Walter H. Whitford

Walter H. Whitford, 89, of Clarks Summit, died Thursday at Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton, after an illness. His wife was the former Mary Elizabeth Durkin, who died in 2005.

Born April 4, 1920, in Dalton, son of the late Edward and Sophie Siemenko Whitford Sr., he was raised in Dalton. He graduated from Waverly High School and attended the University of Scranton.

Serving in the Navel Air Force as a navigator during World War II, he was a lieutenant junior grade. He founded Ajax Pest Control in the 1950s; established a used-car lot in Eynon; owned a saloon at the Anthracite Hotel, Carbondale; and worked as a salesman for Metropolitan Life before retirement.

He was hard working all of his days and took stellar care of his beloved wife in the last years of her life. A lifelong New York Yankees fan and avid hunter, he loved the outdoors and enjoyed raising plants and flowers in his yard, keeping busy everyday until the last year of his life. Always there for his family, whatever they needed, he will be dearly missed.

Surviving are three children, Karen Loughney and husband, Jim, Virginia; Walter P., Clarks Summit; and Diane Lown and husband, Dana, Dalton; two grandchildren, Connor Loughney and Nicki Judge; many nieces and nephews.

He also was preceded in death by three brothers, Edward, William and Charles.

The family would like to thank his longtime physician, Dr. Bruce Ruppenthal, Moses Taylor Hospital and the Clarks Summit and Chinchilla fire and ambulance companies for their constant help and service.

The Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. from Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit. All those attending the funeral may go directly to the church. Interment will be in Cathedral Cemetery.

Friends may call Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit.