Adrian Francis Betleski, 92, Former Lorain County Common Pleas Judge

He was born July 9, 1917 in Brooklyn, Ohio and had resided in Lorain since 1950.

As a youth he grew up in Parma and West Salem where his family had a 120-acre dairy farm. He graduated from Homerville High School in Medina County in 1934. After graduation, he managed the family farm until 1941 when he trained and was accepted as an Ohio State Highway patrolman. He served at stations in Brown County, Wilmington and Troy, Ohio until 1942 when he enlisted in the US Navy as an aviation cadet. He took balloon and blimp flight training and graduated to fly all night blimp anti-sub patrol over shipping lanes in the Caribbean. Later he trained in celestial navigation and was assigned as a navigator on engine cargo planes in Hawaii.

After his discharge he enrolled at the Ohio State University in their Arts-Law curriculum and graduated in 1949 with a BS in Political Science and a Bachelor of Laws (Juries Doctorate in Law).

Adrian was admitted to the Bar Association in 1950 and began private law practice in Lorain with Atty Charles Chapla. He was appointed Assistant Prosecutor to Ray Miraldi in Lorain Municipal Court but was recalled to serve in the Navy during the Korean War. He served for 2 years as a personnel officer at Naval Air Station in Akron returning to Lorain in 1953. There he resumed private law practice and was appointed Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor by Paul M. Mikus and served that post for 6 years. In 1960 he was elected to the office of City Solictor serving 3 terms. In 1976 he was elected to Common Pleas judgeship serving 2 terms retiring in 1988.

Adrian was a member of Jackson Grange #2650 in Ashland County, a life member of the Ohio State Bar Association, past president of the Lorain County Bar Association, life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #451 and Polish Legion of American Veterans #38, both of Lorain. He was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Lorain where he served as a lector, Eucharistic Minister and Treasurer of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was a member of Cursillo, the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church Holy Name Society in Lorain and a life member and 4th degree knight with the Knights of Columbus in Lorain.

He enjoyed photography, gardening, crossword puzzles, reading, stamp collecting and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years Eileen (nee Curran), children: Clinton Betleski, Rosanne (Gregory) Berton, Adrian (Diane) Betleski, Jr., Philip J. Betleski and Mark (Suzanne) Betleski, 9 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and 1 great grandchild on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Euphemia Betleski, brother Edwin and sister Evelyn Power.

The family will receive friends Thursday 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 1305 E. Erie Ave., Lorain where a mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 10 a.m. The Rev. Joseph West, OFM Conv., pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Ridge Hill Memorial Park in Amherst Township where VFW Post #451 and American Legion Post #30, both of Lorain, will conduct military honors.

Memorial contributions can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1305 E. Erie Ave., Lorain, OH. 44052 or Catholic Charities, 1404 E 9th St., Cleveland, OH. 44114-1722.

Arrangements are under the direction of Jerome M. Hromada, Licensed Funeral Director, Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave., Lorain.

Online condolences may be made at www.gluvna.net.