Gillespie McGowan of Avoca, PA: Leo McGowan, Ambrose McGowan,and

Loretta McGowan Walsh - all in birth order

Date: February 19, 2001

The obituary of LEO M. McGOWAN (1896-1961):

From "The Scranton Times", Pa., July 10, 1961:

LEO M. McGOWAN TAKEN BY DEATH

Leo M. McGowan, 81 North Main St., Pittston, Pa, was pronounced

dead on arrival at Pittston Hospital last night at 8:10 after he was

stricken ill at his home.

Born [April 11, 1896] in Avoca, he had resided in that community

until two years ago when he moved to Pittston. He was the son of the

late Martin J. and Mary Ann Gillespie McGowan of Avoca, and was a member of St. Mary's Church there. [He was an US Army veteran of World War I].

Surviving are a son, John, Falls; a daughter, Mrs. Jean Lombardi,

New York City; wife, the former Katherine Mullarky; four brothers,

Andrew C., principal of Avoca High School; Ambrose and Frank, Avoca;

Joseph, Elizabeth, NJ; five sisters, Mrs. Agnes Johnson, Mrs. Loretta

Walsh, and Mrs. Patrick Grady [Rose], all of Avoca; Mrs. John Gannon

[Mabel], New York City; and Miss Esther McGowan, Newark, NJ; five

grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. [He was predeceased by

his first wife, the former Helen (Nellie) Ryan; two daughters, Mary and Grace McGowan; and two brothers, William and Martin McGowan].

The funeral will be held from the O'Malley Funeral Home, 728 Main

Street, Avoca, July 12, at 9 A.M., with mass in St. Mary’s Church at

9:30. Interment, St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends may call tonight from 7

to 10 P.M., and tomorrow from 2 to 5 and 7 to 10 P.M.

The obituary of AMBROSE McGOWAN, SR. (1896-1961):

From "The Scranton Times", Pa., May 22, 1971:

AMBROSE McGOWAN, SR.

Ambrose A. McGowan, Sr., 919 South St., Avoca, Pa, died Friday in a Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton, after an illness.

Born [MAY 6, 1897] in Avoca, son of the late Martin J. and Mary

Ann Gillespie McGowan of Avoca, he was a member of St. Mary's Church,

Avoca, and its Holy Name Society. He was an Army veteran of World War I and a retired carpenter. He was a member of McPhillips-Widdall American Legion Post.

Surviving are a daughter, Nancy, and a son, Ambrose, Jr., both at

home; two brothers, Francis and Andrew C., both of Avoca; four

sisters, Mrs. Rose Grady, Avoca; Mrs. Mabel Gannon Wilmington, Del.;

Mrs. Loretta Walsh, Nashville, Tenn.; and Miss Esther McGowan, Newark,

NJ; and several nieces and nephews. [He was predeceased by his first

wife, the former Millie Ryan; his second wife, the former Mary Doran; a daughter, Margaret Mary; and three brothers, William, Leo, and Martin

McGowan, and one sister, Mrs. Agnes Johnson].

The funeral will be Monday from the Francis M. Regan Funeral Home,

1308 Grove St., Avoca, with mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church,

Avoca. Interment, parish cemetery. Viewing today from 7 to 9 P.M.;

Sunday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

The obituary of LORETTA McGOWAN WALSH (MRS. EDWARD WALSH) (1898-1974):

From "The Scranton Tribune," Scranton, Pa., February 22, 1974:

AVOCA: “LORETTA WALSH TAKEN BY DEATH"

Mrs. Loretta Walsh, 918 South St., Avoca, Pa., died Friday [Feb.

21] at her home after an illness.

Born [October 2, 1898] in Avoca, daughter of the late Martin J. and Mary Ann Gillespie McGowan, she was a member of St. Mary’s R.C. Church, Avoca. Her husband, Edward, died two years ago.

Surviving are two sons, Joseph, Avoca, and Edward, Newington,

Conn.; two daughters, Mrs. Raymond (Loretta) Parrish, Nashville, Tenn., and Mrs. Martin (Shirley Burke), Endfield, Conn.; 22 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Mabel Gannon , Peekskill, NY; Mrs. Rose Grady, Avoca; Miss Esther McGowan, Newark, NJ; two brothers, Andrew C. and Francis McGowan, Avoca; and numerous nieces and nephews. [She was predeceased by a son, James Walsh; three brothers, William, Leo, and Martin McGowan, and one sister, Mrs. Agnes McGowan Johnson].

The funeral will be Monday from the O'Malley Funeral Home, 728 Main Street, Avoca, with mass in St. Mary’s Church at 9:30. Interment, St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may call today, from 7 to 9 P.M., Sunday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M.

Walsh Funeral

The funeral of Mrs. Loretta Walsh, 918 south St., Avoca, was held

Monday from the A. F. O'Malley Funeral Home, 728 Main St., Avoca, with a mass in St. Mary's Church, Avoca. Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph A. Griffin,

pastor, was celebrant.

Pallbearers were: grandsons, Martin and Joseph Burke and James

Walsh, Jr., and nephews, Scott McGowan, Patrick Grady, and James

Johnson.

These Obits were donated by A. Scott McGowan