Chester Szkoda

Chester (Chet) Szkoda, age 74, passed away peacefully at Millcreek Community Hospital on April 9, 2023. He was born in Erie, April 22, 1948, of the late Chester and Virginia Szkoda. He retired from his job at General Electric as a maintenance electrician, UE Local 506, in 2003. Chet was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. 

Left to cherish his memory are his two sons, David Szkoda and wife Darra Tolle, and Miles Szkoda and wife Ashley Szkoda; his sister, Karen Balos, and his grandson, Miles Szkoda Jr.; nieces and nephews, Tiffany Montroy (David), Thomas Balos, Timothy Balos, and great nieces. 

Chet was extremely proud of his polish heritage and spent most of his evenings in retirement at the local social clubs including Moniuszko, Polish Sharpshooters, and St. Marys. His mornings would always involve working out, steam rooms, and sauna at the YMCA. 

Chet made quick friends with everyone he met and always wanted to help others out and make them happy. He was easy to remember with his beard down to his waist that he would untuck from his shirt to show everyone. 

He always brought gifts for the bartenders at his favorite clubs and would remember if you liked certain things and get them for you. He would buy socks, food, clothes, and essentials and drive by homeless shelters to give them out to the people waiting for them to open regularly; he also volunteered to serve food at the shelters from time to time. 

Later in his life he enjoyed spending time with his family and especially his grandson Miles Jr; he also loved feeding his 2 favorite dogs and cat, Bentley, Ella, and KitKat.

Relatives and friends are invited to Davis - Garr Cremation and Funeral Services, Inc. 459 East 12th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16503 on Friday, April 14, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Saturday, April 15, 2023, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm with his Funeral Service beginning at 12:00 pm with full Military Honors. 

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Lower Eastside Fighting Eagles and the Lower Eastside Sports Center.

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