Of Shadyside, Ohio, formerly of Ohio Township, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Powhatan Point, Ohio, left this world, on February 17, 2026, at Liza’s Place, Wheeling, West Virginia.
She was born on July 23, 1939, in Powhatan Point, the daughter of the late Henry M. and Catherine (Jeffers) Bigler. Beloved wife of the late James R. Lucas. Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in-law, H. Melvin and Madelyn (Ward) Bigler.
Arlene is survived by her niece, Cindy Hughes; and nephew, Craig (Andrea) Michael Lucas; great-nieces, Jessica (Douglas) Cruse, Bailey Hughes and Alex Macuk-Lucas; great-nephews, Justin (Jennifer) Allen and Hunter Hughes; great-great-nieces and nephews, Skylar Hartley, Taegan Allen, Trey and Bryce Wright.
She is also survived by her aunt, Jane (Donald) Rubolino; and her sister-in-law, Lorraine Lucas; many treasured cousins and a host of cherished friends.
Arlene graduated with her beloved class of 1957 from Powhatan High School, then from Kent State University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Education and again in 1964 with a Master’s in Deaf Education. She worked for the Warren City School System from 1961-1963, followed by 33 years at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she was a teacher in the Special Studies Department.
She was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi educational honor society and received recognition from the Powhatan Alumni Association as a distinguished alumni in 2007. Arlene was an avid reader, a collector of owls and wildlife figurines and loved gardening at her Mary’s Lane home.
No services will be held for Arlene at her request.
From Vince Ruscavage message about her career at WPSD:
Arlene began teaching at WPSD under her maiden name, Arlene Bigler, in September 1964. She taught Special Studies students for many years. Arlene retired in 1997.
After her husband, Jim, died in December 2022, Arlene eventually moved to Ohio to live with a niece, Cindy Hughes.
Dedicated to her students and to WPSD, Arlene will also always be remembered for being a sweet, kind, and loving person.
