OBITUARIES
James H. Bowser Sr.
Jan 21, 2026
James H. Bowser Sr., 87, of Altoona, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2026, at UPMC Altoona Hospital, surrounded by family and loved ones. He was born on March 27, 1938, in Altoona to the late Mearl and Lilly (Sleek) Bowser. James was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend whose presence brought warmth to those who knew him. He...
Michael Paul Gambardella
Jan 14, 2026
Michael Paul Gambardella, 61, of Alexandria, PA passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2026, following an extended illness. He was born May 4, 1964, in Gettysburg, PA son of the late Gaetano and Sandra (Zettle) Gambardella. Surviving is his son; Collin, 2 grandchildren; Kellin and Ember, a brother; Vincent, 2 sisters; Sherri Burley and Donna Hollen, and a half sister, Cheryl...
Sandra Lee Welch
Jan 14, 2026
Sandra Lee Welch, 75, of Altoona, passed away Wednesday January 14, 2026, at The Villages of Midtown Oaks. She was born on March 6, 1950, daughter of the late Herman and Janet (Vipond) Price. Sandra married Clyde L. “Pete” Welch on November 16, 1968, and he preceded her in death on February 25, 2021. Surviving are two daughters; Cherie Wise...
William L. "Bill" Lear
Jan 5, 2026
William L. “Bill” Lear, 72, of Altoona, passed away Monday, January 5, 2026, at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center. He was born on September 25, 1953, in Altoona, son of the late Charles F. and Helen L. (Musselman) Lear. Surviving is his loving wife of 37 years Deborah A. (Lenhart) Lear. Also surviving is his daughter, Rene’...
Marian L. Morgan
Jan 3, 2026
Marian L. Morgan, 92, of Altoona, passed away Saturday January 3, 2026, at Upmc Altoona Hospital. She was born on July 8, 1933, in Altoona, daughter of the late Alfred J. and Marjorie K. (Durbin) Harber. Marian married Robert J. “Jack” Morgan in 1953, and he preceded her in death April of 2006. Surviving are her two sons: Michael J....
Suzanne E. Hatch
Dec 31, 2025
Suzanne E. Hatch, 88, passed away unexpectedly at her home on New Year's Eve, with family at her side. Born August 11, 1937, in Altoona, to the late James and Katharyne (Sell) Boland. She is survived by her children, Eileen Williams (Gary), Randy Hatch (Judy), and Dave Hatch (Sherry); many grandchildren and great grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, and cousins. She...
Haider Mohammedali Rajpar
Dec 30, 2025
Haider Mohammedali Rajpar, 86, Altoona, passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at UPMC Altoona. Born July 21, 1939, Ndanda, Tanzania, son of the late Mohammedali and Rubab (Somji) Rajpar. Survived by his wife, Shamim (Roberta J. “Bobbie” Harter) Rajpar; daughters, Rashida and husband, Chris Larkin; and Yasmin and husband, Tyler Franklin; grandchildren, Meena Larkin, Sophia Larkin, Isaiah Franklin, Silas Franklin...
Robert J. Prebish
Dec 24, 2025
Robert J. Prebish, 77, of Altoona, passed away on Christmas Eve after a brief and sudden illness. He was born August 4, 1948, in Cresson, the son of the late Peter and Mary L. (Padilla) Prebish. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Linda (Merritts) Prebish, his brother and sister-in-law, Paul “Pizzo” and Kathy Prebish, his brother, John...
Mary Jane Mills
Dec 24, 2025
Mary Jane Mills,79, of Altoona passed away Wednesday December 24, 2025, at UPMC Altoona Hospital. She was born on November 19, 1946, in Altoona, daughter of the late Herbert and Cora (Clapper) Keller. She married David H. Mills on June 26, 1965 and he preceded her in death on June 7, 2021. Surviving is her four children: Vanessa M. Mills...
William T. "Bill" Weyant
Dec 23, 2025
William T. “Bill” Weyant, 73, of Altoona, passed away Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at UPMC Altoona hospital following an extended illness. He was born on November 11, 1952, in Hollidaysburg, son of the late Kenneth R. and Nancy A. (Thomas) Weyant. Surviving is his wife, Rebecca L. Weyant, 3 children: Lisa M. Weyant, William T. Weyant Jr. and Heather J....
