Paul John Songer Sr.

1928 - 2021

Paul John Songer Sr., of Washington, died Thursday, May 20, 2021. He was born November 2, 1928, in Wheatland, a son of the late Eugene and Katherine Moore Songer.

A child of the Depression era in a family with seven children, he grew up in Farrell. At 13 years of age, his family moved to Buffalo, N.Y. During his life he also resided in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Boca Raton, Fla. Since 1976 his residence was in Washington. After his retirement, he enjoyed spending time in Hilton Head, S.C.

Paul had a generous spirit, heart and always said "yes" to any request for help, whether philanthropic, hands-on, or financial. If there was a need, he responded. His pride and joy was his large and loving family. Paul was a life-long Catholic and a man of devotion. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Washington for more than 40 years. He prided himself in not missing weekly Mass. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was fun to be around.

Paul lived life on his terms, always believing he could do anything he put his mind to. A good example was his determination to enlist in the Navy during World War II. At the age of 16, he quit high school, and with an altered birth certificate and a quick wit that enabled him to pass the eye exam (he was color blind), he was accepted into the military. He served in China, Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines and was honorably discharged before his 18th birthday. Paul was extremely proud of his valiant service to his country.

His career started as a journeyman brick layer for Andco and for International Chimney, where he rose through the ranks to become foreman, general foreman, project manager and general superintendent. With tenacity, determination and pure grit, he became a captain of industry and founded Furnco Construction Company, Serstel Corporation, and Songer Construction, which was acquired by Trafalgar House and became Davy Songer. At age 73, he formed Songer Steel Services, where he served as CEO and chairman until he was in his mid-80's. He retired at age 89. He was steadfast, disciplined and committed to being the best in the business. His companies were the premier experts in planning, engineering, construction, maintenance and repair of blast furnaces, coke ovens, and boiler and pressure vessels for the steel industry.

Paul was a risk-taker who loved challenges. He was never afraid of failure and always said, "As long as I have my tool kit and my trowel in my trunk, I can earn a living." He was extremely disciplined. He set goals, and when obstacles got in his way, with pure determination he would figure out what he needed to do or what he needed to learn in order to achieve his goals.

Paul learned to play golf in just two days in order to connect with an important, potential customer, and then entertained business customers throughout his career. He grew to love the game, especially when playing on weekends with his brother, Mike, his son, John, and his nephew, E.J. Songer. In 1971, Paul was a founding member of Lone Pine Country Club in Washington. In 1981, he purchased Lone Pine and held an ownership interest for many years. He also owned a golf course in North Carolina named Twin Oaks. Because he loved golf so much, he and his brother, Mike, would fly his plane south to Twin Oaks during the colder months in Pennsylvania along with some Lone Pine members. In addition, since 1981 he has been a member of the Duquesne Club in Pittsburgh.

In addition to golf, Paul loved swimming, walking and racquetball as forms of exercise. He always said, "If you take care of your body when you're young, it will take care of you when you are older." He was disciplined with his diet and exercised daily and was proud of his good health and longevity.

At 10 years old, his father took him for a ride in a barnstorming, double-wing, open cockpit plane and Paul's love of aviation was born. Throughout his childhood, he built and flew balsa wood model planes powered by rubber bands, and the one gift he always wished for at Christmas was a model plane. By the time he was 30 he earned his pilot's license and had his first plane, a Cessna 120. Over the years he owned 12 different planes including a Lear jet and three Merlin IIIB planes with capacity for two crew and eight passengers. Paul felt that his planes were worth their weight in gold in business because of their efficiency and for the reduction in the human toll of overnight traveling for himself and his employees.

Paul was a founding member and president of the National Erectors Association (NEA) (now The Association of Union Contractors TAUC). He was a member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, American Iron and Steel Technology, American Iron and Steel Institute, Association of Iron and Steel Engineers, International Masonry Institute, International Council of Employees, American Institute of Structural Engineers, Eastern States Blast Furnace and Coke Oven Association, and the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania.

