Obituary of James S. Armatas

Mr. James S. Armatas, 78, of 14304 Old Route 8 North, Titusville died at 1:45 PM on Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at his residence surrounded by his wife and children. Mr. Armatas was born on October 10, 1935 in Titusville to the late Nickolas E. and Bernice Osborne Armatas. He was a graduate of Titusville High School, class of 1954. Jim was a veteran of the US Army. He entered the service on Feb. 17, 1955 at Meadville and was honorably discharged on Dec. 11, 1956 from Ft. Hood in Texas with the rank of SP 4. Upon his return from the Army, Jim helped run the family business, Drake Café, which he owned for several years after his father had passed away. Jim later went to work for Senator Mahaney as an aide and was Sergeant of Arms for the PA House of Representatives under former Rep. Bud Dwyer. He also worked briefly for Lou McKinney and Gilbert Bigley at Northwest Motors before joining the Titusville Police Department. He served the Titusville community from 1970 to the time of his retirement in 1996. Mr. Armatas was a member of the First United Methodist Church, a past Exalted Ruler for the B.P.O. Elks #264 in Titusville, and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 50. He was an outdoorsman who loved to hunt, play golf, go camping and traveling, as well as, an avid Steeler fan. Jim is survived by his wife Mary Sue Shaver Klingler Armatas of Titusville, whom he married on October 12, 1968 at the Hydetown Methodist Church; four children, Daniel Klingler and fiancé Lynne Benjamin of Townville, Deanna Roggenkamp and husband Rick of Cochranton, Denise Warner and husband Jerry of Titusville, James S. Armatas, Jr. and wife Mindy of Hydetown; 14 grandchildren, Meagan Hlopick of Townville, Danielle Klingler of Meadville, Benjamin Klingler of Townville, JC Bienio and wife Rhonda of Townville, Ryan Bienio of Minot, ND, Victoria Lowery and husband Darrell of Erie, Andrew Bienio of Cochranton, Justin Warner of Titusville, Ashleigh Kenyon and husband Kyle of Titusville, Josh Warner of Titusville, Ashley Wesley and husband Michael of Titusville, James S. Armatas III of Hydetown, Lisa Nichols and husband Doug of Titusville, Laura Roggenkamp of Townville; 10 great grandchildren, Madyson Banik, Reese Hlopick, Ricky Bienio, Camron Bienio, Ava Lowery, Mason Bienio, Makaia Yunik, Kailea Nichols, Lydia Nichols, Elliana Nichols; a brother, Nickolas Armatas of San Francisco, CA; a brother-in-law, Charles Shaver of Townville; a sister-in-law, Patricia Hohman and husband Scott of Pleasantville; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a great grandson, Kai Yunik; and two sisters, Millia Sullivan and Mary Mackas. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM and attend the funeral service from the funeral home on Monday at 11:00 AM with Rev. Ron Hipwell, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute 16792 Conneaut Lake Rd., Meadville, PA 16335 or to the First United Methodist Church 302 W. Walnut St., Titusville, PA 16354.