Donald James Bannon
Donald James Bannon, 92, a lifelong resident of Osceola Mills and more recently of (North) Philipsburg, died Tuesday, November 2, 2017, at Wynwood House at Greenhills, State College.
Born August 18, 1925, in Tyrone, he was a son of James L. and Elizabeth M. (Eggeson) Bannon, both of whom preceded him in death.
Donald left high school early to serve with the US Navy during World War II. Following the war, he returned to graduate from the (former) Philipsburg High School.
He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Osceola Mills for most of his life. While a member of Immaculate Conception, he served as a Lector and as an Eucharistic Minister. He was a Third Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #2250, and the VFW, Post #5020, both of Osceola Mills. More recently, Donald was a member of Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Philipsburg.
Donald was active in the Osceola Mills community having previously served as a Borough Councilman and Little League coach.
He was employed with the former Philipsburg A&P Market. He would later work for the former Philipsburg Ames Dept. Store. When not working, he was an avid sports fan; whether it be local high school sports, rooting for his children and grandchildren’s teams or his Penn State Nittany Lions. However, his favorite pastime was working on countless home improvement projects and a meticulous devotion to his landscaping and yardwork.
Donald was married on February 7, 1948, in Philipsburg, to the former Ann Christine (Tekely), who preceded him in death on June 13, 2017.
He is also survived by two sons, Gary Bannon and his wife, Sue (Townsend), of Harrisburg and Richard Bannon and his wife, Genya (Guillard), of Ramey; three daughters: Cynthia Murphy and her husband, Alan, of Philipsburg, Teri Hudish and her husband, Daniel, of Nazareth and Michelle Reno and her husband, Michael, of Somerville, New Jersey; one sister, Beverly Bannon, of Philipsburg; fifteen grandchildren: Thomas Bannon, James Bannon, Julianne Brett and her husband, Darin, Robert Bannon and his wife, Paula, Benjamin Bannon and his wife, Lorri, Bethany Bannon, Jon Paul Bannon, Alissa (Murphy) Smethers and her husband, Joshua, Brittany Murphy, Lauren Murphy, Kevin Hudish, Jill Hudish, Molly Hudish, Seth Reno and Aubrey Reno; six great-grandchildren: Emerson and Arlowe Brett, Grace, Claire and Jack Bannon, and Lillian Becker; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, Donald was preceded in death by one sister, Hazel Gould.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at 10:00 am at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 400 S. 4th. Street, Philipsburg, with Rev. John Gibbons, Celebrant.
Visitation will be on Monday, November 6, 2017, from 5 to 8 pm at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 E. Spruce Street, Philipsburg.
A Vigil Service will be held at 5 pm followed by the Recitation of the Rosary at 5:30 pm, both on Monday at the funeral home.
Interment will be at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery, RD Philipsburg. Military Honors will be accorded by the Osceola Mills Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made in Donald’s memory to the Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 400 S. 4th Street, Philipsburg, Pa 16866.
A special thanks to the Wynwood House at Greenhills and Grane Hospice for the exemplary loving care they all provided to Donald.