He was also involved with several charities including the United Way and the Washington County Foundation. He served on the boards of directors of Catholic Charities of Pittsburgh, Washington Hospital, and United Cerebral Palsy Foundation (now Pathways).

On December 6, 1992, in Farmington, Paul married Shelley Elizabeth Wood Songer, who survives him.

He is also survived by 11 children, Paul (Barbara) Songer Jr. of Dunedin, Fla., Eugene (Cyndi) Songer of Coconut Creek, Fla., Ann Marie Fargo of Washington, Kathleen (Dennis) Kelly of McMurray, Maureen Witting of Deerfield Beach, Fla., John Songer of Washington, Janice Farrell of Miami, Fla., Tommy (Cindy) Songer of Washington, Kevin (Randy Liebig) Songer of Washington, Tom P. Songer of Orlando, Fla., and Julie Songer of Lexington, Ky.

Also surviving are one sister, JoAnne Docherty; one sister-in-law, Jeanne Songer; two brothers-in-law, Doug (Windi Oehms) Wood and Jeff (Karen) Wood; and one son-in-law, Eugene Fahey; 30 grandchildren, P.J. (Tara) Songer, Jill (Eric) Schmitz, E.J. Fahey, Shawn (Greta) Fahey, Mike Fahey, Katherine (Dustin) Chenney, Andrea (Matt Petrola) Fargo, Elaine (Steve) Calvert, Eileen Nall, Elise (Brock) Wagehoft, Jake (Angie) Haberthier, Michele (Jared) Piatt, J.P. (Shannon) Witting, Marielle (Chris Honka) Witting, Jaime Witting, Katie Songer, Robert (Grace) Reihner Jr., Brian Reihner (Rachel Reihner), Bethany (Greg) Lesnock, Brittany (Billy) McAdoo, Brooke (Ty) North, Jenny (Dave) Tuchalski, Joe (Zayber) Meneskie, Janet (Matt) Pawlak, Carlos Delahoz, Cevin Delahoz, Cyler Delahoz, Dustin Songer, Cara (Nick) Johnson, Shane Songer, and many stepgrandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren, Anna and Ryan Songer, Ellie and Otto Schmitz, Shawn and Ethan Fahey, Kelsey, Deegan, Dempsy and Deklin Chenney, Kane, Kyle and Elijah Deyell, Makenzie Fargo, Cayden, Kayla, Jack and Kate Calvert, Braden, Warren and Carson Piatt, Kylie and Tyler Witting, C.J. and Cooper Honka, Olivia Reihner, Logan, Hannah, Hailey and Harper Lesnock, Elaina and Jayce McAdoo, Grace Tuchalski, Leo Pawlak, Taylor and Camryn Johnson, and many stepgreat-grandchildren. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his parents, Paul was predeceased by three children, Linda Fahey, Elaine Reihner and Steven Songer; two grandchildren, Matthew Fargo and John Songer Jr.; three brothers, John "Jack" Songer, Mike Songer and Eugene (Ethel) Schultz; three sisters, Patricia (Joe) Florea, Jean (Donald) McCormick and Kathleen Waterhouse; the mother of 11 of his children, Eleanor Denman; one brother-in-law, John Docherty; three sons-in-law, Jerry Fargo, Herk DeLong and Robert Reihner; and one daughter-in-law, Gail Songer.

Family and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 28, in the 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. The family asks that those attending the visitation please wear a facial covering while in the funeral home. A prayer service will be held in the funeral home at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 29, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am. in Immaculate Conception Church, St. James Parish, 119 W. Chestnut Street, Washington, with the Rev. George Chortos and the Rev. William P. Feeney as concelebrants. Entombment will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Full military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post #175 and the United States Navy.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Paul's memory may be made to Washington City Mission, 45 W. Wheeling Street, Washington, PA 15301; Washington County Community Foundation (CEED), 1253 PA-519, Eighty Four, PA 15330; or to the charity of one's choice.

Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com.