Gilbert Wayne Bonsell, age 84, of Lancaster, passed into the loving arms of his Saviour September 14, 2021. He is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Donna F
May 5, 2021
Darlene Joy (Diffenderfer) Merritts, 84, of Juniata, Altoona, passed away peacefully at Maybrook Rehabilitation Center in Altoona on Thursday. She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late Clarence and Gladys (Robinson) Diffenderfer. She married John Milton Merritts on Sept. 27,
1958. He preceded her in death in 2016, after a beautiful 57-year marriage.
She is survived by her four children: Timothy (Sharon), Lisa (Jim Hite), Lori (Dominic Dugo), and Lynne Daniels; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
She was a 1955 graduate of Altoona High School.
Friends will be received from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Mauk and Yates Funeral Home Inc., 719 N. Fourth Avenue, Juniata. Interment will be made at Blair Memorial Park, Antis Township.
Shaffer
C. Richard “Dick” Shaffer, 80, of Hollidaysburg, died Friday at his residence. Dick was the son of the late Clyde and Bertha (Kelly) Shaffer of Belle Vernon, where he was born and raised until leaving in 1962. He married Judith Ann Long of Altoona on Dec. 18, 1965, in Altoona.
Surviving are his devoted wife of 55 years; two loving daughters, Jill Denise Branter (Jim) of Hollidaysburg and Jennifer Lynn Baiocco (Chris) of Schenectady, N.Y.; three grandchildren: Aaron David Burger, Elijah Matthew Brantner and Sevilla Annette Baiocco; and two nieces, Deborah Ann Gutherie (David) and Rebecca Sue Manack, both in Virginia.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Caroline “Carolyn” Ann Manack, and Dick’s brother-in-law, Tony, in Virginia. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Feb 16, 2021
Shirley May Begalke, 81, of Chambersburg, passed away Monday at Manor Care Nursing Home. She was born in Altoona, the daughter of David and Grace (Kopsch) Richards.
She is a lifetime member of First Lutheran Church of Altoona, and locally a member of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Waynesboro, where she participated in the church choir, teaching Sunday school and Sewing Belles of the church. As a former member of the Quilting Guild of both Chambersburg and Waynesboro, she was a craft person who loved making homemade gifts. She had retired after 31 years of service from Warnaco, in Duncansville.
She is survived by four daughters: Cindy Byers of Chambersburg, Carol Faust of Chambersburg, Pamela Ferry of Chambersburg and Susan (wife of Charles) Jones of Fayetteville. She has eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by five sisters.