stephen finney
Stephen Glenn "Squeaky" Finney of Wheeling, Departed the Depot on a Train Bound for Glory on September 10, 2021. He was his "Favorite Number" 69 years young. He lived and died on his terms. Steve was born in Martins Ferry, OH, on November 3, 1951, the first of two sons born to Marvin Glenn and Virginia Viola Bidka Finney. Marvin owned and operated Mar Glenn's Rug Cleaning business for 40+ years. His rugs are still being used 40 years later at Oglebay Park in the Pine Room. His grandparents were Walter and Nellie Bidka, who traveled here from Poland, entering this country as immigrants through Ellis Island sponsored by Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel, as Walter was a master carpenter. Roland and Alma Finney were his paternal grandparents. They owned and operated Wheeling Quality Laundry. Steve's first job was working for them at the tender age of 12. He would travel with his father and grandfather across the Ohio valley servicing many customers, as they owned multiple laundry services up and down the Ohio River. Since the 1980s, Steve owned and operated Hilltop Engravers. He engraved signs, plaques and nametags for individuals and businesses in the Ohio Valley and across the United States for over 40 years all the while using a Commodore 64 computer from 1982. Steve said it worked faster than his fingers could type and being the type of guy, he was he stood his ground saying if it isn't broke don't fix it and continued using the Commodore 64 daily. He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1969, being part of the first graduating class of the newly built school in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He went to college in Silver Springs, Maryland and when he graduated from there according to Steve, the two highest paying jobs in the Ohio Valley were attorney's and electricians. Steve said “he couldn't be that big of a” so he became an Electrician and joined the I.B.E.W. Local 141, in Wheeling where he became a Union Journeyman Electrician for over 45 years. He met his first wife Dorothy Sedor at a New Year's Eve party and together they were blessed with two sons, Justin and Dustin. After five years of marriage, Dorothy and Steve went their separate ways. It was January 10, 1996 – 26 years ago today – at 3:10 p.m. at the Sherrard Volunteer Fire Department, where Steve was at a Search and Rescue meeting when he was introduced to Roseanna Colvin. Roseanna who had just lost 110 pounds on a diet of cigarettes, Sprite, and pretzels said it was love at first sight. It was his bedroom eyes and winning smile missing a front tooth, that first caught the attention of this divorced mother of a four-year-old son. After the meeting as they were enjoying appetizers, Steve approached Roseanna from behind putting his hands around Roseanna’s waist he said, “I wonder what this waist felt like 110 pounds ago.” Roseanna was intrigued and smitten by the Love Bug. Their first date was on Roseanna's birthday in May of 1996 at The Cheese Cellar in Station Square in Pittsburgh. Steve paid the bill and because it was Roseanna's birthday, he got her age as a discount percentage off the bill. He loved her from that moment forward as she was always saving him money. For those of you who knew Steve, you knew that he was very frugal. Roseanna would say if Steve's Polish Tylek was any tighter, he would crap diamonds. Steve said since Roseanna introduced him to yard sales, he would never wash clothes again. He said he would just wear his shorts until they were good and dirty and then throw them away because he knew he could get a new pair at a yard sale for 25 cents. They were married on January 1, 1999, as Steve wanted to be married on a holiday because he said that way, he would never forget their anniversary. So, Roseanna said let's just start the year off right and get married on New Year's Day and they did. Most marriages are like taking a bath, they are not so hot after a while. If you compare Steve's and Roseanna's marriage to taking a bath, it was hot, steamy, and full of bubbles. It never got old or cold. A match made in Heaven. Whenever Steve and Roseanna were asked how long they had been married they would reply in unison, "Not long enough.” Roseanna and Steve were inseparable for the next 25-plus years. Steve’s friends and family would say he and Roseanna were two peas in a pod. Roseanna’s friends and family would say she married a male version of herself. People would say Steve was one of a kind. Roseanna would reply “yes he was…my favorite kind." They worked hard and played harder. Steve found enjoyment when he was around trains. He was fascinated by the railroad, which led to a hobby of collecting trains. Steve owned multiple Railroad Speeders or "Putt -Putt" cars and loved going on adventures up and down the rails. His favorite vacation destination was in Durbin, West Virginia, being a Caboose Castaway on the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. They are lovingly referred to as "The Finney Factor" by many as where every year for the last 15 years Steve and Roseanna would meet and greet the train passengers over the Fourth of July, while giving them private tours of the caboose, entertaining the passengers, and promoting the railroad. They would stay two weeks over the Fourth of July enjoying nature at its finest and many a night’s fireworks could be heard as they burst forth in color, lighting up the night skies when the Finney's were Caboose camping. Steve always made everybody's Fourth of July shine bigger and brighter than the rest going above and beyond with the biggest and