Frank Charles Gonos, 92, of West Mifflin, entered into eternal repose Monday, May 11, 2015, at Riverside Care Center in McKeesport. He was born Jan. 30, 1923, the 11th of 12 children of the late Joseph and Zuzana (Stashko) Gonos. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by Margaret Whalen in 2015; daughter, Genine (surviving husband, Nicholas) Bucsok, in 2014; nine brothers, Andrew, Peter, Michael, John, George, William, Stephen and two infant boys named, Jozef; two sisters, Marie Spiroff and Anne Relko; four nephews, Michael, James, Kenneth and Lester Gonos; and nieces, Pauline Spiroff Zeleznik and Alice Gonos Gallagher. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Esther Waligura-Gonos, of West Mifflin; sons, Daniel F. Gonos (Patricia), of Bloomfield, Mich., and Gerard M. Gonos (Gail), of Pinckney, Mich. He was the beloved grandfather of Kyle Gonos, Colin Bucsok and Max Gonos; and also father of Andrea (Edward) Wieszczynski, of Plum Borough, Mary Mayer, of St. Petersburg, Fla., Daniel Waligura, of North Versailles, Gregory Waligura, of McKeesport, and the late James Waligura (surviving wife, Judy), of Los Angeles, Calif. Other survivors include sister-in-law, Betty Gonos (spouse of George), of North Huntington; grandchildren, Danielle, Laura, Melanie, Joseph, Steven and Christopher; great-granddaughter, Chloe; along with numerous nephews and nieces. Frank graduated Duquesne High School in 1941. He served during World War II in the Army Air Corps as a marksman/tail gunner, and was honorably discharged. He retired from United States Steel National Works (USX) in McKeesport as a utilities analyst after 40 years of service. During his years at USX, he received awards for 46 paid suggestions, including one patent. He was a founding member of Holy Spirit Church, West Mifflin, a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, Duquesne/West Mifflin Council No. 4210, the General Beneficial Union (GBU) and the United Steelworkers of America, where he served as vice president of Local 2516. Frank was an amateur artist of wood and metal, having works featured at the Three Rivers Arts Festival and several others. Visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2015, and from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at the MALOY-SCHLEIFER FUNERAL HOME INC., 915 Kennedy Ave., Duquesne, William B. Schleifer, supervisor, and William Brian Schleifer, funeral director. A vigil celebration will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2015. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday by the Rev. Joseph R. Grosko, assisted by his son, the Rev. Mr. Daniel F. Gonos, at Holy Trinity Church, 529 Grant Ave. Extension in West Mifflin. Christian burial will subsequently take place at St. John Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery on Crooked Run Road in McKeesport with military honors. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to: St. Vincent de Paul Justice Initiative, 3000 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207.
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