OBITUARIES

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...

Mar 18, 2023

Stacey Lynn Stein age 52 of Altoona, died Saturday afternoon 03/18/2023 at UPMC Altoona.  She was born in Altoona 10/25/1970, a daughter of the late Jay M. and Phyllis L. (Wyland) Poorman.  Surviving is a son, Zachary, a sister, Dawn R. (Tim) McCreary, and nieces:  Madison and Megan.  Stacey graduated from Altoona Area High School who worked at several...

Feb 13, 2023

George G. Moyer, 87, Altoona, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Monday, February 13, 2023 at his daughter’s home. Born July 10, 1935, Altoona, son of the late Raymond T. and Mable (McCaulley) Moyer. Preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy L. (Zeak), whom he married November 20, 1957 in Altoona; and his...

Feb 8, 2023

Elsie K. Wright, age 74 of Altoona, died Wednesday afternoon 02/08/2023 at UPMC Altoona after a extended illness.  She. Was born in Altoona 06/02/1948, a daughter of the late Leroy Schroth and Mary G. (Dively) Ingham.  Surviving are her husband, Richard Wright, daughters:  Karenlee,  Terry Jo, Tina Marie and Kimberly; several grandchildren; sisters:  Charolette Leaper, Elaine Kaye LeFevre and...

Jan 30, 2023

Shirley Jean Keirn, 85, of Altoona, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, January 30, 2023 her home, after an extended illness.

She was born in Altoona, April 18, 1937, daughter of the late Claire and Ruth (Benton) Trexler. She married Joseph E. Keirn July 20, 1956 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Altoona with...

Jan 23, 2023

Mr. Jesse A. Moyer, 54, of Altoona, Pa, died at 12:25 AM, Monday January 23, 2023 at Epworth Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, after brief illness. Went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mr. Moyer was born in Altoona, Pa. on October 17, 1968, son of the George G. Moyer and late Dorothy L. (Zeak)...

Jan 18, 2023

Daniel R. Langenbacher Sr., age 65 of Bellwood, died Wednesday afternoon 01/18/2023 at Hershey Medical Center.  He was born in Altoona 05/17/1957, a son of the late, Edgar L. and Betty J. (Fetterman) Langenbacher.  Danny married Paula A. Stonerook .  Surviving are his wife, three sons:  Daniel Jr. (Amy), Christopher Sr. (Cathy), and Justin Sr. (Dee Rhodes); two daughters:  ...