HERMTAGE, Pennsylvania (MyValleyTributes) – David G. U’Halie, 82, loving husband, father and brother passed away Saturday, February 11, 2023, after emergency surgery at Allegheny General Hospital with his family at his side.

David was born to Nicholas G. and Helen (Skourn) U’Halie on September 12, 1940, in Sharon at the Christian H. Buhl Hospital.

He was raised in Sharon and graduated from Sharon High School class of 1959. David earned a B.S. in Sociology from Youngstown College in 1964 and his MSW in 1974 from Marywood College, Scranton, Pennsylvania. More significantly, it was at Marywood that David met his wife Ann. The two were married in South Amboy, New Jersey on July 19, 1975.

David worked mainly as a social worker for the Mercer County Adult and Juvenile Probation, the Youth Development Center in New Castle and later worked for Mercer County Children and Youth Services, from which he retired in 1998. Retirement didn’t dull David’s motivation to work for the betterment of the community; he worked in therapeutic staff support for MGC and was elected a Mercer County jury commissioner 2014-2017.

David received the sacraments of baptism and confirmation at St. Michael’s Byzantine Church. As a young adult and into his later years, he remained an active member of St. Joseph’s Church with multiple roles: Eucharistic minister, lector, CCD teacher, altar server at morning Mass and funerals, member of the parish council and bingo volunteer. He assisted with St. Joseph’s Troop 1 of the Boy Scouts of America and was presented the St. George Medal; given to those who have made significant contributions to the spiritual development of Catholic youth. Moving to Hermitage in 2020, he joined the Church of the Good Shepherd in West Middlesex.

As a member of the Sharpsville Service Club, David participated in the Santa program. This was his favorite time of the year giving him great joy to be able to share the spirit of Christmas with so many families and children.

He served as an officer and a Fourth Degree Knight for the Sharon Knights of Columbus Council 684. He was a member of the Shenango Valley Gardeners, Sharon Beautification Commission and former president of the Sharon Democrats.

David served multiple volunteer roles on Sharon’s Buhl Day committee through the ’80s and into the ’90s. He was Buhl Day co-chair in 1994, chairman in 1995 and was selected as a Buhl Day honoree in 2004. He volunteered for Waterfire Sharon from its inception in 2013 until 2022.

David loved to fish and rarely missed the first day of trout season. He was an avid golfer who belonged to several golf leagues over the years, at Tam O’Shanter golf course he was a ranger and starter and volunteered for the Warren LPGA.

David’s willingness for adventure took him and his family to stateside locations – following his daughter Taryn to Colorado, Virginia and New Orleans and spent time with relatives in Maryland, New Jersey, the Carolinas and Florida. Internationally he was very lucky to spend time in Mexico, Spain, Italy, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Canada and Germany.

David was preceded in death by his parents.

Surviving are his wife, Ann; daughter, Taryn of Fairfax, Virginia; sister, Lois (T. Scott) Campbell of Shenango Township; sisters-in-law, Patricia (Derrick) Durski of Belmar, New Jersey, Joan (Terry) Moran of West Long Branch, New Jersey and Carole Durski of Melbourne, Florida; brothers-in-law, Thomas (Mary) Durski of South Amboy, New Jersey and Michael (Mary) Durski of Vero Beach, Florida and several nieces and nephews.

David will be remembered for his spirit of volunteerism, his love of church and community, his smile, the annual Christmas letter and so much more.

Calling hours will be held Sunday, February 19, 2023, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., at J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 East State Street, Sharon.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, 79 Case Avenue, Sharon, on Monday, February 20, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Joseph’s  Church, 79 Case Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146, St. Jude Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or The American Heart Association, https://www.heart.org/donate.