WANKO

CARTHAL "CATHY" R. MERRYMAN

Carthal (Cathy) Wanko passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the age of 96, surrounded by loved ones. A long-time resident of Bridgeville and Upper St. Clair, Cathy was known as a kind, caring and faithful person who always thought of others before herself.

Cathy's was a life filled with family - which grew as the years went on; joy-of singing, baking, quilting, gardening, and taking care of her family; love-of her family and all those around her; friendships-wherever she went; and a deep faith in the Lord.

Cathy's story began in a log cabin in Culpepper, AR, where she was born to Lester and Minnie Merryman. At an early age, her parents moved the family to New Madrid, MO to become farmers. Living on a farm was not the easiest life, as Cathy would tell people. She and her sisters were expected to pitch in and help care for the chickens, pick vegetables in the garden, and they were also expected to help pick cotton, the main crop. This was incredibly difficult work, which Cathy never forgot. She kept several stems of cotton in her home - a reminder of her childhood.

After graduating from Kewanee High School, Cathy went on to attend Southeast Missouri State College before moving with her younger sister, Jane, to Gary, IN. Cathy would get a job as a receptionist at US Steel Gary Sheet & Tin Plant where, one day while at work, she was introduced to a young, handsome engineer named Thomas (Tom) Wanko, Jr. - the love of her life.

Cathy and Tom adored each other. They married on May 21,1955 and moved across the country to San Francisco where Tom served in the Army until his discharge. She spoke frequently of their time in San Francisco, the deep and lasting friendships they formed, and their love of the city. Upon returning to Gary where Tom rejoined US Steel, they started their beautiful family. Their first child arrived in 1957, followed by children in 1960, 1962, and 1964. By the time their 2nd child arrived, they had built their dream home in Crown Point, IN.

Cathy was a devoted wife, mother, and community member. She volunteered her time at church and in the community, distributed literature for political candidates and, of course, was very involved in the kids' school. She was a long-time member of the PTA, volunteering for fundraising events as well as in the classroom. To the delight of her children, Cathy made birthdays and holidays special, bringing treats to school for the kids' birthdays,

planning fun-filled birthday parties, making gingerbread houses, and baking oodles of delicious cookies at Christmas and Easter.

After Cathy and Tom moved the family to Pittsburgh, she and Tom would go on to join the Bridgeville United Methodist Church. Cathy made lifelong friends. She loved to sing. Ask her family and they will tell you she was always humming a tune or spontaneously bursting into a song. She joined the church choir where she proudly sang every Sunday. In addition to singing, Cathy was an avid quilter - something she learned from her mother. She made countless quilts for her adoring family and friends and only stopped when arthritis and poor eyesight made it too difficult. She loved to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette every day and, once finished, she would complete the crossword puzzle and jumble - something her family attributed to her razor-sharp memory up to the end of her life. She loved watching her beloved Pirates and Steelers but like many, was aggravated when they lost. Cathy was a lifelong member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Cathy was known for her baking skills - in particular her pies. Her crusts were legendary. She made pies for everyone - neighbors, family, friends, and church functions. It was her way of spreading love and joy, one bite at a time. She was also an avid gardener and had many indoor plants. As her family said - she could grow anything. She was an organ transplant recipient, receiving a donor cornea that saved her sight. She was eternally grateful to the family who made the donation.

Cathy lost her beloved Tom in 2001 and missed him terribly every day. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Pauline Sisson, Clarkie Shelby, Anna Jane Freeman, and Lilian Rose Merryman.

She is lovingly survived by her children, Tom Wanko III, Nancy Wanko, Jeff (Linda) Wanko and Laura (Paul) Blahusch; her cherished grandchildren Samantha, Zach, Hope and Aaron; and her great granddaughter, Millie; many nieces and nephews, friends, and all those whose lives she touched.

Friends will be received on Thursday, July 30, 1pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm at Beinhauer-Fryer Funeral Home, 430 Washington Pike, Bridgeville PA. Her funeral will take place on Friday, July 31,11am at Christ United Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park PA. PLEASE MEET AT THE CHURCH. Interment will immediately follow at Melrose Cemetery, 3064 Washington Pike, Bridgeville PA. If you wish to send flowers, Cathy would approve as she loved flowers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arkansas Children's Foundation, an organization in her home state that she long supported or Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park, PA.