Donald James Bannon, 92, a life-long resident of Osceola Mills and more recently of (North) Philipsburg, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2017 at Wynwood House at Greenhills, State College.
Born Aug. 18, 1925 in Tyrone, he was a son of James L. and Elizabeth M. (Eggeson) Bannon, both of whom preceded him in death.
He left high school early to serve with the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following the war, he returned to graduate from the (former) Philipsburg High School.
He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Osceola Mills, for most of his life. While a member of Immaculate Conception, he served as a lector and as a Eucharistic Minister.
He was a Third-Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 2250, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 5020, both of Osceola Mills. More recently, he was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Philipsburg.
He was active in the Osceola Mills community and had previously served as a borough councilman and Little League coach.
He was employed with the former Philipsburg A&P Market. He would later work for the former Philipsburg Ames Department Store.
If he wasn’t working, he was an avid sports fan. He was a local high school sports fan, rooting for his children’s and grandchildren’s teams or his Penn State Nittany Lions.
However, his favorite pastime was working on countless home improvement projects and a meticulous devotion to his landscaping and yard work.
He was married Feb. 7, 1948 in Philipsburg to the former Ann Christine (Tekely), who preceded him in death June 13, 2017.
He is survived by two sons, Gary Bannon and his wife, Sue (Townsend) of Harrisburg and Richard Bannon and his wife, Genya (Guillard) of Ramey and three daughters, Cynthia Murphy and her husband, Alan of Philipsburg, Teri Hudish and her husband, Daniel of Nazareth and Michelle Reno and her husband, Michael of Somerville, NJ.
He is survived by one sister, Beverly Bannon of Philipsburg; 15 grandchildren, Thomas Bannon, James Bannon, Julianne Brett and her husband, Darin, Robert Bannon and his wife, Paula, Benjamin Bannon and his wife, Lorri, Bethany Bannon, Jon Paul Bannon, Alissa (Murphy) Smethers and her husband, Joshua, Brittany Murphy, Lauren Murphy, Kevin Hudish, Jill Hudish, Molly Hudish, Seth Reno and Aubrey Reno; six great-grandchildren, Emerson and Arlowe Brett, Grace, Claire and Jack Bannon and Lillian Becker; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one sister, Hazel Gould.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 400 S. Fourth St., Philipsburg, with the Rev. John Gibbons as celebrant.
Friends will be received from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce St., Philipsburg.
A Vigil Service will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Recitation of the Rosary at 5:30 p.m., both on Monday at the funeral home.
Burial will be at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, RD Philipsburg. Military honors will be accorded by the Osceola Mills Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 400 S. Fourth St., Philipsburg, PA 16866.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and share memories at www.beezerheathfh.com.
A special thank you was given to the Wynwood House at Greenhills and Grane Hospice for the exemplary loving care they all provided to Mr. Bannon.