Peter Edward "Pete" Barta
(1921-2015)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Emma Katherine Mahler

Peter Edward "Pete" Barta 1323

  • Born: 22 Sep 1921, Berryburg, Barbour, West Virginia, USA 1332
  • Marriage (1): Emma Katherine Mahler on 6 Jun 1943 in Stoystown, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA 860
  • Died: 5 Mar 2015, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, USA at age 93
  • Buried: Lambertsville Cemetery (Stoystown, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA)
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bullet  General Notes:

OBITUARY

Peter Edward Barta, "Pete", was drawn into Heaven in the twinkling of an eye, the afternoon of March 5, 2015. After completing a delicious meal of broiled wild caught salmon with mashed garlic potatoes, Pete was sitting and enjoying the view of deer and a hen turkey feeding in the snowy field next to the lower orchard from his window when his heart simply stopped. He was at home with family at the time.

Peter, known to many as "Pete", was born September 22, 1921 in Berryburg, Barbour County, West Virginia, the eldest of eight children of Andrew Barta and Margaret (Slage) Barta.
Pete was preceded in death by the love of his life and wife of 71 years, Emma (Mahler) Barta, parents Andrew and Margaret Barta, his brothers Louis, Albert, and Ernest, his sister Lillian, sisters-in-law Esther "Liz", Minnie, Mary and Patricia Barta, brother-in-law Otto "Shoes" King, and infant great-grandson Declan.

Surviving are brothers George and Elmer of Cairnbrook, sister Mary (and brother-in-law Jerald) Gruvman of Spokane, WA, sister-in-law Jean (Maffeo) Barta of Windber; children Shelby Jean (Barta, Goldsborough) Novak at home, Edward A. (daughter-in-law Paula Weeks) of Wilbur, Peter D. (daughter-in-law Peggy Wilson) of Hollsopple, and Phillip A. of Oregon City, OR. Also surviving are friends and the mothers of his grand- and great- grandchildren, Marie Barta, Tammy Hicks, Sarah Moran and Kerri Lafferty. Also surviving are grandchildren, Christopher (Meixuan) Novak, Amethyst Novak (Christopher) Joyner, Sean Novak, Andria Barta (Scott) Civils, Michael W. (Katy) Barta, Heather Barta (Jeff) Howell; Quade, Avery, Kaevin and Irelin Barta, Luke Barta, and Benjamin (Jenn) Barta; step-grandchildren, Dan and Penny Szymczak and Jackie Wilson Johnson; great-grandchildren, Dylan, Gavin and Payton Novak; Jasmine, Cameron and Zoe Joyner; Logan, Hayden and Maddison Howell; Elyza Barta; twin girls, Hailey and Bailey Barta; and Lumen Civils; and step-great-grandchildren, Grace and Spencer Johnson.

Pete graduated from Shade Township High School in 1940, and was described in his high school yearbook as the senior "with a golden voice…when it comes to singing tenor he's just plain 'tops'…likes to talk and give English speeches…and uses an overdose of hand motions when expressing himself, but never doubts his words." Pete served the Shade-Central City School District for many years, beginning as the office secretary for the Shade Township School District after high school graduation in 1940, a job interrupted when Pete's wife Emma (Mahler) Barta was hired to fill that position vacated by Pete when he was inducted into the military in 1942 to fight for our freedom in WWII. For two and a third years Pete served in the U.S. Army Air Force in the European theater of operations '96 both in England and France. A decorated WWII veteran who attained the rank of Sergeant, Pete was a Photographic Lab Tech who served our country in the air offensive in Europe in six campaigns, as a member of the 360 Fighter Squad, 356 Fighter Group. After his honorable discharge in 1945, he worked for a coal stripping firm for nine months and then in 1946 accepted a position as secretary in the Office of the County Superintendent of Schools, Somerset County, PA, and while working full time also began attending college "through the kindness and consideration" of his employer. Finally in 1952 he attended college full time through sacrifice and hard work by both he and his wife Emma. In 1954 Peter graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from State Teachers College, Indiana, PA and in 1957 received his Master of Education from the University of Pittsburgh, followed by his Elementary Principal Certificate in 1960. Pete retired in 1980 from a 37½-year career in education, including teaching Grades 4-8, Art Supervisor Grades 1-12, and 13½ years as Shade Central-City School District's Elementary School Principal. He has said, "Children are my first love...Wherever children are, they are my chief interest. Whatever I can give them from the experience of my life to make them happy and successful citizens, I will gladly impart to them."

