Johnstown, Pennsylvania - SALATA - George, 102, of Johnstown, passed away on Dec. 2, 2025, at Heritage Ridge Senior Living. Born May 2, 1923, in Johnstown, son of Anna (Yanko) and John Salata. Preceded in death by parents; first wife, Katherine Salata; second wife, Ann M. (Bank) Salata (who he was married to for 30 years); and sister, Helen Lehman. Survived by his loving family, daughter, Rosanne (Bob) Cotchen; grandfather to Maria (Jason) Korns and Anthony J. Cotchen (Grace Rotar); and great-grandchildren, Victoria Rae and Charles Aveni Korns. Also survived by nieces, Mary Ann Kucenski and Carol Bell, Johnstown, and Mary (John) Stright ,her daughters, Jeana, Ashley and Aimee Stright, all of Virginia; nephews, Vincent Corica (DeLynn), his daughters, Angel (Patrick), Nicole (Josh), MariClaire (JT) and Camille, all of Georgia; Robert Hiros of Alabama; and Jim, Tom and Rick Lehman, of Johnstown. George was an Army veteran serving in European and Japan theaters of Word War II. George was especially proud of being a Boy Scout where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout (Bronze and Gold Palm and Order of Arrow). George worked for 42 years as a craneman for U.S. Steel. He was a member of Knights of Columbus (#9136 and #0954), ISDA Lodge, Padre Pio Prayer Group, Retired Men's Club (U.S. Steel), San Rocco Prayer Group and VFW #155. He was a member of St. Clare of Assisi Church where he ushered for 25 years. Friends received on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Frank Duca Funeral Home, Westmont Chapel, 1622 Menoher Blvd., prior to funeral Mass. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at 2 p.m. at St. Clare of Assisi, Father George M. Gulash. George's final wish was to ride in the Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11, 2025, which we were able to fulfill with the help of Josh Hauser of the Veterans Community Initiatives. A very special thank you to the entire staff at Heritage Ridge and Penn Hospice (Ruthie) for taking such good care of George during his time there. Per George's request: "For those of you who had no time for George during his lifetime, your name(s) were omitted from this obituary." George loved telling jokes and they will be deeply missed. He always said "laughter is the best medicine." Condolences may be sent at www.ducafuneralhome.com.