Barry Paul Kovach, 72, of Philipsburg died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 surrounded by his family at the Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College
Born Nov. 23, 1945 in Drifting to Andrew Kovach and Mildred Rhenish-Kovach, he grew up in Philipsburg with his brother, Kenneth and his sister, Donna.
In high school, he met his wife, Marian Gail Miller, and to whom he was married June 5, 1971.
He attended Penn State University, joined the ROTC and pledged as a brother to Phi Kappa Psi fraternity where he made life-long friends.
He graduated with his Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees in food service and housing administration in 1968. After college, he served in the Army, attaining the rank of first lieutenant.
After completing his military service, he and Marian moved to Pottstown, where he worked as a registered dietician at the Penn Hurst State School and Hospital.
Then, they moved back to State College, where they had two sons, Kyle R. Kovach, who was born in 1980, and Shane R. Kovach, who was born in 1984.
Moving from State College back to his hometown of Philipsburg in 1988, he began working at the Philipsburg State General Hospital as the head of the dietary department.
When the hospital closed, he worked with the community to reopen it as the Philipsburg Area Hospital, hoping to create a healthcare facility for the local citizens. He considered it one of his proudest accomplishments.
After retiring from the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home, he spent his time working on his house, cars, boat, managing his garden and supporting his family.
He listened to classic rock often, and he loved cooking Halupki, spaghetti and grilling.
His family meant everything to him, and they would take fishing trips to Canada, Erie and the Thousand Islands. He loved his sons with all his heart.
He would go fly-fishing at Penns Creek with his son, Kyle, as well as go to Reading terminal in Philadelphia with his son, Shane. He enjoyed being outdoors.
He went to Belleville for the Amish market, and he grew vegetables in his garden. He would talk to friends on the phone often. He enjoyed helping his family and the elderly; he loved his work with veterans.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Kenneth; and sister-in-law, Jean Hill.
He will be missed by his wife; two sons; his son Kyle’s wife, Léna Remy-Kovach; his son Shane’s fiancée, Erin Brown; his sister, Donna and her husband, David Welsh; his sister-in-law, Sherry Flick and her husband, Steve; nieces and nephews, Jackie and Stevie Flick, Scott Kovach, Jennifer Fleming, Monica and Alex Welsh, Brian and Vicky Hill, Scott and Lydia Hill, and all of their respective children.
The funeral service will be held at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce St., Philipsburg, with the Rev. John Gibbons officiating.
Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home by the Moshannon Valley Independent Honor Guard.
The viewings will be from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesday, and all day Thursday at the funeral home until his service at 4 p.m.
All services are open to the public and all are welcome to attend. Burial will be in the St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery, Morrisdale.
