James Richey Fitzgerald

James Richey Fitzgerald, 73, of Conneaut Lake, died Saturday, April 10, 1999 at Hamot Medical Center following a period of declining health.

He was born August 13, 1925 in Pittsburgh, a son of the late W. N. and Adella M. Harrison Fitzgerald.  He married Lois I. Laubaugh, April 6, 1974.  She survives.

He was a 1951 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering.  He was a veteran of the US Navy.  He was an apprentice seaman in 1942 advancing to Warren Gunner.  He served for 9 years in the Navy, both in World War II and the Korean Conflict with Pacific Destroyer duty.  He worked as a surveyor for Puget Sound and Pulp and Timber Co. of Bellington, WA.  He worked as a sales engineer for 12 years from 1951 to 1963 at the Fort Pitt Bridge, Pittsburgh.  He subsequently worked for the Bessmer Cement Co. as a highway sales engineer through 1976 and then became a maintenance supervisor for 13 years for the PA Dept. of Transportation, Crawford County until his retirement in 1989.  He was a 25 year member of the American Society of Highway Engineers.  He enjoyed life to the fullest following his retirement.

He was a member of Beulah Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Sharon L. Mitchell of North Versailles and Mary A. O'Connor-Weyel of Pittsburgh; one son, James B. Fitzgerald of Ontario, CA; one step-daughter, Alma L. Emminger of Gibsonia; one step-son, James W. Beyerl of Pittsburgh and six grandchildren, Eric Mitchell, Evan Mitchell, Dillon Emminger, Amanda Beyerl, Ashley Beyerl and Allyssa O'Connor.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Brian F. O'Connor.

Services were held with Waid-Coleman Funeral Home.