OBITUARIES

Jul 16, 2023

Robert H. “Bob” Fowler, age 91 of Martinsburg/Bellwood, died Sunday morning 07/16/2023 after a courageous battle with cancer, at Homewood at Martinsburg.  He was born in Bellwood 10/27/931,  son of Harold and Onda (Berholder) Fowler.  On 07/08/1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Janice Weiser in Bellwood.  Bob is survived by his loving wife; his three children:  Cathy Hammer...

Jul 5, 2023

Betsy A. (Griffith) Cignetti, 84, Altoona, passed away Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at the Lutheran Home at Hollidaysburg. Born July 31, 1938, Altoona, daughter of the late Sylvester A. and Anna F. (Kirk) Griffith. Survived by her loving husband, Joseph L. Cignetti, whom she married on April 29, 1961 at the First Lutheran Church in Altoona; daughters, Jodie (Gregory) Molchany,...

Jul 2, 2023

DorIs Jean Della, age 76 of Altoona, died Sunday afternoon July 2, 2023 at UPMC Altoona.  She was born the daughter of the late Chester P. and Evelyn M (Pope) Green.  Surviving are two sons:  Larry E. and Roman A. DeLeo; sisters:  Rita A. Green, Nancy S. Sinisi and Miriam L. Maurer; one grandson, one granddaughter and one great...

Jun 29, 2023

Bradley “Brad” J. Sease, 62, Fallentimber, formerly of Altoona, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, June 29, 2023. Born August 29, 1960, Pottstown, Montgomery County, son of the late Lester R. and Patricia R. (Sultzbaugh) Sease. Preceded in death by his sisters, Rose Sease and Mel Weuve. Survived by his daughter, Ashley Sease and her boyfriend, Christopher Weigand; sons, Bradley Snyder and...

Jun 25, 2023

Marlene S. Park, age 69 of Duncansville, passed away suddenly after a extended illness, Sunday afternoon 06/25/2023 at Cedarwood, Tyrone.  She was born in Stratford, New Zealand, 01/13/1954, a daughter of the late John J. and Iris M. (Martensen) Needham.  Surviving are a daughter, Cheyenne Beam (Andy Hughes), sons:  Jeremy Park (Echo), Jacob and Josh Park, grandchildren:  Jillian Taylor,...

Jun 4, 2023

Nancy Booterbaugh, age 86 of Altoona, died Sunday evening 06/04/2023 at UPMC Altoona.  She was born in Altoona, a daughter of Leroy and Sophia (Storv) Runk.  Surviving are a son, Michael Richards, and a granddaughter, Lizzie A. Richards.  Nancy was a homemaker.  At the request of the deceased there will be no public viewing or funeral service.  A celebration...

May 29, 2023

Burns, Mark Daniel, 71, Altoona, passed away peacefully Monday, May 29, 2023. Born February 14, 1952, Altoona, son of the late Daniel C. and Miriam M. (Bell) Burns. Preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Maurice and Verna L. (Ackerman) Bell; paternal grandparents, Frank L. and Charlotta M. (Frye) Burns; and brother, Denis Burns. Survived by his siblings, Maureen...

May 25, 2023

Dale A. Doran, age 66 of Altoona, died Thursday afternoon 05/25/2023 at UPMC Altoona.  He was born in Altoona 05/16/1957 a son of the late Dale A. Doran Sr. and Patricia J. (Parks) Rutherford.  Surviving are sisters:  Colleen J. Maloney and Vicki (Sam) Quarello, brothers:  Robert (Jen) Rutherford and William Rutherford.  Dale was a self employed mechanic for Genesis...

May 22, 2023

John M. Zitsch, age 67, died Monday 05/22/2023 at Maybrook Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Altoona.  He was born in Altoona 06/22/1955, a son of the late William R. and Marden S. (Sipes) Zitsch.  He married Lisa A. Langenbacher who died 10/30/2018.  Surviving are a sister,  Vera M. (Bill) Boyles, nephews:  William Boyles and Robert (Michelle) Zitsch, nieces:  Lisa...

