Stephen Lanchak

Stephen Lanchak of Warrington, PA passed away quietly on Saturday, November 2, 2013. He was 97 years old. Born in Kingston/Wilkes Barre PA, Steve was the second of four boys born to Rose and Michael Lanchak. With his father absent for months at a time and his mother and brothers left to fend for themselves, he took his first job as a meat cutter to help support his family during the early days of the Depression. Shortly before World War II his family moved to Philadelphia and Steve joined the Army Air Force. Stationed in the Pacific in World War II with the 345th Bomber Group, The famed Air Apaches, he was a radioman/gunner in the 499thBomb Squadron, the “Bats Outa Hell”. A decorated veteran of 51 missions, he left the Air Force after the war and went to work for the Navy; first at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and then at the Naval Air Development Center in Johnsville where he stayed for over 30 years. Steve was also an accomplished artist, both in pen & ink and oils and was a past president of the Doylestown Art League. A resident of Warrington for over 55 years, Steve enjoyed his children and grandchildren and he especially enjoyed his deck where he spent countless hours reading the paper, napping and thinking up his next big home improvement project. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary and his three brothers, Milton, Walter and John. He is survived by his two children, Stephen (Sarah) Lanchak Jr and Lisa (Jeff) Worthington; four grandchildren, Michael and Dana Scioli, and Catherine and Nicholas Lanchak; and one great grandchild, Kayleigh Christine. His Requiem of Devine Liturgy will be held Friday 10:30am at St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church 1545 Easton Rd Warrington. The family will receive friends from 9:00am to 10:00am at the Shelly Funeral Home 1460 Easton Road Warrington. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Steve’s name may be made to St. Anne Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1545 Easton Road, Warrington.