Earl R. Berkey

1932 - 2025

Earl Robert "Bob" Berkey, 93, of Murrysville, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. Born Feb. 1, 1932, in West Mifflin, he was a son of the late Earl Cooper Berkey and Barbara Jane (Snyder) Berkey. The family moved from Kennywood to Washington Township when Bob was 14. He was a 1949 graduate of New Kensington Vocational High School. Bob served our country during the Korean conflict in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1954 to 1957. He worked for ALCOA in New Kensington before accepting a position at United States Steel Corp. Research Division in Monroeville. Bob then joined the Carnegie Mellon Engineering Mechanical Department in Oakland until his retirement. He was a member of Union Presbyterian Church in Washington Township, where Bob served as a deacon, elder, trustee, and Sunday school teacher and participated in the church choir for 50 years. Bob was a 50-plus-year member of the F & AM Tyrian Lodge in Lower Burrell. He belonged to the Murrysville Senior Center and the Washington Township Senior Center and was a life member of the Sardis Volunteer Fire Department. Bob enjoyed working with computers and cars, solving problems, and various other activities. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Esther Ruth (Wich) Berkey, who passed away on Oct. 5, 2018; his daughter, Ruth Ann Betancourt, who passed away on April 23, 2025; and his brother, Donald Berkey. Bob is survived by his daughter, Elinor Jane (John) Barry of Seaford, DE; his granddaughters, Erin Betancourt of Smyrna, DE, and Kristin Betancourt of West Virginia; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Friends will be received from 1:30 p.m. until the memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in the Union Presbyterian Church, 656 PA 380, Murrysville, with Reverend Bob Ruefle officiating. Following the service, military honors will be accorded by the Vandergrift Veterans Honor Guard. Private interment in Riverview Cemetery, Apollo, at the convenience of the family. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the compassionate care shown by Bridges Hospice as well as Bob's niece, Anita Moore, for all of their help and support. Arrangements have been entrusted to CURRAN-SHAFFER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., Apollo. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.curranfuneralhome.com.