Lawrence V. Straney

Lawrence V. Straney, (age 92), of Bloomingdale, Ohio passed away 9/15/23 at his second home on Rosegarden Rd., Pittsburgh, PA. Born in Weirton WV 2/1/1931, he graduated from WVU in 1953. He worked as an artist, musician, graphic artist, adman, writer and finally retired as a Local 495 union plumber pipefitter after twenty years in that trade with his sons. From a very early age LVS showed artistic genius. He started with a pastoral scene on the family blackboard at age 5. He filled the entire board, painstakingly in chalk, a masterpiece of light and shadow. He ran upstairs to get his Mother, who was at the sewing machine, putting a zipper in a dress. By the time they got downstairs, the scene had been cleanly wiped away by his older brother, Chad. He created many amazing works of art during his lifetime. Using watercolor, oil and acrylic paints, ink pens, pencils, pastels and chalk, every work was remarkable. Over the years after his retirement he perfected his craft and passion of doing portraits in less than thirty minutes. On many a Saturday he would go to Sienna Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Wintersville, Ohio to do a portrait of a resident, then he would go to the Antique Warehouse in Steubenville, to sketch portraits of shoppers. Often he would go out to dinner after and sketch one last portrait. Once after surgery on his right arm, he used his left hand to render a pencil drawing of his nurse. He always gave the portraits away to his ecstatic subjects. Once he created a masterpiece he called “the Neon Nuncio” of his St. John Fisher, Richmond, Ohio parish priest Fr. Kenneth Uram. He started his pencil portrait specialty at St. John Fisher as well, by completing twenty parishioner’s portraits. He enjoyed playing the piano, singing with church choirs and Barbershop groups. Son of the late Charles Nicholas and Marguerite (McNamara) Straney, he was the last remaining of his siblings: brothers Joseph, James, Charles, and Paul and sisters Abigail (John) Denning, Sr. F. Bonnie Straney, Rosarri (Vincent) St. John and Therese Straney. A devoted husband and father he is preceded in death by his youngest child, Lynn Erin Straney in 1984, and his wife of 53 years Charlene O. (Mercer) in 2007. He is survived by two sons, Lawrence Joseph (LJ) and wife Susan, of Bloomingdale, Ohio and Robert Christopher (Chris) and wife Donna of Wintersville, Ohio. And by two daughters, Patty Sue (Paul) Cooper of Newark, Ohio and Mary Michele Booth (Nurse Extraordinaire) of Pittsburg, PA. And eight grandchildren: Jamie Sue, Kim and Jessica Cooper, Meghan (Manist), Jennifer and John Lawrence Booth, Annie (Tim) Runco and Aaron (Christina) Straney. Nine great grandchildren: Zane Manist, Nathan Hawkins, Shannon McGowan, Conlan McCune, Skylee, Jada and Samantha Moore, Caydan Craig, Elle Fithen, and Winthrop Lawrence Straney (born 1/18/23. LVS witnessed Win eating his first solid food on Father’s Day 6/18/23. Praise God!). And by one great great granddaughter, a redheaded beauty: Emery Lou McGowan.

Friends will be received for visitation at the Everhart-Bove Funeral Home, 685 Canton Rd., Wintersville, Ohio, 43953, on Sunday, September 17, 2023, from 4-7 P.M. with Vigil starting at 4 P.M. Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated on Monday, September 18, 2023, at St. John Fisher, 7457 State Route 152, Richmond, Ohio, 43944, at 11 A.M. with Father McCoy officiating. Burial will follow at Richmond Union Cemetery.

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