Fred J. Straus, 80 of Smithfield, Ohio passed away Monday September 5, 2005 in the Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, W.Va. He was born March 17, 1925 in Cambridge, Ohio; son of the late Fred and Margaret Hickman Straus. Fred was retired from the Family-Owned Straus Coal Company. He was a member of the former Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Smithfield, was a 1943 graduate of Smithfield High School, was a member of the Smithfield American Legion Post #396 and was very active in the establishment and building of the Friendship Park Veteran's Memorial. He was a Veteran of the United States Army, W.W. II serving in the Company H 513 Parachute Infantry 17th Airborne Division participating in The Battle of The Bulge and Operation Varsity-Crossing of the Rhine River. His decorations and citations include The Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, The Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Good Conduct Medal, The American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. In addition to his parents, Fred was preceded in death by his brother; Robert Straus. Surviving are his wife Helen Delich Straus, whom he married on September 25, 1947, three daughters; Jayme (Pat) Brady of Pickerington, Ohio, Jodee (Julius) Verhovec of Smithfield, and Jane (Burt) Bacharach of Pacific Palisades, California. His Grandchildren; Karey (Anthony) Ralph of Streetsboro, Ohio, Amie Verhovec (Fiance Jonathan Crunelle) of Erie, Pa., Oliver Bacharach and Raleigh Bacharach both of Pacific Palisades, California. His brother Thomas (Natalie) Straus of Smithfield and his sister Mary Jane (Thomas) Ighnat of Toronto. Friends and family may call on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-9 pm. at the J.E. Foster Funeral Home, Inc. 107 Hill St. Smithfield, Ohio. On Friday a Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be held at 11:00 am. at St. Adalbert Catholic Church in Dillonvale. Msgr. John Kolesar will be the celebrant. The body will lie in state at the church until time of the Mass. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery in Steubenville. Vigil service will be on Thursday at 3:30 pm. Military Graveside Honors will be conducted by the Smithfield American Legion Post # 396. Memorial donations may be made to: The Fred J. Straus Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o The Smithfield Alumni Assoc. P.O. Box 94 Smithfield, Ohio 43948 To view the obituary or send the family a condolences online go to: www.jefosterfh.com 740-733-8021 800-557-4318

Service Information

A service summary is not available