Alex “Zike” Solan, 91 of Smithmill, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 at the Tyrone Hospital. Born March 16, 1922, he was the son of the late Metro and Nancy (Bihun) Solan.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and worked as a carpenter and coal miner, retiring from Bethlehem Coal Company, Ebensburg. He was a lifelong parishioner of St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Smithmill.
He was also a member of the Stephen Kandrach VFW Post No. 6321 and the UMWA Ebensburg Local. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and also enjoyed riding his four-wheeler and watching the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies baseball teams.
He wed the former Virginia M. Delfosse on July 7, 1951 in St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Smithmill. She preceded him in death on Nov. 11, 2004.
He’s survived by his son, Alex E. “Ike” Solan and his wife, Rita of Allmansville; two grandchildren, Christine Fritton and her husband, Tim and Jason Solan; a great-granddaughter, Hadley Virginia Fritton; a sister-in-law, Marie Hemmis of Janesville; a brother-in-law, William Snyder of Irvona; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was the last of his generation and is preceded in death by his parents and wife; two sisters, Mary Pajonk and Ann Shedlock; and four brothers, Wasco “Soley” Solan, Steve “Staff” Solan, Frank “Perch” Solan and John “Butch” Solan.
Friends will be received from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Monday at the Kruise Funeral Home Inc., 2550 Union St., Ramey, and from 9 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Tuesday. Parastas will be sung at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Prayers of Transferal will be sung at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. in St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Smithmill, with Fr. Paul Bigelow officiating.
Burial will be in the St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Ramey.
Condolences may be sent to: condolences@kruisefuneralhome.com.