Frank Sinkovich

STRUTHERS - Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel, for Frank "Butch" T. Sinkovich, 46, who died early Thursday morning at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown.

Butch was born Nov. 12, 1968, in Youngstown, a son of Frank M. and Mary E. (DeMaria) Sinkovich.

Butch was a 1986 graduate of Struthers High School and attended Youngstown State University and Amarillo Junior College. He was employed with CSX Railroad since 1999, and started working as a conductor until had recently been promoted to engineer. He was a member of St. Anthony Society and the South Side Civics.

Butch had a love for American history and always enjoyed reading and learning about it. He also spent countless hours solving crossword puzzles and was a die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan. His greatest love was for his family. Butch was very family oriented and spent all summer weekends and days off at Holiday Campgrounds. He would also take one family vacation every summer to historical places or events, such as World War II reenactments. You would always catch Butch spending his evenings off reminiscing while sitting in the car in the driveway. He was an amazing husband, father and friend, and will be deeply missed.

Butch leaves his wife, the former Melissa Shaffer, whom he married Aug. 25, 1996; daughter Makayla Sinkovich, at home; two sons, Michael Shaffer and Carmen Sinkovich, at home; his parents, Frank M. and Mary E. Sinkovich of Struthers; in-laws Mike and Sandy Hazlett of Andover; sister Shari L. Sinkovich of Bushkill, Pa.; brother Dennis B. (Kathy) Sinkovich of Youngstown; sister-in-law Nicole Hazlett of Struthers; brother-in-law Roger Shaffer of Struthers; and his best friends, Garnette Dunston of Campbell, Brian Bellard of Struthers, and Anthony Walker of Struthers.

Butch was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mike and Carol Sinkovich; and maternal grandparents, Carmen and Edith DeMaria.

Family and friends may pay their respects Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that material tributes take the form of donations, in care of the funeral home, to help the family.

Butch gave the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. His selfless donations have saved the lives of many people and improved countless other lives.