Austin A. Hallinan, 92, of 2404 13th Ave., Altoona, made his way home to the Lord surrounded by his eight children on Sunday after a brief illness.
He was born in Altoona, son of Edward and Genevieve (Conrad) Hallinan. He married Anna Louise Stoltz on June 12, 1948, at St. Leo's Church, Altoona, and she preceded him in death on May 12, 1991.
Surviving are eight children: Maureen Halerz of Hollidaysburg, Anthony and wife, Diane, of Lewistown, Sheila Hazenstab and husband, Dennis, of Shippensburg, Patricia Caber and husband, Ken, of Altoona, Barbara Yarnell of Tyrone, Sharon Walters and husband, Doug, of Altoona, Kevin of Altoona and David and wife, Arletta, of Altoona; and a sister, Jane Davidson and husband, James, of Altoona.
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Austin was blessed with 20 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers: John, Patrick, Joseph and Thomas "Tim"; a sister, Margaret Joyce; and a son-in-law, John Halerz.
Austin was a 1937 graduate of Altoona High School and held a vocational teaching certificate from Penn State University. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII in the European Theater from 1942-45. He worked at Conrail for 40 years, retiring in 1979 as a machinist inspector. He was also an adult education instructor in the Tyrone and Altoona Area School Districts through the Altoona Area Vo-Tech School.
Austin was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish of St. Leo the Great in Altoona, where he served as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and belonged to the Nocturnal Adoration Society, Cursillo and Holy Name Society of St. Leo's. He was a volunteer at the Federal Correctional Institution at Loretto.
Austin was also a lifelong member and past president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Altoona Chapter. He was also former commander of the Catholic War Veterans and a member of the VFW and A&J Iaia American Legion Post. In addition, he served as an election official in the Fifth Ward, Second Precinct, for numerous years.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. today at Jones Funeral Home, Altoona. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church by Father J.D. Zatalava. Military honors will be conducted at the cemetery by the Blair County Veterans Honor Guard. Interment will be made at Calvary Cemetery, Altoona.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Austin's memory may be made to St. Vincent DePaul Food for Families Soup Kitchen or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
