Gary L. Woomer, 56, Duncansville, went home to be with the Lord Thursday morning at Altoona Regional Health System, Altoona Hospital Campus, after a brief illness.
He was born in Altoona, son of Marjorie F. (Kehoe) Woomer and the late Robert L. Woomer. He married Cheryl A. Way on Aug. 31, 1972, in Duncansville.
Surviving are his wife; a son, Robert L. Woomer and wife, Miya, of Purcellville, Va.; three grandchildren: Reese and twins, Peyton and Caleb; his mother, Marjorie Edwards of Altoona; a sister, Linda I. Moore of Long Branch, N.J.; three stepsisters: Kathy (David) Shaffer of Bel Air, Md., Susan (Larry) Edwards of Altoona and Cindy (Gary) Allshouse of Red Lion; a stepbrother, Dennis (Nadine) Edwards of Virginia Beach, Va.; several nieces and nephews; and two granddogs: Tucker and Tobey.
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Gary L. Woomer
He was preceded in death by a stepbrother, John Edwards.
Gary was a 1971 graduate of Altoona Area High School.
He was employed since 1973 as a shipping leadman at F.L. Smithe Machine Co.
He was a lifelong member of the Heidelberg Country Club and the Catholic War Veterans.
Gary enjoyed his grandchildren, hunting, baseball and football, especially the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, and 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, at Myers-Somers Funeral Home Inc., 501 Sixth Ave., Altoona, officiated by the Rev. Dr. D.L. Brinton Shaffer.
Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Altoona.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Skip (Alfred) Guyer
My first friend, before kindergarten. Gary and I lived 4 doors from each other on Crawford Ave, went to school together, played baseball together... Gary's Dad (Bob) coached us in baseball for years. We grew apart, not surprisingly, once baseball was done and "our futures" got in the way... I saw him at the 20th, and will miss him at the 40th.
Denise L. Spiers (Evangelisto)
Gary Woomer and I were not pal-around friends, but when we shared classes together, we always seemed to be seated near each other. The thing I remember most about Gary was his sense of humor. He didn't even have to say a word, just those expressions on his face, even the subtle ones with his eyes. If a person wasn't careful, you could get in a lot of trouble for disrupting a class. But, for me at least, we never got in trouble -- but I was always keeping one eye on him to see his next antic. People who can take you out of your serious mode and transform you into the beautiful world of laughter are special people to have in your life. We all need more Gary Woomers!
Nancy A. Saupp (Dubensky)
Skip - I remember climbing the cherry tree in someone's yard with you and Gary when my family lived on 7th street!
Patrick A. Gonsman
Met Gary at Altoona H.S. We used to sneak out and go up to Don's store for lunch. Little did I know then we would work together all our lives at F.L. Smithe, Duncansville. Gary had to have 35 years working there. Gary would greet me every morning with "Hey ya old fart, how ya doin today" of course I would come back with something similar. I found out Gary used to throw snowballs at my wife Karen and make her cry when they were in grade school at East End elementry. I sure missed seeing every morning after He passed. Genuine good Guy...!