Rev. Robert M. Sheehan

Robert Merrill Sheehan died on August 30, 2014 in Toledo, Ohio. He was born in Cochranton, Pennsylvania on October 26, 1925 to Merrill E. and Alice (Sortore) Sheehan. He volunteered for the US Army in 1943 and served most of his duty in occupied Japan. After college and seminary, he was a pastor or interim pastor for many Presbyterian churches, and served as a Christian Education Consultant in the Synod of the Trinity in Pennsylvania. In the early 1960s, he promoted an ecumenical church movement with two friends - a Priest and Rabbi. He participated in the March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963. He was always the advocate and champion for people who were being left out. During the past 15+ years, he strongly advocated for gay and lesbian clergy and lay leaders to be fully accepted into the church.

Survivors include his sons Robert M. Sheehan, Jr. (Michelle Gilliard) of Silver Spring, MD; Patrick (Elaine Arnzen) Sheehan of Toledo, OH; Tim Sheehan (Stacey Klausner) of Eagleville, PA; daughter Colleen Wright (Forrest Buffenmyer)of Mesa, AZ; grandchildren Troy, Lauren, Erin, and Allison Sheehan; Janelle, Amber, and Kendra Charles; Shaina Sweeney; brother-in-law George Overmoyer of Cooperstown, PA; sister-in-law Shirley Sheehan of Cochranton PA ; many nieces and nephews; former wife and mother of his children Ellen Sheehan of Greensburg, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Pat (John) Hillkirk, Rose Overmoyer, and Jim Sheehan.

Friends are welcome from 2-4 and 6-8 PM on Friday, September 5, 2014 in Salandra Funeral Service, Inc., Joseph P. Salandra Owner/Supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, PA 15317 724-745-8120. Friends are also welcome from 9:00-10:00 AM on Saturday, September 6, 2014 with funeral services beginning at 10:00 AM in the First Presbyterian Church, 100 East Wheeling Street, Washington, PA 15301. Interment and graveside services will begin at 4:00 PM Saturday at Cochranton Cemetery, Cochranton, PA.

The family prefers donations to Camp Dream Catcher (www.campdreamcatcher.org), Children's Medical Missions West (www.CMMWest.com) or the charity of one's choice.