Joseph G. Grash Sr.

Joseph George Grash, Sr., 94, formerly of Dry Tavern, died on September 13, 2024, after a brief two-month illness at Evergreen personal care home in Waynesburg where he had lived for the past two years.

Born on October 12, 1929, Joe was the son of Martin and Lucy Grash. He served in the U.S. Army as part of a tank division during the Korean Conflict. After returning from overseas, he worked various blue-collar jobs in Florida and California before returning home to Pennsylvania. He retired from Accurate Forging in Brave.

On July 8, 1964, Joe married Betty (Piatt) Grash who died on July 11, 2014. They had four children, all surviving: Dr. Valerie Grash of Johnstown; Marlyn (Mike) Wise of Rotonda West, FL; Krystal (Brian) Smith of Holbrook (Rutan); and Joseph Grash, Jr. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Austin Smith of Sycamore and Samantha (Shawn) Whyte of Graysville and two great-granddaughters, Sailor and Scout Whyte of Graysville.

In addition to his wife Betty, Joe was preceded in death by two brothers, Leonard and Charles (Carl), and two sisters, Helen Suehowicz and Theresa Headley. Surviving are two sisters, Margie Pilie of Carriere, Mississippi and Mary Ann Russell of Brave, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Throughout his life, Joe enjoyed building and flying radio-controlled airplanes, and attending Brodak’s Fly-In many times. When his children were at home, he loved leading them on bike rides and long walks in nature on weekends, gathering and shelling walnuts, picking berries, and gathering mushrooms which Betty whipped up with scrambled eggs. He also enjoyed attending air shows and exploring historical sites and museums with his family. Known for his meticulous landscaping and lawn care, Joe enjoyed clipping his hedges and push mowing his grass until he was in his 80s. A special “thank you” to his neighbors Vinnie and Barry for taking over mowing Dad’s grass, getting his mail, and just being good neighbors.

There will be no public viewing or services. His cremated remains will be interred in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies.