Age 86, formerly of the Pittsburgh area, died Saturday, May 21, 2016, in Charleston, SC.  He was the son of the late Henry and Virginia Gartside, and is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dolores; his two sons, Michael (Carol)Gartside and John (CathyGartside); his two daughters, Christine (Keith) Cameron and Mary Kay (Jim) Tappe; and 12 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

Roger Gartside had a gentle, yet commanding, demeanor, the dichotomy of which made him a natural leader respected by all who knew or met him.  He was steadfastly loyal to his family and friends.  He had a reassuring countenance that immediately instilled a sense of comfort and security in everyone with whom he interacted.  He also had an uncanny ability to disarm his family and friends with his subtle humor and humbleness.  He always provided for his family and lived each day to the fullest.  He loved to be outdoors hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and planting trees, as that was his natural therapy.

He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and, thus, was a voracious reader.  He was particularly interested in anything mechanical, and he loved learning each and every detail of the American Civil War, especially the day- to- day events of the Battle of Gettysburg

He worked for Pannier Corporation for 30 years  as Vice President of Engineering, and during his career, developed several patented machines for engineering and manufacturing product identification

He and Dolores retired to Coudersport, PA,  where they spent most of their time enjoying their 12 Grandchildren. Roger was also instrumental in resurrecting the Coudersport Arboretum, and he was proud to be the president of the “Baker Hollow Road” Association.

He was very active in The Boy Scouts of America for 25 years. While serving as Scoutmaster , he mentored 25+ young men, who earned their Eagle Scout rank, which is the pinnacle of success in the Scouts

Roger proudly served his country in the US Army from 1952 to 1954, during the Korean Conflict , where he served in the Counter-Intelligence Corps and was stationed for 18 months in Stuttgart, Germany .

Visitation with his family Friday 6-8 PM at Neely Funeral Home 2208 Mt. Royal  Blvd. Glenshaw.

Funeral Mass 10 A.M. St. Bonaventure Church

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gettysburg Battlefield Fund, P.O. Box

4629 Gettysburg, PA 17325 or to The Boy Scouts of America

 Service Information