brightest fireworks money could buy. They also did the Toys for Tots railroad ride several years using the railroad Speeder Putt - Putt cars to carry the gifts and toys that people brought to the train tracks as they waved down the train cars and gave toys to be donated to children. Steve loved Chocolate Reese’s Cups; they were his favorite. Roseanna said when it came to chocolate Steve was “genderly” confused. he should have been a woman, as his love for chocolate was so strong. Steve would tease Roseanna and tell her she was the only thing he liked that wasn't chocolate. He also lived on and enjoyed Pop-Tarts which made their glorious debut in 1964, when Kellogg first introduced the toaster pastry that would forever change breakfast and life as Steve knew it. He enjoyed a daily sugary diet of Pop-Tarts, Reese’s Cups and chased them with Chocolate milk. He enjoyed them for more than 50 years. He only ate the brown sugar and cinnamon ones, as he said he didn't know what was in the fruit ones. Roseanna would say, "Well, if the box says they're strawberry, chances are they are strawberry." Steve was a hot-blooded man, so he wore shorts year-round even in sub-zero temperatures with only a hat, vest, and slip-on shoes without socks. He and Roseanna had a running joke when people were taken aback by seeing him in shorts in cold weather and would inquire as to why he was wearing shorts. He would tell them it was because his wife wore the pants in the family. Steve and Roseanna enjoyed volunteering in many organizations. One of them was working the New River Gorge Train making the trip from Huntington to Hinton many years while entertaining their train car passengers. It was along that trip that they would meet Sue and Rickie Dale who were at the Hawk's Nest boat dock. Steve and Roseanna would then travel to Hawk's Nest for Bridge Day each year and enjoy a trip up the river in a Jet boat captained by Rickie Dale and his trusty sidekick, Rickie's loving wife Sue, whom Steve and Roseanna would wave at each time they came through the New River Gorge on the train and making a lasting friendship. They also enjoyed watching the Cardinal Amtrak Train make its way to Washington, D.C. as they stayed at the Hawk's Nest Lodge. Steve had many accomplishments. One he was especially proud of was obtaining his CDL (Commercial Driver's License). He held a Class A CDL with many endorsements. His most proud endorsement was becoming a licensed School Bus Driver. Being a Professional driver Steve lived by his motto. He would say "Wear your seatbelt and always use your turn signals even if you are doing 90 mph." Judy, his mother-in-law would jokingly say he invented Road Rage. He was a member of the I.B.E.W. Local 141 for over 45 years. He was a Board Trustee Member of The Mt. Olivet Cemetery following in the footsteps of his father, Marvin who was the Sexton at the cemetery. He volunteered in many groups including U.S.SARR Search And Rescue Recovery, which looks for lost or missing persons, and Belmont County REACT, which provides emergency radio communications and safety breaks with free coffee and snacks for travelers. He and Roseanna would spend many weekends at the roadside rest nourishing the traveling public in hopes of making their travels a little bit brighter. He was an organ donor giving the most precious gift of life, donating gallons of life saving blood over the years as a member of The American Red Cross. He was a member of the Ohio County Civil Air Patrol, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 3-9, West Virginia Mountain Railroad Logging Association, NARCOA (North American Railcar Operators Association), A.R.C.H.E.S. (American Railway Caboose Historical Educational Society), Life Member of NASAR (National Association for Search and Rescue). His most treasured railroad is Cass Scenic Railroad. He was proud to be a stockholder in The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad which now operates The Cass Scenic Railroad. He considered it "His own personal railroad." If Steve was the Engineer on the train his headlight would be on the brightest setting all the time and his whistle would be blowing loud and long. In addition to his parents, Steve was preceded in death by his brother, Samuel Mark Finney on September 23, 2006. Steve will be remembered with eternal love by his loving wife Roseanna Colvin Finney; his two sons, Justin David Finney (Stephanie), and Dustin James Finney; his stepson, Timm "Otis" Shughart (Ashlee Goff); his grandchildren, Brenden, Alyssa, Jael, Stephen and Matthew Finney, Gavinn and Everett "Sebastian" Shughart. Proverbs 17:22 says A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones". Just being around Steve could lift a man's spirit as Steve truly lived life with a Merry heart. He brightened the lives of all of us fortunate enough to have spent time with him. He was our medicine for happiness as he could turn a frown upside down giving us strength with memories to cope with this new chapter. Steve remains in our hearts cheering us on. A private memorial was held in his honor as Steve did not want a funeral. He said there were better ways to spend $10,000. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Steve's memory to The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad P.O. Box 44 Durbin, WV 26264 "Happy Rails To You Until We Meet Again''

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  1. Steve you certainly brought a smile to us! I know you are riding that big train in the sky. Much love to you, Rosie and all the family.


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