Louis A. Malarkey Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Louis A. Malarkey, 87, of Parker died at 9:55 a.m. Tuesday at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. Born Aug. 2, 1923, in Parker, he was the son of John and Anne (Rushe) Malarkey. A graduate of the former Parker High School, he was a retired machinist in the mold-making department of the Knox Glass Corp. in Parker and at Owens-Illinois in Clarion. A World War II veteran, Lou was a member of the 508th Parachute Infantry of the 82nd Airborne Division. He jumped into Normandy, France, before dawn on D-Day, June 6, 1944, near the occupied town of Ste. Mere Eglise. Captured by a German patrol several days later, he was sent to a prisoner-of-war camp east of Berlin and was there until liberated by Russian troops early the following year. Lou was a member of the former St. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Parker, where he served on the church council and was one of the first lay lectors in the parish following the Second Vatican Council. An accomplished woodworker, he built several altars and other items for the church sanctuary. More recently, he was a member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler. Lou was preceded in death by his wife, Audene (Hogan) Malarkey, who he married April 25, 1945, and who died July 16, 2008. He is survived by two sons, Dave Malarkey of Butler and Tom Malarkey of West Sunbury; two daughters, Faith Hepler of Worthington and Christine DeLucca of Slippery Rock; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two infant daughters, Mary Anne and Mary Beth; two brothers, John and Gene; and one sister, Rita. Lou, five when his mother died, also was preceded in death by two loving aunts, Margaret "Peg" Rushe and Amelia (Mrs. Frank) Marron, who raised the three young brothers following the death of their mother.

Louis A. Malarkey

August 2, 1923 - March 22, 2011