John "Bud" Greer

John Edward “Bud” Greer, age 91, of Seneca, PA, passed away peacefully at Sugar Creek Station at 9:20 p.m. on Sunday, September 8, 2019.  He was born in Knox, PA, the eldest son of the late Harry and Beulah Greer of Wentlings Corners.  

He enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War II, at the age of 17.  Although he never saw combat, he traveled to Japan to help with cleanup efforts after the war.  He returned to Knox in 1948, and was married to Marilyn (McElhattan) Greer.  The couple was married for 71 years.         

He joined Penelec as a groundman and was named apprentice lineman in 1949, and a journeyman lineman in 1951.  He became a service man on a trouble truck in the Tylersburg sub-district of the Knox district in 1952, a chief lineman in 1953 and was designated a “hot stick” in 1959.   In 1961, he was named division safety inspector in Oil City and moved to Rouseville.  He requested to return to the line department and was promoted to acting line foreman in the Eldred sub-district of the Bradford district in 1963 and to line foreman in 1964.  He returned to Oil City to become superintendent of lines in 1967, district supervisor-line in 1969, and supervisor-line in 1974.  He became manager of the Warren District in 1975 and division manager in Oil City in 1980.  

During all of his location changes, he was an active leader in the Boy Scouts; and there were many young men in Eldred, PA who will never forget his leadership and inspiration as an Explorer post leader. They share memories that will last a lifetime. While in the Leeper area, in addition to his work as a scout leader, he helped establish the community's first ever volunteer fire department, raising money for a truck, and physically helping to build the fire house. 

He took courses at the University of Michigan, Penn State University and the University of Pittsburgh.  Being very civic minded, he was on the board of directors of the Warren General Hospital and a member of the Warren-Forest Economic Opportunity Council, the Warren Library, the Friends of the Library Theater, Chief Cornplanter Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Warren-Forest Mental Health Services and the Kinzua Dam Vacation Bureau.  

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Claire Louise Smathers and her husband Richard, from Venus, PA; his sister, Barbara Hall and her husband Melvin “Tex” from Shippenville, PA; his brother in law, Cuvier “Hoop” Mong, from Mansfield, OH; and his son, John Duane Greer, from Northeast, PA. 

He is survived by wife: Marilyn M. Greer; 3 children: Michael Greer and his wife Bonnie, from Los Angeles, CA; Dennis Greer and his wife Anita, from Erie, PA; and Julie Lindemuth and her husband Clayton, from St. Charles, MO; three grandsons: Steve Greer; Nathan Greer and his wife Megan; John Greer and his wife Kortney; 1 grandaughter: Stacy Lee and her husband, Michael; 4 great grandsons:  Ben Greer, Shain Tinney, Colt Greer, Nash Greer; 5 great granddaughters: Shonnie Mercader and her husband, Fernando, Michaela Lee, Mckenzie Lee, Mira Greer and Imogen Greer; and 2 great great granddaughters: Maya Mercader and Olive Mercader and numerous nieces and nephews.  Also surviving are 2 brothers, Bob Greer and his wife Linda, from Knox, PA and Harry Greer Jr. and his wife Ruth Ann from Weedsport, NY; and one sister, Martha Mong from Mansfield, OH.    

As he requested, there will be no viewing or funeral service.  Interment at Knox Cemetery in Knox, PA will be scheduled by the family at a later date. 

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place,
Memphis, TN 38105.

Funeral arrangements are being completed by Hile-Best Funeral Home in Seneca, Cranberry Township.  To express condolences to the Greer family online, please visit www.hilebest.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John "Bud" Greer, please visit our floral store.