Perry County obituaries for the weeks leading up to December 21.
C. LETTIE SIMONCELLI
On Sunday, December 8, 2024, Lettie C. Simoncelli, 82, of Duncannon, passed away in the comfort of her own home and went to be with the Lord.
Mary Elizabeth McMullen gave birth to her in Lewistown on May 23, 1942.
Creating a loving and caring home for her three girls gave her the most fulfillment in life. She loved to work on word-find puzzles, walk her dogs, watch the Hallmark Channel, and spend time with her family. She was also a member of the Silver Sneaker Club. She graduated from Lewistown High School in 1960.
Mary Ann Simoncelli, her three daughters with the late Edward Anthony Simoncelli Sr., Stephanie (Thomas) Maurer, and Christine (Christopher) Wilson, as well as a granddaughter, Caitlin Wilson, are still alive.
Two cousins, Robert Witmer and Rose Musser, passed away before her.
The family will be greeted by family and friends on Saturday, December 21, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home, 325 N. High St., Duncannon. Pastor Reynaldo Villarreal will officiate the memorial ceremony at 11 a.m.
Homeland Hospice, 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 270, Harrisburg 17110 (https://homelandathome.org), is the address for memorial donations.
BARR, MILDRED C.
On Sunday, December 1, 2024, Mildred C. Dolly Barr, 85, of Millersburg, went to eternal rest at home.
Charles E. and Carrie E. (Boyer) Roddy welcomed her into the world on December 17, 1938, in Landisburg.
She worked as a server at several restaurants and delis during her lifetime. She paused her career as a waitress from 1996 to 2007 to pursue her favorite job, truck driving.
She has a strong passion for the Miami Dolphins. She possessed a wide variety of items, including jerseys that still had their tags. No matter where she traveled, she never left home without her Miami Dolphins jacket.
Two great-grandchildren, Hunter and Ian Whitcomb, a granddaughter, Michelle Sweigart of Gratz, an aunt, Reba Alandar, and a daughter, Mary Weibley of Millersburg, are all still alive.
Two brothers, two sisters, and a grandson named Glen Sheetz died before her.
The arrangements were made by the Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home in Duncannon.
Everly A. Rudy
On Friday morning, November 29, 2024, Beverly A. Bev Rudy, 82, of Harrisburg, died at home.
John H. Sr. and C. Elizabeth Adams Mowery were her parents, and she was born in Providence Township.
She enjoyed her leisure time after retiring from AMP/Tyco Electronics. She enjoyed spending time with her family and her pet, Rusty, as well as reading.
For thirty years, she was wed to Robert Rudy Sr. Together, Holly (Charles) Irvin, Eric (Kelley) Fussenegger, Robert (Ester) Rudy Jr., Kim (Craig) Coyne, and John Rudy brought five children into the world, along with eight grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, a great-great-grandchild, and two sisters, Sandy Muckle and Mary Leed.
Three siblings, John H. Jack Mowery Jr., Richard Mowery, and Yvonne Shauley, passed away before her.
The arrangements were made by Boyer Family Funeral Home in New Bloomfield.
The Humane Society of Harrisburg is the recipient of memorial donations.
Debbie C. Brightbill
Dorothy Cathrine Brightbill died on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at the age of 92.
Guy Foster and Claire (Taylor) Barrick welcomed her into the world on October 5, 1932, in Carroll Township.
She is the widow of George L. Brightbill, to whom she was married for 46 years before his death in 2001.
A son, Randy (Barbara) Brightbill of Marysville, a daughter, Cheryl (Stephen) Jones of New Bloomfield, two grandchildren, Michael (Heather) Marroquin and Joseph (Chrissy) Marroquin, and four great-grandchildren, Randy, Caleb, Hadley, and Jared Marroquin, are also living.
Three sisters, Betty Paul, Emma Mae Kiner Straw, and Ruth Louden, as well as five brothers, Louis Barrick, Paul Barrick, Guy Barrick Jr., Charles Barrick, and Marlin Barrick, died before her.
The arrangements were made by the Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home in Duncannon.
Homeland Hospice at Home Care, 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 270, Harrisburg 17110, is the address for memorial donations.
J. Bruce Miller, Jr.
On Monday, December 9, 2024, Jonathan Bruce Miller Jr. of New Bloomfield passed away while residing at Transitions Care, Duncannon.
He was born to J. Bruce Sr. and Olive J. Miller in Lewistown on August 11, 1929.
He met Sara Gantt, his future wife, while playing basketball and football at New Bloomfield High School, where he graduated. He joined the Navy after high school and spent a large portion of his naval career in the Washington, D.C., region.
He was married to his high school sweetheart for seventy-three years. He was a carpenter before becoming a maintenance man at Carson Long Military Academy in New Bloomfield.
He served on the New Bloomfield Cemetery Board and was a member of the Masons, Christ Lutheran Church, and New Bloomfield. He loved spending time with his family and hunting and fishing with his brothers. He cherished his dog and cat.
Two brothers, David (Marjory) Miller and William (Gloria) Miller; two sisters, Martha Miller and Susan Arrowsmith; six grandchildren, Deanna Thomas (David Castro); seven great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; three children, Margaret Ann (Mike) Thomas of South Carolina, Mary Lee (Charlie) Groff of New Bloomfield, and Nelson Miller of Carlisle; and numerous nieces and nephews are still alive.
His sister, Olive Hoffman, two brothers, Thomas and Charles Miller, and wife, Sara, all passed away before him.
At a later time that works for the family, a joint memorial ceremony for J. Bruce and Sara Miller will take place.
