WEST DECATUR - Gregory "Greg" Allen Granville, 65, of West Decatur, PA, died from cancer on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Penn Highlands DuBois.

Born on Dec. 14, 1956, in Hollywood, Calif., he was the son of Thomas and Myrna (Britton) Granville of Mechanicsburg.

He married Crystal J. (Folmar) Granville on June 2, 1978, in Osceola Mills, who survives at home.

Greg was preceded in death by one son, Trevor Granville.

Greg was a 1974 graduate of the Philipsburg Osceola Senior High School. In his youth, Greg enjoyed racing through the dunes of the Mojave Desert in Adelanto, Calif. During his teenage years, he enjoyed competing in local motocross competitions. He began his career path working for Piper Aircraft, continued on to work in TV repair, advanced instrument repair, computer programming, computer animation, and then worked with the Applied Research Lab at the Pennsylvania State University as an advanced engineering aid for 35 years. With no formal postsecondary education, Greg was a self-made man, known to crack open trigonometry and calculus books to provide himself with the education needed for both his career and varied interests.

Voracious in pursuit of his hobbies, his family will remember him as a "maker." Grinding the mirrors by hand to build his own telescopes, fabricating 3D printers, modifying his radio controlled airplanes and helicopters, and creating a solar array in his backyard, Greg loved, more than anything, to tackle technical challenges. Skilled in carpentry, plumbing, automotive repair and electrical repair, his family deeply appreciated and benefitted from his astounding ability to complete virtually any home repair.

Greg was zealously immersed into his stargazing. Without the use of automated telescopes, electronics, or smartphone apps, he viewed all 110 Messier objects. As a result, he was awarded the Honorary Messier Club Certificate by the Astronomical League.

One of the creators of the Central Pennsylvania Observers of State College, Greg was recognized by CPO for his many contributions. As the founder of the CPO Black Forest Star Party at Cherry Springs State Park in Coudersport, he shared his love of stargazing with his family, friends, and many others. The BFSP is known as one of the largest annual dark sky viewing events on the Eastern Seaboard. With Greg and the BFSP helping to highlight their uniquely dark skies, the Cherry Springs State Park become the first Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Dark Sky Park.

Along with his wife, he is survived by one son, Jeffery A. Neidrick and his wife Tammy of Osceola Mills; one daughter, Emily Granville and her husband Matthew Spingola of Centre Hall; two grandchildren, Noah Neidrick and Maya Spingola; one brother-in-law, Larry Folmar of East Norriton Township; one aunt, Dody (Britton) Hess and her husband John of Mechanicsburg; and one uncle, Bill Granville and his wife Helen of Philipsburg.

A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family at the Umbria Cemetery in Osceola Mills.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heath Funeral Home, 701 Lingle St., P.O. Box 157, Osceola Mills, PA 16666.

Heath Funeral Home & Cremation Services, LLC in Osceola Mills, is in charge of the arrangements.

To sign the online guestbook go to www.heathfuneral.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Progress from Mar. 9 to Mar. 10, 2022.