All Obituaries

Jesse A. Waite, 51, of Altoona, Pa, died at 12:55 pm, Sunday, January 17, 2021 at UPMC-Altoona, after a brief illness. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa on September 4, 1969, son of the late Eric and Ladonna (Dorko) Waite. Jesse was a graduate if Punxutany High School and Hiram G, Andrews Center, Johnstown. He was a member of the Center for Independent Living. He was a volunteer at Altoona Community Theatre and Altoona Library. Skilled at Karate, juggling, a magician and a yo-yo master....

James Elwood Shannon, 92, Duncansville, formerly of Altoona, died Monday at Hollidaysburg Veterans Home after an extended illness. He was born in Altoona, son of the late Joshua and Clara (Yanson) Shannon. He retired in 1990 as a self-employed truck driver/coal hauler with 45 years of service. He had attended Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church. Jim enjoyed recycling, restoring cars, wrestling and watching old western movies. He served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the Korean War and...

Mrs. Patricia A. McCracken, 77, of Bellefonte, Pa, died at 3:31 AM, Thursday, December 31, at her residence after an extended illness. She was born in Altoona, Pa, on October 22, 1943, daughter of the late Harry and Louise C. (Smith) Beck. She married John D. McCracken July 20, 1963 at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Patty retired in 2006 Customer Service Representative at First National Bank State College, Pa with 5 years of service. She previously worked at Commerce Bank, Mechanicsburg,...

Ronald Joseph Porta, 72, Altoona, died Monday at the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home after an extended illness. He was born in Altoona, son of the late Joseph V. and Thelma M. (Hillard) Porta. On May 23, 1970, he married Eileen A. Baumgartner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Altoona. Surviving are his wife, Eileen; three children: Debra A. (Ben) Dent of Altoona, Cindy M. (Doug) Clark of Pittsburgh and Zachary J. (Heather) Porta of Altoona; a sister, Thelma Kopas of Hastings; his...

Joseph Raymond Ulsh, 60, of Duncansville, died Friday at UPMC Altoona following complications from a heart attack. He was born in Altoona, son of the late William J. “Bill” and Michelena “Miki” (Loudenslager) Ulsh-Jolin, who survives him in Brooksville, Fla. He married Mary L. Resig on Sept. 12, 1992, at Zion Lutheran Church, Hollidaysburg. Joe was a heavy equipment operator at Pat Burns Excavating, Altoona, with three years of service. He was previously employed by...

Jeldo J. “Jill” Evangelisto, 98, of Altoona, died Friday at UPMC Altoona. He was born in Altoona, son of the late Carmen Anthony and Maria (Durante) Evangelisto. He married Marjorie M. Prosperi on June 13, 1942, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona. She preceded him in death. He retired in 1982 as an industrial engineer at Conrail after 42 years of service. He previously was a blacksmith with the Pennsylvania Railroad. Jill was a member of the Cathedral of the...

Paul J. Mercer, 90, of Altoona, died Tuesday evening at UPMC Altoona, due to complications of COVID-19. He was born in Altoona, son of the late VanEman E. and Ruth (Bohn) Mercer. He married Anna M. Kneidinger on Sept. 26, 1953, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona. She preceded him in death Feb16,2017. Surviving are five children: Cynthia A. Mercer, Richard P. Mercer, Kathleen L. (Kenneth) Bollinger, Michael J. (Cindy) Mercer, all of Altoona, and Joseph P. (Kim) Mercer, of...

  John T. Keller Sr., 52, of Altoona, died Saturday after an extended illness. He was born in Altoona, son of the late John Thomas and Judy (Keller) Keller. He married Karen A. Schellhammer Jan. 6, 1993, in Fredericksburg, Va. Surviving are his wife; four sons: John T. Jr., Matthew J., Caleb J. and Zeth H. Keller; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers, Bobby and Scott Styers. John graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1986. He was a laborer at North...

Jennifer Regina Brown, 49, of Altoona, passed away quietly at home Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Born and raised in Yardley, Jennifer was a graduate of Pennsbury High School, Class of ’90 and attended Penn State Ogontz Campus. Jennifer was employed as a home care nurse in Altoona for the past 20 years. Daughter of the late Clementine Remetta Brown, she is survived by her father, Don Brown, and her brother, Timothy Brown, and his wife, Pamela. Due to public gathering restrictions, a private...

Joseph E. Miller, 81, Altoona, died Thursday at UPMC Altoona after an extended illness. He was born in Altoona, son of the late Joseph C. and Ruth Elizabeth (Sandrus) Miller. On July 7, 1958, he married Donna J. Dale at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Altoona. She preceded him in death April 11, 2020. Surviving are three children: Joseph Richard (Deborah) Miller of York, Mary Jo Smith of Altoona and Dale Edward (Kelly) Miller of Mooresville, N.C.; and five grandchildren. He was...