Galen N. Black

Galen N. Black, 99, of Bedford, died on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at Pennknoll Village Nursing Home. He was born on February 10, 1925 in Friends Cove, a son of the late Simpson B. and Sarah Edna (Bollman) Black. On March 22, 1944 in Cumberland, MD, he married Jane (Kegg) Black who preceded him in death on September 12, 2021.  He is survived by two sons:  Lindley D.  Black and wife Bonnie of Mechanicsburg; Terry L. Black and wife Patricia of Elizabethtown; two daughters:  Mary Jane Black and husband David Raymond of Bedford;  Connie Black Scanga of Malvern; six grandchildren: Pamela LaShomb and husband David of Port St. Lucie, FL;  Andrea L. Black of Mt. Joy;  Allison Downing and husband Thomas of Mt. Joy; Sara E. Scanga and husband Charles Schirmer of Cazenovia, NY;  Carrie A. Scanga and husband Ron Harrity of Portland, ME; and Justin M. Black and wife Katherine of Collegeville; two step-grandsons:  David A. Raymond and wife Robin of Manchester; and Jacob J. Raymond of Bedford; seven great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; and four step-great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Marlene Brumwell of San Bernardino, CA.  He was preceded in death by an infant son Eric V. Black; three brothers: Donald, Arnold, and Gary Black; six sisters:  Mabel Dilling, Ruby Calhoun, Alberta Foor, Helena Perrin, Martha Foor, and Doris Dilling.

Galen was a 1943 graduate of Broad Top Twp. High School. He was a WWII Army Veteran who served in the European Theater and received a Purple Heart.  While in the Army he attended Auburn University.  After the Army Galen worked at various places that included road construction, Texas Eastern Terminal and the Bedford Springs Hotel. He retired after thirty plus years with United Telephone Company which later became Sprint. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, camping, gardening, reading, watching Pirates baseball and Penn State and Steelers football. tinkering and collecting.  He was an active member and served in many capacities at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Bedford, such as elder, deacon, being on the property committee, and with the Community Dinner Ministry.  He was a member of the Bedford American Legion Post # 113, Trout Unlimited, Telephone Pioneers, and the Harrisburg Fly Fishers Assoc.

The family would like to thank the staff members at Pennknoll Village who treated their father like a beloved family member and to the staff members of Gentiva Hospice who treated Galen with dignity and compassion.

Funeral Services will be private and held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers those wishing may make memorial contributions in Galen’s name to the St. John’s United Church of Christ, 144 West John Street, Bedford, PA 15522. Arrangements by the Timothy A. Berkebile Funeral Home in Bedford.   Our online guest book is available at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com.

St. John's United Church of Christ
144 W. John St, Bedford PA 15522