Carl Walter Sobek – Hermitage, Pa.

Carl Walter Sobek, 72, of Hermitage, Pa., passed away peacefully at his home on Sept 25, 2022. Carl was born Dec. 24, 1949, as the only son of Carl Paul and Irene Belczyk. He was a Catholic by faith. He graduated from Belle Vernon High School and went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh and graduate from California University of Pennsylvania. During his college years, he worked at Allenport Steel Mill and was proud that he was able to put himself through college. He then started what would begin a very long and successful career in retail management at Hills Department Store, a true Pittsburgh favorite. He continued this journey until his retirement from CVS Pharmacy in 2014 as an executive leader. He received countless awards and accolades for his performance along the way. Although he enjoyed many traditional retiree activities, he liked to keep himself busy and began driving cars for Taylor/Diehl Automotive. He loved the travel of this job but more so the camaraderie of the people he met and the customers he served. Anyone who knew Carl knew he had the best wit and sense of humor. He was a walking encyclopedia and knew more about music, nature, history and any topic you could imagine. It was a running joke with his family that they would text him rather than use Google if they had a question. He loved music so much, especially classic rock. He delighted in adding things to his Spotify playlist and sharing it with his daughters. He was proud of his Polish heritage and loved to cook Polish food for his family … and they sure loved it when he cooked for them. He was an avid apple and berry forager and loved to have his wife bake pies with his findings. He was a lifetime fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and even though it was a rocky road at times, he stuck by them. He loved the ocean and especially loved the Florida beaches. He planned countless trips there so that he could enjoy his favorite place with his favorite people, his family. In recent years, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling the state of Florida to see the winter migration of the manatees with his daughter Jordan. He even adopted a manatee named Gator. He spent many weekends at his cottage in Erie with his family and friends. He loved putzing around as the full-time caretaker of these properties and enjoyed every minute of it. Above all of this, Carl loved more than anything his wife, his daughters and his two grandsons. He lived for them and lived to take care of and provide for them. He loved his dogs unconditionally and never met an animal he didn’t fall in love with. Family was the most important thing to him, and not a day went by that he didn’t call or text his kids a hello, a recipe or a check in. His family will remember him for more things than they can possibly put on paper, but above all, they will remember him for his sweet, kind gentle soul and for being the best husband, father, papap and friend. He is already missed every minute of every day and will be missed forever. Carl is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Darla; three daughters, Jordan, Chelsea and her husband Anthony Pappaterra and Alexandra, all of Pittsburgh; his two loving grandsons, Judd Carl and James Anthony; and his best pals, Purl, Lenny, Lorne, Willie and Teensula. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Irene. Friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, at ELEY/MCCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC., 334 Main St., Fayette City, www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.com. A memorial service will take place at 8 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home with Father Michael Crookston officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s research.