Francis J. Thal Jr., 89, Altoona, formerly of Clarksburg, passed away Oct. 13, 2012, in Altoona.
He was born in Osceola Mills, son of the late Francis J. Sr. and Ethel Blanche (Kephart) Thal.
Surviving are his first wife, Mary Jane (Houser) Thal of Altoona; two daughters: Karen L. Pfahler and husband, Paul, and Marilou Crawford, all of Altoona; a stepdaughter, Carla Yount and husband, Wayne, of Rural Valley; a stepson, Douglas Joe Stepp of Enola; seven grandchildren; a great-grandchild; five stepgrandchildren; a stepgreat-grandchild; a sister, Anna Mae Campbell of Tyrone; numerous nieces and nephews; and his dog, Thor.
He was preceded in death by his second wife, Dorothy E. (Ewing) Stepp Thal.
Francis was a 1941 graduate of Tyrone High School. He was a self-employed plumber for 54 years and most recently had been the handyman for ABC Rentals of Indiana. For 44 years, he was a member of the UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 354, and he was also a member of the Gardner Guards Drum and Bugle Corps of Tyrone, whom he helped to manage when he moved to Altoona.
Francis was a collector of American Flyer trains and enjoyed construction work, dancing, boating and following his favorite high school football team, the Tyrone Golden Eagles.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at Lewisville Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Clarksburg, the Rev. Elizabeth Arter officiating. Interment will be in the Ebenezer Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lewisville Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, 154 Barkley Road, Clarksburg, PA 15725.