The arrangements were handled by Newport’s David Myers Funeral Home.
Donations in memory of him can be sent to his church at P.O. Box 448, New Bloomfield 17068.
HAROLD HEMBUGH
On Friday, December 6, 2024, Harold Skip Heimbaugh, 95, of Mifflintown, died at Brookline Village.
He was the fourth of Marshall and Nellie (Sheerer) Heimbaugh’s eight children, born on a Juniata County farm on June 12, 1929.
He enlisted in the Army in 1952 after graduating from Juniata Joint High School in 1948. He and his wife moved to Harrisburg in 1959, where he spent most of his career at Amp, Incorporated, until retiring in 1995. After retiring, he and his spouse loved visiting relatives and taking trips with friends.
He was a longtime member of Charlton United Methodist Church, Harrisburg, before transferring membership to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Mifflintown, after moving there in 2019.
He was the widower of Patsy (Lauver) Heimbaugh, who died in 2015 and to whom he was married for 63 years. She was the love of his life, and he was the sole caregiver during her last years, suffering from dementia.
Surviving are two sons, Dennis Heimbaugh and Kevin Heimbaugh and his wife Donna; two granddaughters, Melissa McGinnis (husband Jonathan) and Kristin Heimbaugh; two great-grandsons, Marshall McGinnis and Warner McGinnis; two sisters, Floe Hackenberger and Jean Dunkle; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by five brothers, Clarence, Jay, Don, Leroy and Ralph.
A memorial service will be held in early 2025.
The arrangements were handled by Newport’s David Myers Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 109 N. Third St., Mifflintown 17059.
NATHAN K. MCNAUGHTON
Nathan K. McNaughton, 53, passed away at his home in Newport on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024.
He was born April 2, 1971, to Susan (Dick) McNaughton and the late Dana McNaughton.
He was a graduate of Bible Baptist, Shiremanstown, and an active member of Cornerstone Christian Church, Duncannon, where he served as a drummer in the Praise Band.
He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing music with his family, and working on his farm. He was a photographer who could capture the best in people, animals and places. He was a doting husband and loving father. He lit up a room with a contagious smile and a big personality. He lived his life to serve the Lord and to spread the love of Christ through his community.
In addition to his mother, surviving are his wife, Lauren (Rhoades) McNaughton; two sons, Joseph Triplett and Asher McNaughton; a daughter, Kate McNaughton; brother, Shane McNaughton and wife Jackie (Steffen); nephew, Evan McNaughton; two nieces, Natalie McNaughton and Alicia Silva Monroy; and brother-in-law, Fernando Silva Monroy.
He was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Lisa Silva Monroy.
A celebration of life was held Dec. 14 in his church.
The arrangements were handled by Newport’s David Myers Funeral Home.
JACK L. ALLEMAN
Jack Leroy Alleman, 86, of Huntingdon passed away Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at home.
He was born Dec. 7, 1937, in Cumberland County to Russell and Viney (Varner) Alleman.
He retired in 2009 after working for many years as a tool and die designer/process engineer for FCI Electronics, formerly Dupont-Berg Electronics. He also owned his own machine shop business from 1988-1996 in Shermans Dale. He was a member of Mount Gilead United Methodist Church, Shermans Dale. He graduated from Mechanicsburg High School in 1955. He had been a resident of Huntingdon County at his Juniata Twp. residence since 1996.
Surviving are his wife of 30 years, Mary Louise (Cassel) Alleman; four children, Melodie Knaub (Jesse) of Newport, Tamara Lesko (Ronald) of Pittsburgh, Bryan Alleman (Patricia) of Loysville and Jeanetta Buchanan (Scott) of Kitty Hawk, N.C.; four stepchildren, Robert Diehl (Mandy) of Duncannon, Michael Diehl of Shermans Dale, Seth Diehl (Lisa) of Huntingdon and Ryan Diehl (Jessica) of Elysburg; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; 11 stepgrandchildren; numerous stepgreat-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Russell Alleman (Barbara) and Kenneth Alleman (Carol), both of Mifflintown; amd a brother-in-law, Richard Gantt of Ashboro, N.C.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Audrey Jean Alleman; a great-granddaughter, Dakota Lynn Kiner; and a sister, Darlene Kay Gantt.
DEBORAH A. MILLER
In loving memory of Deborah Ann Miller, June 4, 1949 Dec. 7, 2024.
She was a dedicated daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, nurse and captain in the Army Reserve.
She was born in Kittanning, Pa., and raised in Templeton, Pa., by Sara Jane and Richard P. Miller, who preceded her in their transition to Christ.
She will be remembered by many through her love language of crocheted blankets. Births and marriages were celebrated with her tangible expression of love.
From the Harrisburg State Hospital, where she spent the majority of her time nursing, to the King Fahad Hospital in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, where she was stationed while activated during Desert Storm, her kind heart was felt by everyone she encountered.
Her love of criminal drama was instilled in several grandchildren during their time with her.
Her sense of humor and razor wit was a constant source of smiles and the basis of many great memories.
She is deeply missed by her entire extended family including her sister, Valerie K. Steffy and husband Brian Steffy; her sons, William Henry Foster Jr. and Mich David Foster, their spouses, Carrie Elizabeth Foster and Courtney B. Foster; seven grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; nephews, nieces; and a cadre of others who knew her as Mom or Grandma despite relationship.
Burial, with military honors, was in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
Boyer Family Funeral Home, New Bloomfield, handled arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children s Hospital, stjude.org, (800) 805-5856, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.
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