May 15, 2023

O’Brian, Donald F., 80, Altoona, passed away Monday, May 15, 2023 at home surrounded by his family. Born September 20, 1942, Altoona, son of the late Frank R. and Mary F. (Kelso) O’Brian. Preceded in death by his daughter, Michele M. Craig. Survived by his loving wife, Catherine A. O’Brian; daughters, Sherrie and Tracey; special granddaughter, Carly Craig; brothers-in-law,...

May 14, 2023

Noel, Betty L., 98, Altoona, passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023 at UPMC Altoona. Born November 15, 1924, Windber, daughter of the Samuel W. and Mary I. (Zeiter) Dixon. Preceded in death by her husband, Regis J. Noel, whom she married on February 19, 1944 in Cresson; daughter, Shirley A. Williams; brothers, Samuel, James, Frank and John Dixon; and...

May 10, 2023

Fitzgerald, Lawrence J., 74, Altoona, passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at his home. Born April 4, 1949, Manhattan, New York, son of the late Joe and Mary Jane (Kling) Fitzgerald. Survived by his daughter, Nicole (Harold) Kertes, Mechanicsburg; son, Lawrence (Teresa) Fitzgerald Jr., Harrisburg; 4 granddaughters, Hannah, Sydney, Isabella and Micayla; and sisters, Linda (Pete) DeMarco; and Maureen...

May 4, 2023

Dutton, Joanne Marie (Keller), 77, Altoona, passed away Thursday, May 4, 2023 surrounded by her loved ones at UPMC Altoona. Born April 12, 1946, Altoona, daughter of the late Homer Keller and Lillian (Pelton) Keller Ault. Preceded in death by both of her husbands, Gary Hermesky, Sr. and Floyd “Duke” Dutton; and her sister, Patricia Wilt. Survived by her...

May 2, 2023

Robert E. “Bobby” Balmforth, 41, of Fredrick, Md., formerly of Altoona, passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2023, after a brief illness. He was born October 13, 1981, in Jacksonville, N.C., the son of David and Sally (Ruffner) Balmforth. Surviving are his parents; life-partner, Doug Martin of Fredrick, Md.; siblings: Michael Balmforth (Allison and Noah) of Altoona; Sarah Adams (Alexander) of...

Apr 26, 2023

Jacob G. Spahn Jr., 89, of Altoona, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at UPMC Altoona. Born on June 2, 1933, Roaring Spring, son of the late Edith (Bell) and Jacob Spahn Sr. He married Arlene Frederick on January 3, 1959 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Altoona. Surviving are his two children, Randy (Dena) Spahn; and Lori...

Apr 13, 2023

Richard Paul Howard Jr., 46, Altoona, passed away Thursday, April 13, 2023 after an extended illness at his home. Born April 14, 1976, Altoona, son of the late Richard P. and Charlotte L. (Duck) Howard Sr. Survived by his son, Bryson Eldridge; sister, Vicki Hall; special friend, Cheryl Nale; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and other...

Apr 7, 2023

Mrs. Minnie (Faris) “Tita” Yahner, 97, of Purcellville, Va., formerly of Altoona, died Friday at her residence after an extended illness. She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late George and Mary (Batrus) Faris. She married Richard J. “Dick” Yahner on June 30, 1956, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona. He preceded her in death on...

Apr 4, 2023

John Conti, 95 of Altoona died unexpectedly Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg.

He was born January 1, 1928 in Pico, Italy a son of the late Teresa (Castrechiini) Conti.

He retired in 1994 as a maintenance man at Garvey Manor, Hollidaysburg, after many years of service. He also worked as a...

Apr 4, 2023

Edmund Alphonsus “Ed” McConnell, 96, of Altoona, died Tuesday at UPMC Altoona after an extended illness. He was born in Altoona, son of the late Walter and Gladys (Sprow) McConnell.

He married Elizabeth Rose Johnson on July 23, 1949, at The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.

Ed retired in 1987 as a mechanic at Philips...

Apr 2, 2023

Lonnie J. Pfahler, age 76 of Altoona, died Sunday morning 04/02/2023 at her son’s residence, Newark, Delaware.  She was born 01/23/1947 in Altoona, a daughter of the late James and Winifred (Henry) Poorman.  On 09/30/1995 she married the late Donald Pfahler who passed away 11/21/2012.  Surviving are her son, Donald Pfahler (Rose) of Delaware, her daughter Beckey Smith of...