Bert M. Bliss, 75, of Warren, PA., died peacefully with the love of his life, Sara, next to him, on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at AHN-St. Vincent Hospital, Erie, PA., after an illness of the past month. He was born November 26, 1944 in Warren, PA. He was the son of Duane and Lela Taft Bliss. Bert was a lifelong Warren area resident and a 1962 graduate of Warren High School.
After graduation he was drafted in the U.S. Army as a Specialist 5th grade, during the Vietnam War. Upon discharge from the service, he earned a Bachelors’ Degree in Marketing from Penn State University in 1972.
He was employed with the former Struthers Wells Corporation as their Production Control Supervisor for 20 years, retiring in 1999 from Tri-State Wholesale Oil Company. He served as President of the Warren American Legion Post 135 for 20 years. Bert was a past member of the Warren Eagles Aerie. He had also been a past member of Blueberry Golf Club and Jackson Valley Country Club, where he was an avid golfer.
He was a Penn State Season Ticket holder and enjoyed going to games with family and friends, for many years.
He is survived by his best friend and life partner of 36 years, Sara Guiffre McWilliams, Aunt and Uncle, Barbara and Jack Carlson, Aunt Betty Werner all of Russell, PA., Sister-in-law, Sheila Guiffre of Sewickley, PA., Niece – Andrea Stillmak and husband, Kirk, Tony Guiffre and wife, Lori, Michael Guiffre and wife, Jacqui, he was a very special great uncle to his great nieces and nephews, Mack, Zeke, Bodie, A.J., Annie, Grayden and Walker.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a Brother-in-law, Anthony “Tony” J. Guiffre, Stepbrother – Rex McCullough, Stepsister – Kathleen Dunham.
Friends will be received at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East Street, Warren, PA. on Friday, October 2, 2020 from 5 to 8 P.M. where CDC guidelines will be enforced, patrons must wear masks and observe six feet distancing. A Celebration of Bert’s life will be held Saturday, October 3, 2020 at noon at the Warren American Legion Post 135, 412 Pennsylvania Avenue West, Warren, PA
Interment will be in St. Joseph R.C. Cemetery where full military honors will be conducted by members of the Clarendon, Sheffield V.F.W and the Warren American Legion Post 135 Funeral Detail and the U.S. Army Honor Guard. Those wishing to place memorials may do so through Warren American Legion Post 135, 412 Pennsylvania Avenue West, Warren, PA. 16365 or the Warren Public Library Association, 205 Market Street, Warren, PA. 16365. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com
Thinking of you Sara. May God watch over you. <3
So sad for Sara and family, know you are in my thoughts and prayers, Bert was a special guy, hang onto your memories!
Dear Sara,
I,’m sorry for your loss of
Bert. You were always a happy couple when I bumped into you
on occasion. Bert was a great guy.
We will all miss him. God bless you
in this time of grief.
My deepest sympathy to Sam and entire family. Bert was a lot of fun to work around at SWC.,but my memories of Bert goes back to he and Paul Johnston playing Mini Golf at Prosen’s in North Warren,seeing him play basketball,or running into him, Sam,Jean and Bob Fredricks at the Wagon Wheel.Bert “s memories will linger with many.
Sara. Please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of Bert. It saddens me to see so many of my good friends leaving us. Bert was a good person and always very competitive in anything. Especially in sports. I will miss him.
Bert’s obituary was so sad to read but so beautifully written. He will be missed by everyone who knew him in life. May God send you His peace and strength in the days ahead dear Sara. You were his Champion!
I am so very sorry to hear about Bert. My thoughts and prayers are with you and family.
I am so sorry Sara for your loss. I have so many memories of both of you from Struthers. Prayers for you in this difficult time.
Suky and I are saddened by the loss of Bert! Condolences to Sara and family members! Bert and i played basketball together and softball for many years! He was an outstanding athlete. After he became Penn Beer and Cavalier Roofing’s coach i can remember him kicking the fence after i would make a bad play! He was a fierce competitor who hated to lose. He was there for Suky and i when we got married. He will be sadly missed by many many friends.
Bert was good friend, a great guy to work with. Loved the great trips to Notre Dame, we had a lot of fun and he was a good part of it. Sara and Bert were a great couple and had a very happy time together. God bless Sara, you are one of the best.
