Walter L. Barger, 87, of Brush Valley Road, Spring Mills, PA, died Saturday, July 24, 2004, at the Fairways in State College, PA
He was born Dec. 6, 1916, in Centre Hall, PA, a son of the late Miles Clark and Pearl Kreitzer Barger.
On September 20, 1953, he married Pearl Viola Musser who survives him at home.
Early in life he assisted his family in the operation of the family saw mill. In 1933, he and his brothers and two friends played their way to the Chicago Worlds Fair in a homemade motor home. He was a tour guide for Penn's Cave for many years. He was a farmer and earned the Pennsylvania Master Plowman's Title. He owned and operated the Barger Welding and Machine Shop for many years. He was a member of the Farmer's and Businessmen's Association. He helped organize and was the first president of the Nittany Antique Machinery Association. He was a member of Old Fort Masonic Lodge No. 537, Valley of Altoona Consistory, and Jaffa Shrine.
He was a member of St. John's Union Church in Farmers Mills and served the church as treasurer for many years.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one sister, Catherine Gentzel, of Centre Hall.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Anna Parazari and Margaret Stover, and three brothers, Harry, Delbert, and Otto Barger.
Visitation will be Monday, July 26, 2004 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral Service, 226 S. Pennsylvania Avenue, Centre Hall, where Masonic Services will be held at 9:00 p.m. Friends will also be received from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 27, 2004, at St. John's Union Church in Farmers Mills. The funeral will be from the church at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, with the Rev. N. Gregory VanDyke officiating.
Burial will be in the Reformed and Lutheran Cemetery, W. Church St., Centre Hall, PA.