HUBBARD Edward Michael Zitnik, Sr., 55, of Hubbard, died on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 at his residence. He was born on January 5, 1952 in Youngstown, Ohio, a son of Frank A. Zitnik and the former Ann M. Vukovich and was a lifelong Hubbard resident.

Ed was a graduate of Ursuline High School in 1970 and Youngstown State University in 1974. He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Youngstown.
He was co-proprietor of Bell-Wick Lanes in Hubbard and sole proprietor of Wedgewood Lanes in Austintown. Ed began his bowling association involvement as a member of the Mahoning Valley Proprietor's Association in 1978, becoming a founding member of the Youngstown Area Bowling Council. He organized the Ohio State Junior Qualifier for Team USA in 1985 and was instrumental in the development of the Grand Prix Scholarship program. He served on the Ohio state YABA board and the BPAO Youth Committee. Edward was past president of the Ohio Bowling Proprietor's Association and served as the Sergeant-at-Arms and Secretary of the National Bowling Proprietors Association. He received national recognition for his creative idea called "Ladies First" program as the Bowlers Journal Idea of the Month in April, 1993. Ed also was noted for his development of the "Bring 'em Back" campaign in Ohio. His awards also include the Bowlers Journal Promotion of the Year and the WBA and the BPAA-TEAM award. He was responsible for instituting the Youth Seminar/Workshops for interested supporters of youth bowling in the state of Ohio. In 1996, Ed was inducted into the Ohio Bowling Hall of Fame, then Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame and the Y.M.B.A. Hall of Fame in 1998. He has long been an avid supporter of youth bowling and was an advocate for the addition of high school bowling into the OHSAA as a team sport.

Edward's favorite pastime was spending time with his children and supporting their numerous athletic, musical, religious, and academic interests.
Edward was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his five children who dearly love him, Mary E. Zitnik, Anna M. Zitnik, Kathryn A. Zitnik, Edward M. Zitnik, Jr., and Andrew W. Zitnik, his brother and sister-in-law, Francis A. Zitnik and Theresa Zitnik, Ruthie Zitnik, former wife and mother of their five children, all of Hubbard, his niece, Lynn Wisniewski of North Carolina, and his nephew, Matthew Zitnik of Cleveland.

A prayer service will be held at the Kelley-Robb Funeral Home at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a funeral mass at 1:00 p.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, 421 Covington Street, Youngstown, Ohio. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Friends and family may call from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Zitnik Childrens' College Fund at Cortland Bank.

Please visit www.kelley-robb.com to view this obituary and to send condolences to the family.

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