Dea
My sincere condolences to you Sara. Though I have been away from the Warren area for some time, I cherish the memories of more youthful days when our bodies were strong and we battled together on courts and fields throughout NY and PA. Bert was a true “warrior” and an inspiration to teammates and foe alike. More importantly, Bert was a man who truly gave in life more than he ever received. Rest in Peace my friend and may God bless us all with good memories of Bert. “WE ARE”
Sara, so sad to read of Bert’s passing. I have great memories of working with the two of you at Struthers.
dear sara, my deepest sympathy to you and your family on Bert’s passing. Hold on to your memories and know I am thinking of you.
Sara, was so surprised by Bert’s passing. Know how much you are going to miss him. From Candlelight to The Legion, he made a statement. He will be missed.
Sara, you and Bert were Family to Patty and Me! Our hearts and Prayers are for both of you. Remembering all the Friday nights with my parents, and the all the good times that were had! Bert, may you rest in peace. You will never be Forgotten!
Dear Sara,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family.
We hope that you find peace in your memories of Bert.
Dear Sara, I am so sorry for your loss, Bert was a wonderful person . He will be missed by many
I’m so crestfallen to hear of B’s death…what a great loss, especially for Sara, and family, but also for the entire community of Warren,Pa. I played in the industrial softball league against Bert, and he was a competitor du jour….always fierce, but never a poor loser. I became very close to Bert as he was on the Vic’s chick gang for many years, and He really “took me inside”, let me know what he was really thinking…as fierce as he was, he was really a very gentle soul, and he taught me a lot about his honest straight forward approach. I admire him so much, that I took my daughter to the American Legion to meet him, she was quite taken by his quick wit. It is effortless to praise him, as he as done so much, so well, and so widely. I’ll tell stories about you forever, thanks for the memories B, missing you with much respect…
So sorry to hear about Bert passing. My memories of Bert mostly center around high school basketball. I was a team manager in 1961-62 during Bert’s senior year. He was a great player and was on a good team. We also shared being Struthers alumni. Sara, my wish for you is holding on to a lot of wonderful memories.
Hi Sara,
My condolences to you. I worked at Struthers with both you and Bert from 1973 to 1979. Bert was so much fun always joking around. I tried to reach out a few years ago when we were in the area visiting , but wasn’t able to connect.
Judi Markel
Sara, Vicki and I are so sad to hear of Bert’s passing. He was always nice to us. I remember playing softball against Bert. As I approached the batter’s box, Bert always said.”Good stick here!” He gave me the confidence I needed . I’ll always remember when Mike Farr and I played golf against Bert and Baldy. We had so much fun playing Jungle Golf.Bert would tell me all the time of the great basketball program that I had. He even helped referee in the Biddy Program that we had. There are so many stories that are good stories to tell. Bert will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him. Thoughts and prayers go out to Sara and his family.RIP BERT .
Dear Sara,
Fred and I are so very sorry to hear of the passing of Bert. He was such a nice friend
and memories of high school always include him. Because both our last names ended in B, we were often seated near each other. May God be of comfort to you. I will contact you as soon as I get your phone # . Love, Sally
Sara, this too long in coming but I’d just like to say how very sad I was to hear about Bert. I have many fun memories of him. Candlelight, Betts field for SO many ball games, Penn Beer was THE team to beat! Road trips for tournaments. The Draft House and the New Years Day that he and Paulie Johnston were my only customers the entire day!
I’m sure you have so many happy memories, and they will bring you comfort and peace, and be solace to your heart.
Sincerely, Debi Hagberg
dear sara I am now just readingabout bert’s passing yYou don’t know me , I was 7years younger than was Bert, and I moved from warren in 2012. During my teens I “hung out” at the old YMCA and even played in the pickup games with the “older guys”.He was the one of popular ones—and I was the smallest player on the court—-but he always treated me like I was special. 30 years later we still see each other at the new YMCA or somewhere about town or at golf. He either addressed me as Mr. Segel but I liked it better when he asked—–“hey Seegee–hows the world treating you? One day on the basketball court I set him up for an easy basket and in return he assisted me on me making a long basket. We never forgot this. He was special! I hope his later years with you were special. all the best—david segel