Charles Anthony Ruslavage, 84, of Clarion, passed away on Monday, February 15, 2016 at the U.P.M.C. Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh.
He was the last member of his immediate family.
Charlie was born on February 5, 1932 in Coaldale, the son of Charles and Paetronella Zalis Ruslavage.
He graduated from Coaldale High School in 1949.
Charlie joined the US Coastguard in 1950 and served till 1952 and then later graduated from Penn State University in 1958, where he played football under head coach Rip Engle and Joe Paterno.
He was first married to Leona Kluckowski in August 1960, who preceded him in death, he then married Janet Harding on December 29, 1984, and she survives.
After college, Charlie taught and coached football at Allegheny College in Meadville, he then moved on to Clarion in 1964 where he coached in 1964 to 1988, including head coach in the 1983 season where he was proud of his record with numerous winning seasons.
Charlie was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clarion, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He was a member of the Clarion Oaks Golf Course, the Penn State Football Letterman’s Club, the Wrestling Club at CUP, and the “Audubon Society Poker Club”!
Charlie was the official timer for Golden Eagle Wrestling from 1966 to 2005 and served as timer at the finals at the National Tournament twice.
He enjoyed watching Penn State and Clarion University Football and Wrestling and tailgating.
Charlie also enjoyed playing golf, cards, gardening, and is well known for his Christmas cookies.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Ruslavage, three sons, Michael “Micky” Ruslavage of Hampton, Virginia, Charles “Chuck” Ruslavage of Canonsburg, Robert “ Rob” Ruslavage of Nashville, Tennessee, two daughters, Suzanne Ruslavage of West Warwick, Rhode Island, Amy Ruslavage of Hamburg, PA, ten grandchildren, Amanda, Kayla, Rachel, Danielle, Damien, Craig, Cody, Catherine, Nicole, and Ashton, two great grandchildren, Avery and Sawyer, five step-children, Jeff Harding of State College, Jim Harding of Sarasota, Florida, Judy Ligo of Grove City, Jennifer Harding of Annapolis, Maryland, and Greg Harding of Canandaigua, New York, and eleven step grandchildren.
Charles was preceded in death by his first wife, his parents, one daughter, Denise Avery, who died January 9, 2016, his brothers, Joseph Ruslavage and Gordon Ruslavage, his sisters, Mary Ruslavage, Theresa Repinec, Frances Witkofsky, and Debbie Baatz.
Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home in Clarion, where a Christian Wake Service will be held in the Funeral Home at 8 p.m.
Interment will follow in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2016 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clarion with Rev. Monty Sayers, pastor as presider.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Dare to Dream Football Scholarship Fund CUP Foundation Inc., 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214.
Online condolences can be sent to http://rvburnsfuneralhome.com.
