Anthony "Tony" Popovich, 85, WWII U.S. Navy Veteran

He was born June 13, 1918 in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania and had been a resident of Lorain for many years.

Mr. Popovich was a graduate of Lorain High School as a member of the 1936-B Class. He later attended the Niagara School of Speech and Psychology, the Cleveland Art School, Penn College (Industrial Division), and Lorain County Community College.

He was a World War II Veteran, serving aboard a destroyer escort in Okinawa and the South Pacific.

Anthony was employed as a Service Engineer for the American Crucible Company retiring in 1982, following forty-three years of service.

Mr. Popovich was an active parishioner of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister after being commissioned in 1987. He also served as a Rector there and was directly active in the Cursillo Movement, which was a course in Christianity.

Anthony played baseball professionally in Orlando, Florida and Kinston, North Carolina; a member of the Oberlin Golf Club, he also enjoyed writing and was proud to have had one of his short stories- Sea Shell Shall Tide No More published in the Times of Your Life, Cleveland.

He was also instrumental in organizing and hosting luncheons for the retired associates of American Crucible for many years.

He is survived by his sons: David of Massillon, and Daniel of Lorain; daughters: Ruth Popovich of North Ridgeville and Susan Dineen of Minneapolis, Minnesota; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sisters: Helen Mitro of Martinez, Georgia, and Irene Dombrowski of Lorain.

Preceding him in death was his wife: Lillian (nee Hodkey) in 1988; and his parents: George and Helen (nee Salata) Popovich.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel; 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain. Funeral services will be Thursday beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral chapel and will be followed by a funeral mass at 10 a.m. in Nativity B.V.M. Catholic Church; 1454 Lexington Ave., Lorain. The Reverend Robert Glepko, pastor of the parish will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.