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Donald W. Bleakney

Donald W. Bleakney, 88, of Shelocta, PA, passed away Sunday, June 26, 2016, at Indiana Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family.

He was born January 2, 1928 in Newton Falls, OH to C. Frank and Louise (Warner) Bleakney.

Donald honorably served in the US Army during World War II and was a member of Elderton Presbyterian Church. He married Betty L. Brown on August 16, 1952 and they were lifelong residents of the area. In his younger years, Donald owned and operated his family's poultry farm, Bleakney's Choice. He later became the postmaster for the Shelocta Post Office until retiring in 1985. In 1972, Donald and Betty partnered with Dave and Pat Brown to open the Wheel-In Campground on the first day of trout season, and he loved spending time there. He was instrumental in organizing the paving of the road to Elderton Cemetery and enjoyed working on crossword puzzles in his free time. Donald also had a love for classic cars and owned a Ford Model A and Ford Packard.

His memory will be cherished by his son, Scott Bleakney and wife, Debbie, of Columbia, MD; grandchildren, Abagail, Matthew and Jennifer Bleakney; sister, Jean Slezickey, of New Kensington; brothers-in-law, Dave Brown and wife, Patricia, of Elderton, and Richard Brown and wife, Cindy, of McIntyre; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and devoted friends, Ron and Sandy Frailey, of Shelocta.

He was preceded in death by his parents; loving wife, Betty L. (Brown) Bleakney, who died December 18, 2003; and son, Timothy Lee Bleakney.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Friday, July 1, 2016 at the Clark Chapel of the Bauer Funeral Home, Inc., 238 S. Main Street, Elderton, PA.

Additional visitation will be from 11:30 AM until the time of funeral services at 12 PM on Saturday, July 2, 2016, at Elderton Presbyterian Church, 115 N. Main St., with the Rev. David Caves officiating.

Interment will follow in Elderton Cemetery, Elderton, PA, where military honors will be presented by the American Legion Honor Guard.

Contributions can be made in Donald's honor to Elderton Presbyterian Church, PO Box 159, Elderton, PA 15736.

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