Mr. Merle M. Hirt, 87, Garvey Manor, Hollidaysburg, died Saturday morning at Garvey Manor Nursing Home after an extended illness.
Mr. Hirt was born in Altoona, son of the late Matthias and Sarah (Huber) Hirt. He married Joan (Twyford) on Sept. 2, 1950, at St. Leo's Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife; four children: Ann Flick (husband, Skip) of Altoona, William Hirt (Ernestine) of Grand Junction, Colo., Gerald Hirt (wife, Jill) of Duncansville, and Sarah Shaw (husband, Ed) of Altoona; eight grandchildren: Becky, Amy and Michael Flick, Julie, Jason and Brandon Hirt, and Michael and Melanie Shaw; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ruth Rawlings, of Philadelphia.
He was preceded in death by two brothers: Vernon and Eugene Hirt.
He retired as a self employed mechanic/owner of Hirt's Garage, Altoona. He was also a park ranger at Glendale-Prince Gallitzin State Park; a welder; and Minor League Baseball Player.
He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.
Merle was a 1942 graduate of Altoona High School. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and boating at Glendale Lake.
He served in the U.S. Navy in WW II on the USS John M. Bermingham.
Friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Jones Funeral Home, where a vigil for the deceased will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Altoona, with Friar James D. Zatalava officiating. Committal rites will be held at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Garvey Manor, 1037 S. Logan Blvd., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648; or Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 2012 12th Ave., Altoona, PA 16601.
