August M. "Auggie" Gulla, 95, of East Ruddle Street, Coaldale, died Sept. 18, at home. He was the husband of Mildred H. Gulla, to whom he was married 62 years. Born on April 14, 1919 in Coaldale, Auggie was the son of the late August and Anna (nee Chatrnuch) Gulla. A lifelong resident of Coaldale, he graduated from the former Coaldale High School in 1937 and attended the Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia. In 1951, he opened a funeral home on East Ridge Street in Coaldale and, along with Mildred, directed over 2,200 funerals until his retirement in 2003. A pillar of the Panther Valley community, Auggie served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific theater of WWII and was instrumental in the construction of the Coaldale WWII memorial wall that was dedicated in 2006. A member of the Parish of St. John the XXIII Catholic Church, Tamaqua, he was a member of the Holy Name Society of the former SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in Coaldale until its closing in 2008 and was a lector there for 27 years. A proud Slovak, Auggie was bestowed the honor of locking the door of SS. Cyril and Methodius Church after the final mass. He was a life member of both the Lansford Amvets and the Coaldale VFW, a 50 year member of the Coaldale American Legion, a member of the Coaldale Fire Company and the West Ward Rod and Gun Club. Auggie served on the Coaldale Council for four years and helped organize the Carbon-Schuylkill Industrial Development Corporation where he was the chairperson of the site committee for many years. He is survived by his wife, Mildred, of Coaldale and several nieces and nephews. Predeceasing him were brothers, Frank, Stephen, and Joseph Gulla and sisters, Mary Durkin and Helen Sbarra. Service: Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 307 Pine Street, Tamaqua. Interment in SS. Cyril & Methodius Cemetery, Nesquehoning will follow the Mass. Call 2 - 4 and 6-9 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Gulla Funeral Home, 130 E. Ridge St., Coaldale. Memorials in Auggie's name may be made to a charity of choice . Online condolences at www.zrgfuneralhomes.com.