Albert F. Moran

Albert F. Moran, 80, of Hopewell Township, passed away peacefully on April 2 at Good Samaritan Hospice after a long struggle with heart failure. He was born on April 28, 1935 in Tunnelton, West Virginia, to the late Eddie R. and Gertrude Mae (Hall) Moran. He proudly served our country as a Light Weapons Infantryman in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He retired from Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation’s Aliquippa Works with 36 years’ service as a pipefitter in the Seamless Tube Department where his buddies called him “Bulldozer.” For over 40 years, he and his family business, Moran Excavating, helped to shape the landscape of western Pennsylvania by building countless home foundations, driveways and yards, septic systems, roads, water lines, ponds and other improvements. Al had a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. He was a member of New Life Presbyterian Church in Hopewell Township, St. James Lodge #457 Free and Accepted Masons, New Castle Consistory, Woodlawn Chapter #164 Order of the Eastern Star and the National Rifle Association. As much as he loved shaping the earth with heavy machinery, Al believed in shaping the lives of young people. He found great joy in serving as director of Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League Youth Camp and Youth Fishing Derby. At New Life Presbyterian Church he had been a deacon and led youth group mission trips to Texas and Brazil. He served as coach for the Aliquippa Little Steelers, was a youth hunter education instructor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, taught firearms safety, and helped to establish Independence Conservancy’s Land Camp for teens. Al cherished the beauty of God’s creation and worked all his life to protect it. He was the first student president of Hopewell High School’s Conservation, Fishing and Hunting Club. He was a past president of Sewickley Shooting & Fishing Club and the Aliquippa Bucktail League. As co-founder and chairman of Independence Conservancy, he built ponds to filter out billions of gallons of acid mine pollution from Raccoon Creek, used his excavating equipment and ingenuity to clean up thousands of tons of rubbish and tires from the hillsides and valleys of southern Beaver County. Al is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Ruth (Smith) Moran; son Victor Moran and wife Cheryl, and grandson Matthew Moran, all of Center Township; daughter-in-law Jean Moran, sister Sherry Ann Moran; daughters Deborah, Julie, and Donna Moran, all of Florida; aunt Sylvie Moran of State College PA; sister-in-law Marie Graham of Florida; many special nephews, nieces and cousins. Al is also survived by his devoted friend Vicky Michaels of Beaver. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Joseph in 2014, infant sister Maxine and brother Richard. Al’s family is grateful to his many doctors, nurses and therapists for their patience and kindness. Special thanks to his friend, Dr. Francis Lally, who had a hand in many miracles. As a tribute to Al, cherish your family and friends, serve Christ and community, and care for the earth. Friends will be received on Wednesday from 4 to 8 at Huntsman Funeral Home, 2345 Mill Street, Aliquippa. Members of St. James Lodge will conduct a Masonic service at 7:30 PM. Funeral service will be conducted at Huntsman’s on Thursday at 11 AM by Al’s pastor, Jared Nelson. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery where the members of the Beaver County Special Unit will conduct military honors at Noon.