Throughout his life, Pete enjoyed singing in the choir of Grace Lutheran Church and participating in church, school, and community activities. He enjoyed fishing with his buddies, brothers, children and grandchildren. Pete's deep roots in the community complemented his quest for adventure and travel with Emma. This included trips to Europe with Emma and her mother, Elizabeth Mahler, to visit and become acquainted with many relatives in East and West Germany in the early 1950s; surviving road trips in the station wagon with their four children all over the U.S.; a tour of Argentina at the invitation of cousin-in-law, Klaus, and his wife, Gabriele, who lived and worked there at the time for a large shipping firm in 1988; cruising Alaska in 1993; and adventures in the Caribbean islands with family from time to time. Pete's talents and interests extended to astronomy, studio art, farming, photography, masonry, stone cutting, carpentry, woodworking, beekeeping, gardening, machine repair, landscaping, gardening, growing Christmas trees, Adobe Photo Shop, musical instruments, languages, reading, and learning about everything, just to name a few. However, most notable was his expertise in grafting trees, pomology and his passion for the antique apple and fruit orchard that he and Emma established and nurtured throughout the years. His passion for art was expressed annually in the creation of his and Emma's Christmas cards, which were a limited edition of about 250 that friends and family anticipated every year including 2015. Pete, a family man possessing a deep faith in God, courage, intensity, passion, determination, and many talents, loved all of God's creation, loved building and creating, telling stories and more stories, and as grandson Sean remarked was "an awesome grandfather."

Pete's youngest son Phil reflected: "Our 'Family Time' wasn't a night, but a daily routine of picking stones in the garden, picking apples, trimming Christmas trees, making cider and eating dinner together nightly, then sitting down to watch a TV show together. Dad taught us how to listen objectively, keeping an open mind. He taught us also to be firm but fair. But the one thing I remember most of all was, he said and practiced, 'If you have a piece of bread, share half with someone else who's in need' and 'always do the right thing no matter what the circumstances may be. You'll be rewarded in the end.'"

The family is honoring Pete's request for a private family viewing prior to cremation. However, this Summer, most likely in July, for all family and friends who wish to participate, there will be a Celebration of Life Service at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 E. Main St., Stoystown, Pa. 15563, where there will be opportunity to share thoughts, prayers, scripture, and hymns, led by Pastor Katie, after which Pete's cremains will be committed for interment with military funeral honors at Lambertsville Cemetery, followed by a "bring a dish '96 bring a story" meal. If you are on Pete's Christmas card list, you will be sent the details, but if you don't exchange Christmas cards with Pete and Emma, and wish to attend, please mail your name and address to Shelby Novak, 206 Barta Road, Stoystown, PA 15563 and you will also be included when invitations are sent. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity reflecting Pete's love of children, dogs, and veterans may be made to a four-star charity providing service dogs to children and veterans worldwide: 4 Paws for Ability, 253 Dayton Ave., Xenia, OH 45385 (www.4pawsforability.org). Arrangements entrusted to Deaner Funeral Home, Stoystown. DeanerFuneralsAndCremations.com

Source: Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Cambria, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 8 MAR 2015


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Peter married Emma Katherine Mahler, daughter of David Mahler and Elizabeth Helbig, on 6 Jun 1943 in Stoystown, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA.860 (Emma Katherine Mahler was born on 13 Mar 1923 in Stoystown, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA 1311,1332, christened on 20 Feb 1925 in Stoystown, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA,860 died on 15 Aug 2014 and was buried on 18 Aug 2014 in Lambertsville Cemetery (Stoystown, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA).)


bullet  Marriage Notes:

Grace Lutheran Church 860


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