Joseph Oscar Brashear

Joseph Oscar Brashear      

91 of Glenshaw, formerly of Wilkinsburg, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2022, with family at his side. He was the beloved husband of Alice Sara Bailey, loving father of Jean Bayer (Christopher), Jeffrey Brashear (Michele), Karen Landau (Ken), and Barbara Weir (Edward). He was the proud and loving grandfather of 10 grandchildren and great grandfather to 4. He is survived by his brothers James, William, and Paul Brashear. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Alice Sara, also by his parents Oscar and Dorothy Brashear of Wilkinsburg, and brothers John and Robert Brashear. Mr. Brashear honed his interest in mechanics working in his father’s automobile repair shop during and immediately after his graduation from Central Catholic High School. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Institute of Technology (CMU). He began his engineering career at the former Union Switch and Signal Division of Air Brake followed by the Blow-Knox Company and Salem-Brocius Inc. He was then employed for 18 years at the former Mesta Machine Company where he specialized in the coiling process of hot strip steel for appliance and automobile manufacturing. Mr. Brashear continued his career for 18 years before retiring with the German mill builder, SMS Siemag AG, where he held patents relating to strip steel coiling machinery. He supervised the field commissioning for the machinery he designed for steel mills in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, the Republic of South Africa, Australia, and Europe. He was a member of the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers (AIST) for 30 years. He served 9 years in the 112th Motor Vehicle Sqd. of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard as mechanic and crew chief of the auto body repair shop. Mr. Brashear was a prayer warrior and devoted to his faith in God. He was a member of St. Matthew Parish at Saint Bonaventure Church in Glenshaw for over 60 years where he was elected and served 3 terms on the Parish Council and was a lector for 25 years.  

He was a strong family man gathering his ever-growing family each year for a seashore vacation so that he and Alice could spend time with them making many beautiful and cherished memories.  His diverse talents served to connect him to joy and to others. Some of his many enjoyments were restoring model trains, listening to classical music, writing poetry and prose, painting landscapes, solving word puzzles, sharing historical details, personalizing greeting cards, and singing a baby to sleep. 

Friends may pay their respects to the family at Neely Funeral Home, 2208 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw, on Friday, October 21, from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on October 22, St. Matthew Parish at Saint Bonaventure Church, 2001 Mt. Royal Blvd, Glenshaw.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Vincentian Foundation.

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