David Lattimer Bidwell

David "D.L." Lattimer Bidwell, a soulful musician and self-proclaimed international bon vivant, died on January 2, 2026. He was 77. Describing David is a near impossible feat, so we will let him make the attempt in his own words below.

"Among predilections, which will not be discussed, Bidwell's more positive attributes included a slouching, scholarly bent. An autodidact, he got a long way on a library card. Though he wasn't as smart as Will Hunting, neither is Matt Damon.

Music was his greatest love. If you were conversing with him while a song was playing dimly in the background, he was listening to it, and pretending to listen to you. Even if it was a polka. Especially if it was a mazurka.

His greatest achievement north of the Mason Dixon Line was the creation of the D.L. Bidwell Annual Invitational Croquet Tournament. A serial felony masquerading as a charity event. Except for the "Regrettable Flamingo Explosion of 1986", good times were enjoyed, if not clearly recalled, though local scolds were outraged, mostly because they weren't on the guest

list!"

As you would expect from someone adherent in the Cool Rockin' lifestyle, he set down his pen and didn't finish his own obituary. We, his family, will do our very best to navigate the rest of this missive, and do him justice.

Hailing a mere 27 miles away in Punxsutawney, PA., the son of David Brown Bidwell and Florence Helwig née Lattimer, he was known to be a precocious child especially when 'helping' his grandfather with his 7UP bottling plant duties. He began his piano training early which ignited his lifelong love affair with music.

When he moved to Fort Pierce, Florida with his family, he discovered another great love: surfing. Though he was a multi-lettered athlete throughout his school days at Dan McCarty High School, you were more likely to find him sitting on a surfboard in the ocean than

practicing his 3 point shots.

Answering the call to arms for his country, he served in the U.S. Navy as an E4 Communications Officer during the Vietnam War. During his time stationed onboard the USS Bonhomme Richard in the Philippines, he still managed to find time on his off duty hours to surf in the South China Sea.

After returning stateside he was accepted to both Miami Dade College as well as Indiana University of Pennsylvania, though he admitted his college career suffered because he was often too busy joining rock n' roll bands and falling off barstools (not always in that order). One of the aforementioned bands of note was The Julian Strut Band, which was an opener for Chuck Berry at The Hollywood Sportatoriam. He told the band's manager, Bob Becker, "if this band doesn't make it, I'm heading up to Indiana, PA and getting in the insurance business".

Alas, like most bands, that was to be the case and he made his way back from Dixie to join his adopted father, Wilfred E. Helwig, at the Helwig Insurance Agency. Under the guidance of Wilfred, until his death in 1987, David became an insurance broker as well as a successful stock broker.

In 1983 he married his wife Patty, and welcomed her son Jeffrey into his heart as his natural son. Being a good husband and father was paramount to David, and minus an ill-fated Monopoly mishap and subsequent shin kicking, he knocked it out of the park. David and Patty welcomed their daughter, Caitlin, a few years later in the summer of 1989.

Civic responsibility being significant to his ideology, D.L. was involved in many organizations throughout his life. He was a volunteer fire fighter with Company 3, member of the retired firefighters' Company 5, and at one time was the president of The Indiana Fire Association as well as The Fireman's Relief Association. He was past Disaster Chairman of the Red Cross of Indiana County as well as a longtime member of the YMCA of Indiana County. Socially, he was the first lifetime member of the Allied Club, and The Ancient Gastronomic Order of the Rattling Reptiles, among others.

This year, 2026, would have been David's 50th year with the Indiana-Franklin Masonic Lodge #313, not to mention a longtime former member of the Valley of Altoona Scottish Rite. Early in his retirement from the Insurance agency, David started volunteering at East Pike Elementary School with 1st and 2nd grades, helping kids learn to read and teaching other life lessons.

Somehow during all of these activities, he continued with his musical career, as the keyboard player for Shades of Blue, which was most notably known for their album "Shades of Blue: Live at Culpeppers". Bidwell was also a self-admitted golf bum, loved being a member of the Indiana Country Club, and had planned at one point for his golden years to be filled playing on the Men's Senior Golf Tour, once they came to their senses and call him, of course!

David is proceeded in death by his mother, F.E. Helwig, father, David Brown Bidwell,

adopted father Wilfred E Helwig, his aunt and uncle Elizabeth and Lloyd Bastian, and

bandmate, Barkin' Brownie Bidwell, Dog of the Delta: Charles Henry.

He is survived by his wife, Patty, son, Jeffrey Jason Perkins and his partner Anita Colon, daughter, Caitlin Lattimer Bidwell and her husband Patrick Fitzgerald. His sister-in-law Sue Rivas, husband Manuel and nephews Patrick and Kevin, and beloved cousins. He is also survived by cherished friends and confidants: Bob Mehalic, Anna Luther, Bill and Terry King, Bob and Barbara Becker, Michelle Hillis and Barbara Brocious.

Friends will be received on Friday, January 16, 2026 from 4:00 until 7:00 at the Rairigh-Bence Funeral Home & Crematory (965 Philadelphia St., Indiana, PA) His funeral service will be held Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Grace Church with Pastor Bill Blair officiating. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to:

YMCA of Indiana County:60 N Ben Franklin Road Indiana, PA 15701 or Four Footed Friends: 220 Beck Road Indiana, PA 15701 or Shriners Children's Erie Office of Philanthropy: 1645 West 8th Street Erie, PA 16505

Online condolences may be made by visiting: rbfh.net.