Theodore "Ted, Pap" .J Szalla, Sr., 89, of
Pittsburgh (Mt. Washington), passed away
on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at home with his loving family by his side.
Ted was born on March 3, 1934, in Pittsburgh to the late Theodore .L Szala and Florence C. (Waleczewski) Szala. He
was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the U.S. and Germany between December
1956 and December 1958
and in the U.S. Army Reserves from December 1958 to
1962. Upon returning to Pittsburgh, Ted
worked a myriad of jobs before becoming a member of Plumber's Union Local 27
and recently received his 55-year membership certificate from the United
Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe
Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. Upon retiring from the Local in
1996, he worked in the Maintenance Department for the Catholic Diocese of
Pittsburgh in their main office downtown, from which he retired in 2011. Ted was an
avid Pittsburgh sports fan, especially of his "Stillers"; he
also enjoyed bowling, playing golf and dancing in his younger
years.
Theodore is survived by his son Donald E. (Fred Lytle) Gillenberger; daughter-in-law
Kathy Gillenberger; daughter Patricia
Gillenberger; daughter-in-law Cathy
Gillenberger; daughter Kathleen Chapman;
son Dennis (Barb) Gillenberger; daughter
Marie Gary) Trilli; son Ted (Julie) Szalla, Jr.;
son Jim (Donna) Szalla; and daughter Lisa
(Brian) Cratty, with whom he made his home and was cared for over the last 13
years. Also surviving Theodore are his sister Mary Lou (Zubik) Fullard; sister-in-
law Etta Jean Morehouse; 40 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and
4 great-great-grandchildren, all of whom he thought the world of - he was always
happy to see them and find out what was going on in their lives; and numerous loved nieces and nephews. Ted will
be greatly
missed by the family dog, Champ, his best friend with whom he watched Ancient
Aliens every day and liked to sneak table food to as a show of how much he loved
him.
In addition to his parents, Theodore was
preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Lillian "Lil" (Hanbury) Gillenberger Szalla,
who passed away on July 1, 1996; son Ronald "Mickey" Gillenberger; son John "Jack" Gillenberger; son-in-law Charles Chapman; son-in-law Dorsey Palmer; grandson Michael Bronder; and brother
Louis F. Szala in 1935.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. on
Sunday, February 11, 2024 at WM. SLATER
&SONS, INC., 301 Virginia Avenue, Mt.
Washington, PA 15211 ( 412-381-3345). Funeral Mass
will be held at 10
a.m. on
Monday, February 12, 2024 at Mary Queen of Peace
Parish, St. Mary of the Mount Church, burial to follow in Jefferson Memorial
Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in memory of Ted to UPMC Children's Hospital of
Pittsburgh, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Little Sisters of the Poor, or a charity of your choice. www.slaterfuneral.com
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