John Howard DeWalt Sr.

John Howard DeWalt Sr., 86, went to be with the Lord on Friday (Feb. 13, 2026).
He was born to John and Marion DeWalt in Warren in 1939. John is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Natalie Ann (Hill) DeWalt. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister, Linda Rowan (David); three daughters, Karen (James) Lee, Robin (Michael) Wallace and Sandra (James) Schaberl; two sons, John "Jake" (Natalie) DeWalt Jr. and James "Jamie" (Donna) DeWalt. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Adrienne (John) Salter, Mallory Lee, Rachel Wallace, Moira (Joe) Forester, Alaina (Matt) Cresenzi, Jeffrey (Meghan) DeWalt, Christopher DeWalt, Andrew (Amy) DeWalt, Maison DeWalt, Timothy DeWalt, Katherine Schaberl and Eva Schaberl; and 11 great-grandchildren, Bentley, Brantley, Clareese and Nathaniel Lee, Bryleigh and Theo Cresenzi, Merritt and Millicent Forester, Luke and Joanna DeWalt and Jack Salter. John was predeceased by his sisters Ruth, Anna Mae and Justine; and his brother, David.
John grew up in Kane. By the age of 11, he was doing odd jobs to earn money. At the age of 14, he boarded a bus to Ohio by himself to attend a Cleveland Indians baseball game. When he was 16, he bought his first car and drove to Wheeling, W.Va., to the Jamboree. He enjoyed learning about cars and could still identify vintage cars in his later years.
John excelled at track and basketball while in high school. He met Natalie Ann Hill when he was 16 years old and married her on July 3, 1959. He initially worked for the telephone company but transitioned to Stackpole/CeraMagnet so he didn't have to travel. He worked other jobs (CW Hardware, cleaning an office) to meet the needs of his growing family. John retired from Kane Magnetics after 42 years of employment in 2004.
Throughout his life, John had a green thumb. He had a large vegetable garden in East Kane which supplemented the family's meals. He and Natalie owned and ran DeWalt's Flowers on Biddle Street for 10 years. John would work his day job, then travel to various wholesale nurseries in the late afternoon to stock his greenhouses. He personally picked out the flowers that he sold, ensuring high-quality products for his customers. His front yard was a major advertisement for his business. DeWalt Flowers supplied the Christmas poinsettias and the Easter lilies for Kane Community Methodist Church for several years. John also maintained the flower barrels outside of the church for many summers.
John was an avid runner for years, completing four marathons and many 5Ks and other races. John walked or bicycled the 2 miles to work daily, and Natalie would walk to meet him every day at 3 p.m. In his retirement years, John was seen daily throughout Kane walking 4 miles in the morning, and either walking 2 more miles in the evening or riding a bike. John used to say he was out with God, Jesus and the deer during the morning walks.
John and Natalie enjoyed vacationing in Florida, and for several years during his retirement, they were able to stay for 4 to 5 months in Plant City. They were able to help one of their "adopted" daughters, Rhonda Stephens, on her butterfly farm.
Living out his faith, John was an active member in church all his life including ushering and being part of men's groups. The past few years, he attended both Kane Community Methodist Church and Church of God. He was a volunteer with the Red Cross, Kane Area Food Pantry, Salvation Army, and The Lutheran Home. He mowed lawns and shoveled snow for people and performed other good deeds anonymously for many others.
John was always fiscally prudent. However, he joined the Beanie Baby craze in the second half of the '90s and collected hundreds of Beanie Baby bears and assorted other creatures.
John frequently displayed an impish sense of humor and often was able to reply with quick wit. He enlisted Nancy Swanson of Kane to make two Halloween costumes for him - one was a chicken suit, which he kept secret from Natalie. When he entered the Halloween party, no one knew who he was. The other costume was a detailed clown outfit complete with red nose and large red clown shoes.
The family wants to give special thanks to the following for the love and support they gave to John and Natalie and family through the last few months: "adopted" daughters Wendy Spencer, Donna Burger McGurk, Jill Grosch and Angel Hepler; Pastor Calvin Cook and the Kane Community Methodist Church congregation; Pastor Bill Hargenrader and the Kane Church of God congregation; Shirley Morgan, Bert Bressler, Bruce Latshaw, Tom Balliet, John Gillespie, Mel and Karen Miller, Jim Neely, Craig and Debbie Wensel, Julie and Tom Mayberry, Jim McCormack, Nancy Detrick, Sharon and Dave McKinney, Mandy and Jeff Shrubb, Dawn Shrubb, Jack Detrick, Vicky Punk, and Kyle Good and his team of men. Special thanks also to Warren Oncology Clinic, especially Dr. Sedov and Jen, RN, UPMC Kane Primary Care Clinic especially Missy Cecchetti, NP, EmergyCare ambulance service personnel, the UPMC Kane Community Emergency Department and Acute Care Unit, especially Megan Buck, NP, and to VNA of Northwest PA Hospice, especially Carley Sager, RN.
Throughout John's illness with multiple myeloma, he kept his sense of humor and his trust in Jesus. He frequently said he did not blame anyone, including God, for his illness. We will never know why John had to endure the debilitation that multiple myeloma wreaked on him, but we know he is now resting in the arms of Jesus.
Visitation hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday (Feb. 20 2026) at Cummings Funeral Home, Greeves Street, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Kane Community Methodist Church, where John's funeral celebration will immediately follow with the Rev. Calvin Cook officiating. Everyone is welcome to stay for a reception after the service and take home a Beanie Baby of their choice in remembrance of John. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, John has requested donations to the Kane Area Food Pantry or a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be expressed at cummingsfh.com.