Forrest V. Bloom, 88, of Olanta died Monday, Jan. 13, 2014 at the Golden Living Center-Hill View, Altoona.
He was born Jan. 9, 1926 in Curwensville, the son of Edward and Grace (McDivitt) Bloom.
Mr. Bloom graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in animal husbandry. He worked in the mining industry and on a farm in Ohio.
He joined the service in 1950 and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He served as a master sergeant in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam Era.
Mr. Bloom served five tours in Germany and two tours during the Korean War, where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. Other medals he received were Army Commendation Medal First OLC, Good Conduct Medal Eighth Award with three silver knots, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Germany) with one Oak Leaf Cluster, U.S. Army Recruiting Badge and Meritorious Service Medal.
While in the service, he was a National Guard advisor in Georgia and a federal game warden at Fort Knox, KY. He achieved Kentucky colonel, Army recruiter and career counselor. He had an Army Golden Glove with 87 fights, winning all but one and refereed football, baseball, basketball and boxing. He retired in 1975. During his military career, he was in every state but Hawaii and many countries, especially the Far East.
Upon his retirement, he worked at the Clearfield Cheese Plant as a security guard and for Bob’s Army and Navy store as a gun manager. He also went to Mount Aloysius and graduated with a degree in criminal justice and worked for the Lawrence Township and Clearfield Borough police departments for years.
He became a licensed EMT for several years and a licensed blaster in Pennsylvania. He was a constable in Knox Township for years until he decided not to run for re-election.
Mr. Bloom was affiliated with the Glen Richey Primitive Methodist Church.
He was a member of the Veterans of the Foreign War, the American Legion. He was a life member of the Glen Richey Fire Company and the Disabled American Veterans.
Mr. Bloom is survived by his wife, Kathleen A. (Olosky) Bloom of Olanta, and whom he married Aug. 27, 1994.
He’s survived by two sons, Leonard E. Bloom and his wife, Darlene of West Decatur and Victor L. Bloom of Madera; five grandchildren, Christopher Bloom, Heidi Bloom, Jennifer Bloom, Benjamin Bloom and Edward Bloom; one great-grandson, Noah Bloom; a sister-in-law, Elsie Bloom of Kerrmoor; numerous nieces and nephews; and a former daughter-in-law, Julie R. Bloom of Brussels, Belgium.
He was the last member of his generation. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Alice J. Bloom, who died Feb. 23, 1987; a sister, Mildred Ogden; and five brothers, Austin, Charles, Clarence, Richard and Harold Bloom.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Bennett and Houser Funeral Home Inc., Clearfield, with  the Rev. Duane W. Stiner officiating. Burial will be in the Thompson Cemetery, Glen Richey, where military honors will be accorded by the American Legion Post No. 6 and the VFW Post No. 1785 Honor Guard.
Friends will be received from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. until the hour of the services Friday at the funeral home.
The family suggest memorial contributions be made to Glen Richey Fire Company, 86 Fire House Rd., Glen Richey, PA 16837 or to the Disabled American Veterans, 2907 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, PA 16603 or to the Glen Richey Primitive Methodist Church, 59 White Church Rd., Glen Richey, PA 16837.
To send online tributes, please go to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com.
