Funeral Mass will be Aug. 25 for Gary J. "Moe" Meszaros, Seneca Road, South Pymatuning Township, who passed away surrounded by his loving family and friends at 3:49 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, 2015, in Hillcrest Hospital, Cleveland, from complications following surgery. He was 68. Gary was born Nov. 10, 1946, to John and Elva (Myers) Meszaros. A lifelong resident of Mercer County, Gary grew up on McClure Avenue in Sharon. He attended the former St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Sharon High School, class of 1964. Gary proudly served in the U.S. Army with the 1st Calvary in AnKhe, Vietnam, in the S-2 Intelligence Unit. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1967, he returned to Sharon and owned and operated Valley Carpet Care, while attending Youngstown State University, majoring in business administration. Gary co-founded the Old Express Ltd. Restaurant Corp. and operated the Old Express Restaurant, Freight House - Night Club, and Seafood Express, both in Sharon and Warren, Ohio, and Tully's. In 1974, he opened the first Quaker Steak and Lube in Sharon. He was involved and oversaw 64 restaurants in 16 states and Canada. In addition to restaurant operations, Gary started the Bavarian Fun Fest, Small Ships Revue and numerous other community events and fundraisers. Upon his retirement, he continued to serve on The Lube board of directors. He has received numerous business awards, including the National Restaurant Association's Concepts of Tomorrow. Quaker Steak and Lube, under his management, has received hundreds of awards for concept and design, as well as Best Wings U.S.A., and many awards for its sauces. Gary also received many personal awards, including the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year and the Boy Scouts of America's Distinguished Citizen of the Year. He was founding president of the Strimbu Memorial Fund for seven years and a founding member of the O'Brien Children's Memorial Fund. Gary served as chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and was proud to direct its move to the current headquarters on Fisher Hill Street in Sharon. He was also a board member of the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce and a member of S.E.E.D. Inc., the local economic development organization. Gary was awarded the Henry and Catherine Evans Community Service Award in 2013 from F.H. Buhl Club. He also was a 2013 inductee to the Sharon High School Hall of Fame. Gary is credited with bringing the vision of WaterFire Sharon to the area. It was he who encouraged a small group of local business people to visit Providence, R.I., to witness the original event. They returned as believers and Gary led the process to bring it home to the Shenango Valley. He was a member of St. Joseph Church, Sharon. He was a former member of the Sharon Social Fishing Club, Lake Muskoka, Canada; a founder and longtime member of Penn Northwest Development Corp.; and a founder and member of the Shenango Valley Industrial Development Corp. He was a current member of Avalon Golf and Country Club, Sharpsville Veterans of Foreign Wars and Sharpsville American Legion. He survived for more than 45 years as president of a group of close friends of more than 50 years called TOOTERS. It was perhaps his most difficult endeavor. Gary enjoyed spending as much time as he could at the cottage and, although he was a world traveler, saw nothing as beautiful as a sunset over Lake Erie. He enjoyed fishing and scuba diving and gathering with family and friends. Gary married Kathleen "Katie" Miller Meszaros in August 1972. They have three children, Rachel, Ivan and Lon. Ivan and his wife, Nicole have blessed them with four grandchildren, Logan, Myia, Grayson and Keely, whom he adored. He also leaves: his brothers, John Meszaros and his wife Bonita (Archer), and Ernest Meszaros and his wife, Ruth (Fabri); as well as his sister, Cheryl Faylo and her husband, Ed. He also is survived by two sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted Roys. He was preceded in death by: his parents, John and Elva (Myers) Meszaros; a sister, Dolores Green; and in-laws, Paul and Anna Miller. More than anything, Gary was truly a man of spirit, kindness and strong will. He would give you anything and ask nothing in return but a warm smile, thank you and God speed. He would expect us to carry on his passion for family, philanthropy, great food, friends and fun. Gary was larger than life, and many were proud to call him friend. "What's more fun than having fun!" In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Meszaros Family Charitable Foundation c/o Community Foundation in care of Western PA and Eastern Ohio, 7 W. State St., Suite 301, Sharon, PA 16146. Calling hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday (8-23-15) and 3 to 7 p.m. Monday (8-24-15) in St. Joseph Church, East State Street at Case Avenue, Sharon. Service: Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. Tuesday (8-25-15) in the church, with the Rev. Thomas Whitman, pastor, as celebrant. Interment: Oakwood Cemetery, Hermitage, with military honors rendered by the West Middlesex VFW, Wheatland American Legion and Farrell VFW Honor Guard.