and Henrietta Goodyear and two brothers, Lavere ‘Rip’ Wooster and Chester Wooster.

Mass of Christian Burial will be said at St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield on Friday at 10:00 A.M. with Msgr. H. Desmond McGee, Jr. as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Calvary Cemetery, Clearfield.

Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the members of the Frenchville Leigey-Renaud Post No. 8386 Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard.

Friends will be received at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield on Thursday from 4-8:00 PM and on Friday from 9-9:30 AM.

A Christian Vigil Service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday at 3:45 PM.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield, 212 S. Front Street, Clearfield or the Clearfield Foundation for Health –Hospice, P.O. Box 992, Clearfield, PA.