Michael Edward Chorba

Michael Edward Chorba went home to the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 12. A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and member of the Greatest Generation, he died peacefully at age 93 at Geisinger Community Medical Center. His health had deteriorated over the past year due to congestive heart failure.

A lifelong resident of Throop, he was born on Oct. 1, 1924, the son of Stephen Chorba and Mary Gambal Chorba. In September 1950 he married his bride of 67 years, Mildred Polc Chorba, whom he knew from Throop High and dances at the Throop American Legion Hall.

Known both as "Mike" and "Ed," he attended Throop schools and experienced the joys and friendships of small-town life.

He had a strong work ethic. When he was 14, he lied about his age to get a driver's license, borrowed a truck, and hauled coal from the breaker to coal cars in Olyphant. He worked for Birdeye #2 and the Pompey Coal Co., and also for Cross Armor as an assistant miner's pay disburser.

He was a bus driver on the Greyhound Scranton-Washington, D.C. route, and worked for a Wilmington, Del., housing development with friends from home, but left when they were let go even though he was given a promotion. Delaware just wouldn't be fun without his buddies. And though he was never known to have had a sip of alcohol, he went into the bar business with his brother, Steven "Tubby" Chorba.

He played baseball and football at Throop High, and hit a few homers for the Red Robins, a farm team of the Philadelphia Athletics in Red Springs, N.C.

But his proudest moments were serving with the Sixth Marine Division of the Marine Corps on Okinawa. He witnessed the signing of the war's surrender agreement and had a love and respect for the Marine Corps.

When he came home from the war he eventually started Chorba Demolition for which he was best known.

The distant roads he travelled all led back to Throop. Losing his father at the age of 14, he felt responsible for the care of his widowed mom and siblings. His priorities were God, family and work, but he also loved music and theater, watching golf on TV, the Giants, and McDonald's where he regularly met with his pals in earlier years, and he especially loved the newest members of the family, Maine, Estella, Eddie and Addy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Mary Chorba; and uncle, Joseph J. Chorba, who was killed in WWI; by siblings who died before he was born, John (1911), Mary, Helen, Eva and Anna (1917) and Joseph (1924); and by his sister, Margret Mezick (Andrew); brother, Stephen A. Chorba (Anna Donson); and his cousin who was raised as his brother, Stephen Gambal.

He is survived by his children, Maryann Marshall and Michael Chorba (Linda); his grandsons, Michael Chorba (Kristina) and Matthew Chorba (Heather); and his great-grandchildren, Estella, Eddie and Addy Chorba.

He is also survived by Marlene, Marisa and Maine Pell, Jack Kalins, Alex Wyman, Dr. James and Mary Pat Mezick, Maggie and Mark Anderson, Katie, Nick, Bianca, Holly and Nicholas Farro, Betsy, Josh and Jane Pantesco, Stephen and Mary Chorba, and Brandon, Stephen, Karen, Kristen and Alissa Chorba; and several other nieces and nephews.

He was a humble and generous man who saw a lot in his life and did good things for a lot of people. You did great, Pop, your work is done. We will forever miss and love you. Semper Fi.

Mass of Christian Burial will be noon, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, in Blessed Sacrament Parish, 215 Rebecca St., Throop.

All those attending funeral please go directly to church.

Arrangements by the John F. Glinsky Funeral Home, Throop, Pa. Send online condolences to jfglinskyfuneralhome@gmail.com.