Obituary for James Sr. Schwarten

SALEM – Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the Lane Family Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel, for James Schwarten Sr., 69, who passed away Friday afternoon at Salem Community Hospital.

James was born on Feb. 4, 1945, in Youngstown, the son of John C. Sr. and Helen (Gubic) Schwarten.

James attended Fitch High School and was an Air Force veteran, serving during the Vietnam War. He was a pipefitter with the Plumbers and Steam Fitters Union Local 87, retiring in 2007.

James was of the Protestant faith and a member of the VFW in Washingtonville. His hobbies included building jeeps and taking care of his dog, Wikki.

His wife, the former Margaret LaBerto, whom he married Nov. 15, 1967, passed away March 25, 2009.

James leaves his daughter, Carrie Alfalaij and her husband, Rahman, of Alexandria, Va.; a son, James Schwarten Jr. of Salem; stepdaughter Phyllis Sabol Walter and her husband, Plain, of Lisbon; brother John C. “Jack” Jr. of Canfield; sisters Nancy Zwarcyz of Willoughby and Eleanor Schwarten of Austintown; as well as his four grandchildren, Sarah, Ryan, Nora and Wesley.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Margaret.

Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Youngstown Humane Society in James’ name