Donald Paul Bailey

1943 - 2016

Donald Paul Bailey, 73, of Bellwood, Pa., passed away peacefully at home with his wife by his side on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016.

Paul, as known by his friends and family, was born on Sept. 13, 1943, a son of the late Ira Albert and Mary Jane (Deemer) Bailey.

On June 25, 1966, he married JoAnn Skarbek, who survives.

Paul grew up in Big Run and served in the U.S. Navy before moving to the Altoona area. He worked in the maintenance department of PPG Industries of Tipton and retired after 44 years. He loved gardening, woodworking, fishing and walking his dogs when his health allowed. Recently, he enjoyed listening to music, reading and feeding and watching the birds outside the kitchen window. Paul was a creative and skilled craftsman who took pride in many projects, such as making fishing poles and birdhouses for family and friends. He treasured spending time with his family, which included a yearly trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and, most recently, Deep Creek, Maryland.

Paul taught by example through a life well-lived with friends and loved ones. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bellwood, where he served as an usher. He dearly loved his family, especially his grandchildren. Although Paul went to be with his Lord, his family is eternally grateful for the near 16 ""bonus"" years they had with him after he survived a cardiac arrest in 2001. Paul will be dearly missed by his family and all who knew him.

Paul is also survived by three children, Raife Paul Bailey and wife Melissa David-Bailey of Huntingdon, Pa., Shawn Edward Bailey and wife Suzanne (Pekala) of Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Melissa Tonkin and husband Kent of Altoona; four sisters, Beverly Lucas of Sigel, Patricia Neal of Falls Creek, Kay Roseman of Pittsburgh and Lorna Laska of Erie; and his four grandchildren, Madeline, Ira, Finn and Holden Bailey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Richard Bailey; and a sister, Sandra Bailey.

At Paul's request, there will be no formal viewing. Friends and family will be received at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bellwood at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

Paul will be interred at the Adrian-Anita Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Brenda D. Shumaker Funeral Home, Inc. of Big Run.

The family requests that memorial donations be made in Paul's name to the Blair County Central PA Humane Society, where he adopted his buddy.

Online condolences can be made at shumakerfh.com.