William R. College
Dec 18, 2025
William R. College, 64, Altoona, passed away December 18, 2025, at his home with his loved ones by his side after an extended illness. Born March 1, 1961, in Altoona. William is survived by his mother, Sharon Hollingsworth and her partner John Miller; children, Michelle (Asa) Mosey and Michael (Erica) College; grandchildren, Jayden Mosey, Aurora Mosey, Alesia Mosey, and Kate...
Joan Marie Conroy
Dec 16, 2025
Joan Marie Conroy, 92, of Manassas VA, formerly of Altoona, passed away Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Paramount Senior Living in Virginia. She was born on June 19, 1933, in Altoona, daughter of the late Henry T. and Angeline ( Cancilla) Mangiacarne. Joan married Ralph J. Conroy on February 27, 1954, and he preceded her in death on December 13,...
John J. Schirf
Dec 8, 2025
John Joseph Schirf, 85, Flinton, PA; formerly of Chesterfield, VA, passed away Monday, December 8, 2025, at the Lutheran Home at Hollidaysburg. He was born on November 18, 1940, in Altoona, son of the late Herbert T. Sr. and Dorothy A. (Ernest) Schirf. Surviving are his two daughters, Mary Catherine Schirf of Silver Spring, MD and Helen Marie Schirf of...
Debra Ann Metzler
Dec 4, 2025
Debra Ann Metzler, 67, Tyrone, passed away Thursday, December 4, 2025. She was born on March 30, 1958, in Altoona, daughter of the late Richard W. and Dorothy Hamp. She was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Metzler; grandmother, Mary DeArmitt; and brother, Allen J. Hamp. Surviving are her two siblings, Richard C. and Linda A. Hamp; 9...
John W. Patton
Nov 25, 2025
John William Patton, 75, Bellwood, passed away November 25, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. Born July 24, 1950, Altoona, son of Harold and Clare Ann (Garman) Patton. Preceded in death by his parents and father and mother-in-law, Grover and Martha Spotts. Survived by his loving wife, Marsha (Spotts) Patton; son, John Patton and wife, Mary; grandchildren, Mason...
Barry J. Bollinger
Nov 24, 2025
Barry J. Bollinger, 74, Altoona, passed away Monday, November 24, 2025 at his residence after an extended illness. Born May 14, 1951, Altoona, son of the late James and Pauline (Zimmerman) Bollinger. Survived by his loving wife, Melissa (Chilcote) Bollinger; son, Ryan Bollinger; brother, Kim Bollinger and wife, Deborah; nieces, Christina and Lisa Reedy; and his beloved fur babies, Bella...
Jedadiah "Jay" Ward
Nov 11, 2025
Jedadiah “Jay” Ward, 40, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2025. Born on August 28, 1985, in Canton, Ohio, Jay lived a life full of laughter, loyalty, and love. Jay was the beloved son of Cheryl and Earnest Ward, and the devoted boyfriend of Audry Behe, with whom he shared a loving home that they poured their...
Kathleen M. Canole
Nov 10, 2025
Kathleen M. Canole, 71, passed away Monday, November 10, 2025, at Garvey Manor Nursing Home following an extended illness. She was born on June 19, 1954, in Altoona, daughter of the late Owen and Gertrude A. (Dudas) Canole. Surviving is her sister, Deborah A. Canole, sister-in-law, Sally Canole, nephew, Matthew K. (Taylor) Canole and niece, Rachel H. Canole. Also surviving...
Brian K. Bender
Nov 1, 2025
Brian K. Bender, 59, of Altoona, passed away peacefully at his home following a courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, November 1, 2025. He was born on July 26, 1966, in Mentor on the Lake, OH, son of Clyde and Donna (Bragg) Bender. Surviving are his parents, a daughter, Paige Bender and her fiancé’ Braden Shultz, a girlfriend Kali Estright,...
Barbara J. Rossi
Oct 31, 2025
Barbara J. (Rafacz) Rossi, 76, died on Oct. 31, 2025 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh after sustaining serious head injuries in a fall 12 days earlier. She was a gentle, soft-spoken person with a lifelong devotion to her Roman Catholic faith and a commitment to serving humanity. Barbara was born March 21, 1949 in Spangler (now Northern Cambria), the...
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