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Lloyd L. "Lew" Pontzer

Lloyd L. "Lew" Pontzer, 93, of Batavia, NY, formerly of Rimersburg, PA, passed away Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at the New York State Veterans Home in Batavia.

He was born March 6, 1925 in Rimersburg, the son of Joseph and Kathleen (Carr) Pontzer.

Lew lived in Rimersburg for most of his life and, following graduation from Rimersburg-Madison Joint High School in 1943, entered the US Army during World War II. He served as a heavy mortar crewman in the 30th Infantry Regiment 3rd Division and received the Silver Star for his gallantry in action on February 15, 1944.

Upon his return home, Lew began his studies at St. Vincent College and played on the school's football team. In 1951, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and then went on to pursue his interest and talent for woodworking at Heeter Lumber Company alongside his father. Lew later began working as a case worker for the Clarion County Department of Welfare and retired as the public welfare administrator on December 31, 1987.

Lew was active in the Rimersburg community, serving as the captain of the local fire department and belonging to the Rimersburg Lions Club and American Legion Post #454. He was also a member of St. Richard's Roman Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus at Immaculate Conception Church in Clarion.

He will be deeply missed by his nephew, Philip McCall and wife, Linda, of Boalsburg, PA; and niece, Kerry Solpietro and husband, Tony, of Rochester, NY.

Lew was preceded in death by his parents; twin brother, John J. "Joe" Pontzer, who died February 28, 2016; sister-in-law, Carolyn J. Pontzer, who died September 28, 2013; and nephew, Ken McCall, who died December 22, 2013.

Relatives and friends will be received from 6-8 PM on Sunday, December 16, 2018, at Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 758 Main Street, Rimersburg. A Vigil Service will take place at 5:30 P.M.

A Funeral Mass will take place at 10 AM on Monday, December 17, 2018, at St. Richard's Roman Catholic Church, Rimersburg, with the Rev. Samuel Bungo as celebrant.

Interment will be in Rimersburg Cemetery, Rimersburg, PA, where military honors will be presented by American Legion Post 454 and VFW Post 7132.

Contributions may be made in Lew's honor to the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Pennsylvania, 1100 Liberty Ave., Suite E-201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org; or the American Heart Association, www.heart.org.

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