Obituary of Walter Stanley Yablonski

Walter Stanley Yablonski, 91, of Luzerne passed away on Sunday at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Plains, Twp. Born in Edwardsville on December 31, 1919; Walter S. Yablonski was the son of the late Zigmund and Marie Skierski Yablonski. He was educated in the Swoyersville and Luzerne public school systems, spending most of his life in Luzerne. Walter joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in January of 1937 and served at Camp S-95 Leporte. He was honorably discharged in 1939 after serving the maximum allotted time. He enlisted in the United States Army on June 5, 1939 and served with the Calvary at Schofield barracks during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. He continued to serve in the Pacific Rim for 49 months. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and according to Walter, after being discharged; he hitched his way back to PA doing odd jobs along the way. He received the American defense medal with star; Asiatic-Pacific service medal, and the Good Conduct medal. The United States Congress also issued the Bronze Pearl Harbor survivors medal to Mr. Yablonski in 1991. Upon returning home he was employed by the mining industry. Not only did he survive Pearl Harbor, he also survived the effects of working in the mines where he suffered from Black Lung for decades. Despite the obstacles that Walter faced, he was an entrepreneur. After several independent business ventures, he purchased the Atlantic Service Station on Main St. in Luzerne in 1957 which he operated until his retirement in 1985. Many may remember this station as a gathering place where men would pull up a chair, watch the traffic and talk about the issues of the day. His grandchildren remember it as a place where they would go and Walter would give them a "pop" out of the glass soda machine. After retirement he enjoyed spending time with his great-granddaughters and giving them a dollar each time he saw them because that was "a lot of money". He was elected to council in Luzerne for two years before serving as Mayor from 1986 to 1997. This was one of his proudest accomplishments. Mr. Yablonski was a member of the American Legion Post 525, Luzerne; Knights of Columbus, Assumpta Council; D.A.V., Kingston; Fraternal Order of Police, Wyoming Valley Lodge #36; Concerned Citizens and Taxpayers Association of Luzerne and Sacred Heart Church. He was also a member of the State Mayors Association. He was preceded in death by wife the former Ann Marie Cullen Yablonski; also his brothers, Benjamin, Bernard and Raymond Yablonski and Sisters Cecilia Gober, Helen Harchar, Anna Yablonski, Katharine Metro and Joan (Judy) Gavlick. Walter was married to the former Ann Marie Cullen who passed away two months ago. They were married for 62 years. He is survived by his three children: Walter, Luzerne; Maureen Matiska and her husband Bob, Kingston Township and Linda Yarmel and her husband John, Luzerne, with whom he resided. Walter has 7 grandchildren: Jeffrey Banks Jr. and companion Michelle Pallis of Phoenix, Holly Banks-Fry and husband Jim Fry of Kingston Twp., Tracy Mullen and husband Chris, Philadelphia, Rebecca Banks-Connors, Dallas, John Yarmel Jr., Christopher Yarmel and Scott Yarmel, all of Luzerne. Walter is also survived by two great grandchildren: Callista Connors and Olivia Connors, Dallas. . He is survived by his sisters Irene Santewan, Patricia Pechal, Florence Egroff, Dolores Gashi and brother Zigmund Yablonski. Funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10:00 AM from the Betz-Jastremski Funeral Home, Inc. 58 Bennett St. Luzerne with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM in Holy Family Parish, with Rev. Michael Zipay officiating. Interment St. Nicholas Cemetery, Shavertown, friends may call on Tuesday from 5-8 PM. Condolences can be sent to sympathy@betzjastremski.com