Person Page - 5479

     His Social Security Number was 189-14-4249.⁶ Darwin Eugene “Red” Boocks Darwin Eugene "Red" Boocks, 77, of Venus, died Sunday June 10, 2001, at his home following an extended illness. Born June 14, 1924 in Sawtown, he was a son of Thomas and Mary L. Hoover Beach Boocks. While in school Mr. Boocks worked at the former Seep Brothers Hardware Store in downtown Oil City. He entered the U.S. Navy Jan. 19, 1943, and served until March 5, 1946, aboard the USS Wickes Destroyer DD578. He was the recipient of the Pacific Theatre Ribbon with four stars, Good Conduct Medal American Theater Ribbon Victory Medal and Philippines Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Mr. Boocks attended the Welch's Business College in Oil City after his military duty. He worked several years for the Pennsylvania Railroad, 15 years for Oil City Sand & Gravel and later for numerous construction companies in the area, mainly L. O. Bouquin Co. and Strickland Construction. Mr. Boocks was a lifetime member of International Laborers No. 363. He was a lifetime member since 1950 of the Francis B. Pritchard Post No. 464 of Oil City, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served as post commander from 1964 through 1968, 1971 to 1972, 1997 to 1998. He served as district commander in 1964. Mr. Boocks was a member of the Seam Squirrel Cooties and held numerous other positions within the VFW. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, holding membership in Oil City Lodge No. 710 F. & A.M. Valley of Oil City and Valley of New Castle. It was a former member of the Zem Zem Shrine Club in Erie. Mr. Boocks was a past president of the Pennsylvania Grotto Association and was commissioned as a "Kentucky Colonel" for his distinguished service by Secretary of State John W. Brown and Governor Paul E. Patton. He was a monarch of the Acacia Grotto in Oil City and was an Acacia clown, having performed in many parades as "Pea Pot the Clown." He was a member since 1970 of the United Evangelical Church in Venus. In his earlier years, Mr. Boocks enjoyed hunting, archery and bowling. Mr. Boocks was married in Frewsburg, N.Y. on Jan. 7, 1956 to Freda Mae Barr, who survives. Also surviving are nine children, Dennis R. Boocks and his wife Angela, of Venus, Cindy L. Knight and her husband Mark of Knox, Mary E. Cochran and her husband, Ed, Nancy L. Shreffler and her husband Albert, Daniel E. Boocks and wife Dee all of Oil City, Sue L. Moorehead of Seneca, Richard E. Boocks and wife Cindy of Oil City, Barbara J. Myers and husband Robert of Knox, and Sandra L. Albaugh and husband James of Venus. Other survivors include 18 grandchildren, Brandon Boocks of Venus, Cameron Cochrane, Oil City, Kyle Boocks of Venus, Jacob Knight of Knox, Courtney Cochran of Oil City, Ashley Knight of Knox, Amy Boocks, Amanda Boocks, Joseph Shreffler and Michael Boocks, all of Oil City, Craig Moorehead of Franklin, Jay Shreffler of Albion, N.Y., Eric Moorehead Jr. of Franklin, Jamie Albaugh of Tylersburg, Brenda Brown and husband Michael, Knox, Beth Albaugh of Venus, Christina Cataldo and her husband, Russell, of Knox, and Kimberlee Cherico and her husband Fred, of Clarion; and six great-grandchildren, Nicholas Cherico of Clarion, Emily Brown of Knox, Brittany Smalley of Franklin, and Christian Brown, Seth Cataldo and Blake Cataldo, all of Knox. He is also survived by a sister, Peg Ortolla of Pleasantville. In addition to his parents, Mr. Boocks was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Eric D. Boocks and Gregory Becker; a son-in-law, Thomas J. Becker; a brother, Earl Boocks; and a half sister, Pat Chapin. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Osenider Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Richard A. Kitelinger, pastor of the United Evangelical Church in Venus, officiating. Interment will be in Rockland Cemetery.⁵ He was buried at Rockland Cemetery, Rockland, Venango Co., Pennsylvania.⁵ He was born on June 14, 1924 at Sawtown, Venango Co., Pennsylvania.^3,4,7,6,8,5 He married Freda Mae Barr, daughter of Roy Eugene Barr and Freda Elizabeth Lewis, on January 7, 1956 at Carroll, Chautauqua Co., New York.^1,2,5 Darwin Eugene “Red” Boocks died on June 10, 2001 at Venus, Venango Co., Pennsylvania, at age 76.^1,7,6,5