Edward "Ned" Vincent McElhinny

     Edward “Ned” Vincent McElhinny passed away on Thursday, December 4, at the age of 91. He had suffered a fall the previous day and was surrounded by his loving family at the time of his passing.

     Edward “Ned” Vincent McElhinny was born on May 1, 1934, in Homestead (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, to Edward Joseph and Mary Gertrude (Murphy) McElhinny. He was one of 10 children in a proud Irish Catholic family.

     In 1945, the day after his eleventh birthday, Ned’s family relocated to The Farm in Hartstown, PA, on the corner of Livingston and Linesville Roads. He enrolled at Jamestown Schools, and it was there that Ned met many of his lifelong friends.

     Ned graduated from Pymatuning Joint High School in 1952. Immediately after graduation, he worked as a laborer at Shenango Steel Mill. In September 1954, Ned volunteered for the U.S. Army. He completed ten weeks of basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and then was stationed at Coney Island, New York, for nine months. In 1955, he was deployed to Okinawa as part of a regimental combat team following the Korean War. He served as a radio man, communicating directly with pilots. Though the conflict had ended, the mission focused on protecting the base from potential attacks. Fortunately, he was never deployed to Korea.

     In August 1956, Ned shipped back to the United States: 22 long days at sea. He vividly remembered arriving in San Francisco at midnight, seeing the eerie silhouette of Alcatraz Prison, and being greeted with donuts. From San Francisco, he flew to Chicago, was discharged in September 1956, and returned home via train to Pittsburgh. From there, he took a taxi to Route 19 and hitchhiked the rest of the way. All the while, his parents had no idea where he was.

     Soon after that, Ned was hired by Rockwell International in Ashtabula, OH, and worked there until the plant closure in 1987. He finished his career at Salem Tubes and as a school van driver before full retirement in 1996.

     In May 1968, through his sister Betsy, Ned met Patricia “Pat” Miller. They were married February 15, 1969, at St. Michael’s Church in Greenville, PA. Ned and Pat have four children: Julie (Bob Taylor), Mark (Tammie Liszka), Matthew (Jen Woods), and Monica (Frank Scarvel) and 10 grandchildren: Luke, Anna, and Veronica Taylor of Rochester, MN, Shane and Alex McElhinny of Meadville, PA, Sean, Jillian and Ryan McElhinny of Jamestown, PA, and Nick and Jake Scarvel of Hermitage, PA. In February 2019, Ned and Pat celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by family and friends.

     Retirement didn’t slow Ned down; it brought him to his favorite job: enjoying his grandchildren. He kept active by babysitting them and could often be found in the bleachers of their basketball, baseball, softball and soccer games. Ned rooted for the Pittsburgh Pirates and like any good Irish Catholic, loved Notre Dame.

     In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, Ned is survived by siblings: J Kevin (Letha) McElhinny of Greenville, PA, Mary Jo (Jim) Stratton of Greenville, PA, Judy Redfern of Aurora, CO, Betsy (Ted) Ceremuga Groke of Jamestown, PA, and Monica (Larry) Addison of Jamestown, PA, 42 nieces and nephews and hundreds of great nieces and nephews.

     Ned was preceded in death by siblings Michael (and Jeannette) McElhinny, Sister Mary Gertrude McElhinny, Sister Mary Joseph McElhinny and Joan Doran.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Philips Catholic Church, 401 S. Mercer St, Linesville on Tuesday December 9th, 2025 at Noon with Father Chris Hamlett as celebrant.

     In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Me Again Mentoring, P.O. Box 32, Meadville, PA 16335 or Erie Bank 885 Park Ave. Meadville, PA 16335 and Linesville Food Pantry St. Philips Church 401 South Mercer St. Linesville, PA 16424.

     Arrangements are under the direction of Royal-Coleman Funeral Home, 6028 U.S. Highway 6, Linesville.

     Please share a condolence or memory of Ned for the family at www.royalcolemanfuneralhome.com