Thomas J. Terputac

The Honorable Judge Thomas J. Terputac, 87, of Washington, died Thursday, June 26, 2014, in the emergency room of Washington Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born January 11, 1927, in Fayette County and was raised in Muse, Cecil Township, a son of the late John and Catherine Gerich Terputac.
Judge Terputac was a member of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, where he was involved as president of council of the church from 1977 to 1978 and served as a lector/commentator.
He attended Cecil Township schools, graduating with honors from Cecil Township High School in 1945. Shortly after, he entered the U.S. Army. After basic training in Camp Robinson, Ark., he served with the Army of Occupation in the Infantry in Germany during World War II, until his honorable discharge October 31, 1946. For his service, he received the Army of Occupation Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
Judge Terputac was a 1950 graduate of Duquesne University and a 1953 graduate of University of Pittsburgh School of Law, having received the scholastic honors of Order of the Coif and Law Review Board.
He was a past president of American Red Cross of Washington (1956-1959); district governor (1962-1963) and international vice president (1965-1966) of Optimist International and board president of Legal Aid Society (1977-78). He was a member of Cecil American Legion Post 793 and a member of the Washington BPOE Elks Lodge 776. He served as past president of Washington County Bar Association, assistant district attorney (1956-1959) and attorney examiner of the state Public Utility Commission (1961-1975).
Judge Terputac was the first lawyer of Slavic heritage to be elected to the Washington County bench. He practiced law for 21 years as a trial lawyer. He was appointed to the bench in 1978, elected in 1979 and was serving as senior judge since his retirement in 1997. He was the author of "A Handbook of English Usage: A Guide for the Bench and Bar," published in 1989. He developed this practical guide for members of the legal profession as a valuable reference for precise language in the application and interpretation of law.
On April 30, 1949, he married Carol Ptak Terputac, who survives.
Also surviving are three daughters, Leslie Grenfell of Monongahela, Pamela (Sheldon) Bogos of Canonsburg and Sally (David) Reilly of Imperial; a son, Alan (Ann DeBolt) Terputac of Imperial; a sister, Barbara (Harvey) Davis of South Hills; four grandchildren, Ryan (Jessie) Bogos, Brittany (Derek) Samples, Alex Reilly and Jenna Reilly; twin great-grandchildren, Zoey and Carter Bogos; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in Warco-Falvo Funeral Home Inc., Wilson at East Katherine avenues, Washington, S. Timothy Warco, supervisor/director, Susan Falvo Warco, director, S. Timothy Warco II, director, where a prayer service will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, Washington, with the Rev. William P. Feeney, as celebrant. Burial will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Peters Township. Full military rites will be accorded by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 and the U.S. Army.
Memorial contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception Church, 119 West Chestnut Street, Washington, PA 15301, or American Heart Association.
Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com.