Orville J. "O.J." Farabaugh Jr., 70, Altoona, died Monday peacefully at his home surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer.
He was born in Altoona, son of the late Orville J. Sr. and Helen (Summers) Farabaugh. He married Joyce A. Eakins on May 18, 1991, in Altoona.
Surviving are his wife; three sons: John, Kurt (Jackie) and Brian (Shannon), all of Altoona; three daughters: Shelly Stiver (Raymond) of Hollidaysburg, Julie Hatch (Randy) of Altoona and Cheryl Hutchinson (Chase) of Boise, Idaho; a stepson, Michael Noel of Martinsburg; and three stepdaughters: Shari Hurm, Wendy Rhodes and Melissa Snyder, all of Altoona.
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Orville J. ‘O.J.’ Farabaugh Jr.
He also is survived by his former wife, Marilyn J. Burchfield; special aunts: Margaret Summers and Ella Marie Fox; 19 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; three brothers: Thomas of Altoona, Michael of Hollidaysburg and David of Brisbin; and a sister, Judy Blackie of Altoona.
O.J. was a 1960 graduate of Altoona High School. He proudly served with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1959-67, where he was an award-winning marksman with the Marine Corps Rifle Team. He retired from Norfolk Southern as a machinist and union steward with 27 years of service.
O.J. was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a lifetime member of the Bavarian Aid Society, Riggles Gap Sportsmen's Club and the NRA. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and bowling with his family.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at The Stevens Mortuary Inc., 1421 Eighth Ave., Altoona, where a vigil for the deceased will be held. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Committal will be at Calvary Cemetery with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516, in memory of O.J.
