The Rev. Dr. Gary W. Bumbarger, 58, of Lewistown and formerly of Osceola Mills and Philipsburg, died Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015 at the home of his mother and step-father in Morrisdale.
Born July 2, 1956 in Philipsburg, he was the son of the late Reggie S. Bumbarger and Betty Lou (Folmar) Bumbarger Dixon and his step-father, Sanford (Dick) Dixon, both of whom survive of Morrisdale.
He married Michelle Elizabeth True On Oct. 27, 2006 in Winchester, Va.; she preceded him in death on May 10, 2011. He then married the former Jean M. Dole on July 27, 2014 in Lewistown; she survives at home.
He was a member of the Lewistown First United Methodist Church. He had served as a corpsman in the U.S. Navy. He was also a member of the National Rifle Association; he enjoyed hunting and was an avid Penn State fan.
Dr. Bumbarger was a Methodist minister, serving several congregations in Maryland and Pennsylvania for 27 years. He has since been employed as an adjunct theological professor at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson. He was a 1974 graduate of the Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School.
After serving in the U.S. Navy, he attended Messiah College in Dillsburg, where he earned his Undergraduate and Doctorate degrees in theology.
Along with his father and first wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Jo Ellen Skinner.
In addition to his wife, mother and step-father, Dr. Bumbarger is survived by three daughters, Janelle E. Fedock and her companion, Jade, Victoria L. N. Bumbarger and her companion Joshua and Adriana M. E. Bumbarger, all of Lewistown, and a step-son, Pastor Jason Schreck and his wife, Jennifer of Avis.
He is survived by five step-sisters, Jill Gianopoulos and her husband, Patrick of Bald Eagle, Mary Burhans and her husband, Grant and Jennifer Paschall and her husband, Cliff, both of Lakeland, Fla., Julie Deeson and her husband, Rick of Denver, Colo., and Laurie Brown and her husband, Trent of Philipsburg and two step-brothers, Edward Dixon and his wife, Dorothy of Osceola Mills and Matthew Dixon of Milwaukee, Wis.
He is also survived by two grandchildren, Hannah and Elijah Schreck of Avis and numerous step-nephews and nieces.
A memorial service will be held at a future date to be announced, with Pastor Jason Schreck, step-son of the Rev. Dr. Bumbarger officiating.
Burial will be at the Philipsburg Cemetery with military honors being accorded by the Moshannon Valley Independent Honor Guard.
There will be no public visitation.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home in Philipsburg.
Friends may sign the guestbook at beezerheathfh.com.
