Harry Richard Battick

Harry Richard Battick, 81 of Washington Township husband of Bonnie Jean
(Polito) Battick left his family suddenly with heartfelt sadness on Saturday,
June 8, 2024. Harry was so loved by his wife Bonnie and their three
children and their three grandchildren. It wasn't meant for Harry to leave
his family this way. He wanted to be at home attending to everyday matters.
A man bigger than life at 6 foot, 4 inches tall, size 13 cowboy boots, he was
a man of character always direct and said it how it was. His dry wit and
humor were often a surprise.
He was in touch with Earth each day no matter what the weather, always
listening to the morning sounds, such as recently watching bluebirds protect
their home in the old ash tree on the front bank while sitting on the bench he
handmade. And forever, always watching the deer and turkey pass by.
Along with practicing his great shooting skills, giving lessons to his many
friends, neighbors and family members, he was a past member of the Indiana
Bow and Gun Club. He regularly competed on the high-power rifle ranges.
An expert shooter, he competed with his son Frank and wife at the rifle
ranges and traveled to Camp Perry Ohio to compete at National Matches
placing with awards. He was also a lifetime member of the National Rife
Association.
Deer season was a main event for Harry and Bonnie. Going to their deer
stand up around the hill, drinking the coffee they carried in the thermos
bottle then quietly listening. And making his special sausages from venison
and pork in mid-winter was always merry.
Every so often Harry would say a line or two of "The Village Blacksmith",
a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Remembered from grade school
years, "Under a spreading chestnut tree the village smithy stands; The Smith,
a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his
brawny arms Are strong as iron bands." In this poem, the village blacksmith
worked in iron as Harry did welding iron pieces or welding pipes on the gas
well rigs in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, including at the coal mines.
A United Mine Worker of America (UMWA) member Harry worked over
50 years at Lucerne 6, Local 488, District 2 near Homer City, Pa. Starting
out at age 24 to build the Lucerne 6 mine shaft, he was lowered down in a
bucket to dynamite each day to reach the depth of 500 feet to open the new
mine. After about 4 years inside the coal mine Harry had a large rock fall on
his leg breaking it. He opted to go up to the Lucerne 6 supply yard running
machinery, moving coal and rock dusting. Both the coal and silica dust
created health problems in his later years known as black lung and silicosis.
The miners who worked with Harry R. Battick remarked on his great
strength and what he could do.
Harry and Bonnie were married in Grove Chapel Lutheran Church by
Reverend Roy S. Schultz on a very cold and windy night March 17, 1967.
They arrived in the groom's classic white Ford Fairlane trimmed in red
stripes with red interior. Together they started a journey of 57 years of
marriage.
The couple and their three children lived in Ernest, Pa. seven years before
moving to the farm where Bonnie grew-up outside of Five-Points, Pa. A
solid foundation to a beautiful home was built by Harry with help from his
wife and all sides of their families. The children helped build where they
could, pounding nails, holding-up two-by-fours or handing tools.
Harry leaves behind his wife Bonnie, daughters Noelé Florence (Battick)
Knickle and husband James Patrick Knickle, Jessica Margaret (Battick)
Earman and son Frank(ie) Todd Battick and Sheryl Aikins. His
grandchildren Jordan Noelé Earman (27) and Ethan Siwik, Colin James
Patrick Knickle (18) and Chloe Regan Jean Battick (10). Harry was most
supportive of us all in his own way.
A coal miners's son and grandson, Harry was born September 20, 1942 in a
coal company house on what was then called Nanny Goat Hill (up across the
road from the Roman Catholic Church) in the mining town of Ernest, Pa.
He was born to Margaret Marie (Mann) Battick originally of Clymer, Pa.
and Harry Battick, Sr. His maternal grandparents were Cora (Boyle) Mann
and Angelo Mann. His paternal grandparents were Mary (Daniletch)
Battick Semosky and Charles Battick who perished in the Ernest coal mine
explosion of 1914 and Pete Semosky whom Mary later married. Harry is of
Russian, Italian and Irish descent.
From his mother Harry learned cooking baking and upholstery skills. From
his father he learned great shooting and hunting skills. As a child Harry
walked to the Ernest Bible Church on Sundays (the former Ernest Union
Church). He attended Ernest Elementary and walked to and from Horace
Mann School for building and trade shop classes returning to regular classes
at the high school. One of his high school part-time jobs was caddie at the
Indiana Country Club where he carried golf clubs at times for Arnold
Palmer. He graduated from Indiana High School, class of 1960 and entered
the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after graduation. Corporal Harry Richard
Battick had four years of military duty including two years overseas as U.S.
Embassy Guard in Khartoum, Sudan, where he encountered many unusual
circumstances before returning to his hometown.
In addition, Harry leaves behind two younger sisters Cora Mary (Battick)
Fulton and husband Robert Fulton, son Scott and Margaret (Peggy) Marie
(Battick) Dunmire and husband Tom Dunmire, son Troy and wife Rebecca.
Sister Cora and husband Bob would come from Brush Valley to check-in on
brother Harry. And Sister Peggy and husband Tom were always helping
out. He was preceded in death by his older sister and confidant Patricia Ann
(Battick) Gonda, niece Cynthia (Cindy) Louise (Gonda) Kelly, nephew
Joseph (Joe) Leonard Gonda and grandnephew Jason Drew. He was also
preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and grandson Jesse Michael
Earman, infant son of daughter Jessica, Bobbie Fulton, infant son of sister
Cora and Bob, sister-in-law Carolyn (Corey) Polito, many uncles, aunts and
cousins on both sides of his family.
He also leaves behind his brother-in-law William V. Gonda, Sr. of Homer
City and wife Pat, nieces and nephews of whom he was close: Patricia
(Patty) Marie (Gonda) Drew and Nick Bernat, sons Kenneth (Kenny) Drew
and wife Maria and children, Michael Drew and wife Chloe and children,
Chelsea Drew Faban and children, Laurie Ann Gonda, Cindy's son David
Gonda, William Vincent Gonda, Jr. and Allen Bonace, Jennifer (Gonda)
English, daughter Lilly. He is also survived by many extended cousins,
nieces and nephews.
On his wife's side, he leaves behind brother-in-law William E. Polito, nieces
and nephews: Jeremy Tate Polito and wife Carmella, daughter Gioua,
Nicholas Andrew Polito and wife Jamie, children Brock and Julianna, Sarah
Beth (Polito) Kirk and husband Andrew, Leah Maureen (Polito) Jakosh and
husband Shaun, children Noah, Kiera and Noralyn.
Arrangements are with Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home, 965 Philadelphia St.
of Indiana, Pa. Visitation will be Thursday, June 20 from 6-8 p.m. and
Friday, June 21 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Funeral service is 11:30am
Saturday, June 22 at Harmony Grove Lutheran Church, Five-Points with
Pastor Ted Cogar of Zion Lutheran Church officiating. Burial with a military
service is at Harmony Grove Cemetery also in Five-Points along Route 954
North. A funeral dinner will follow at Elderton Firehall, 305 William St.
Elderton, Pa.
It is to be noted that Harry liked his cowboy and war movies, old style
country music and soft listening music. Last of all were the polkas that he
grew-up with in the Ernest coal mining town. One such song is "In Heaven
There is No Beer, That's Why We Drink It Here". How many times we all
danced to this! There were such good times! Last of all we say goodbye,
with our love to Harry.
Online condolences may be made by visiting: rbfh.net.