William Robert Edward “Bill” Anslinger of Sinking Valley, Altoona, PA, passed away

peacefully at Elmcroft Senior Living Center, Duncansville, PA, early Thursday morning,       

June 9, 2016.

     Born in Altoona on Christmas day, 1919, of Emma Regina (Little) and Robert John

Anslinger, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane Snyder at the Eighth Avenue

Methodist Church on January 16, 1941.  They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in

January, 2011 and she died in March, 2011.  He was predeceased by his brother Gordon Little.

     Bill is survived by four of their five children:  Nanette Anslinger (John Skrabalak); Robert

John Anslinger (Carol); Olivia Anslinger Carniglia (Charles, deceased); and Jefferson Clair

Anslinger (Eileen).  Their son Christian William Anslinger is deceased.

     Also surviving are six grandchildren:  Mary Abigail Carniglia, Annika Dee Carniglia (Steve);

Max Christian Anslinger (Nanette Marie); Beth Ann Minix, (Patrick); Wesley William

Anslinger (Kathleen); and Alex Jefferson Anslinger (Jesslyn); two step-grandchildren Andrew

William Filler (Brittney) and Megan Rose Vallies (Jerry); and eleven great-grandchildren: twins

Megan Marie and Maria Nanette Anslinger; John Patrick, Mary Constance and Samuel Patrick

Minix; twins Marilyn Olivia and Elizabeth Jane Carniglia-Smock; Parker Charles and Ivy Claire

Anslinger; Shylo Eileen and Dylan James Anslinger.  Surviving also are nephew Larry Little

(Carol), great niece Keri Little Salyards (Sam) and daughter Kaylee; great niece Sherri Horne

(Derek) and their children J.T., Sarah and Owen; as well as special family members Virginia

Hughes Anslinger; Angela McFarland (Tom); Sara Skrabalak (Mark Fraley); and foster

daughter, Misty Malmstrom Zaebst.  He leaves behind many beloved family here and in

Switzerland.

     A 1937 graduate of Altoona High School, Bill began his first job as a plant man at Hileman’s

Dairy, working alongside his good friend Paul Grabill.  After serving stateside in the United

States Army in WWII, and achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant, he worked for 25 years at the

U.S. Postal Service in Altoona, first as a letter carrier and then as Superintendent of Mails.

     He was a member of Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday school classes, and

of Wehnwood United Methodist Church, having been on the governing boards of the two

churches.  He and his wife were co-leaders of the Luther League Youth Group and the 4-H-

Club in Sinking Valley.  He was a charter member of the Sinking Valley Volunteer Fire

Company, and, with his wife, led nature walks at Fort Roberdeau.

     A member of the Blair Country Genealogical Society, Bill served for 17 years as editor of

its newsletter.  He belonged to the Blair County Historical Society; National Association of

Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) “Off Your Rockers” senior citizens club which he named

20 years ago; Blair Country Historical Society, Bellwood Historical Society, Altoona Area High

School Alumni Association, the then-named Association for Retarded Citizens in Blair County, 

and was an avid supporter of the Blair County Association for the Blind for which he and Mary

Jane read weekly news and announcements on the radio.

     Blessed with a phenomenal memory for detail and a gift for storytelling, he enjoyed writing

personal narratives, journals, and letters, and has published several anecdotal books including 

Big Duff, Growing Up on Seventeenth Street, The Little Family Saga, and Grandma and

Grandpap Little.  Sinking Valley neighbors enjoyed his “Profundities”, the quotations and puns

he wrote weekly on a chalkboard at the end of his drive way.  Last summer he composed and

narrated a Power Point presentation, “Tales of Bronco Charlie”, which he presented at the Blair

County Genealogical Society in Hollidaysburg.   Most recently, he shared treasured stories at an

afternoon gathering of the residents at Elmcroft.

     One of his proudest accomplishments was having hiked 300+ miles on the Appalachian Trail

with members of the Boy Scout Troop of which he was scoutmaster, and with members of his

family.  A prized possession, 60 years in the making and which accompanied him on many

journeys, was his wooden walking stick, which he fashioned from a tree in Sinking Valley, and

embellished with medallions from historical sites around the country and the world.  The latter

were gifts from loved ones.  When stopped and questioned about this unique artifact at

restaurants and other places, he delighted in explaining each insignia in detail.

     Another highlight was having participated, September, 1975, as a member of the Benedict

Arnold Expedition to Quebec for the United Stated Bicentennial.  He and 600 men from

all over the United States, clad in authentic costume, sailed in tall ships from Newburyport, RI,

landed in upstate New York, and were transported overland to Quebec, where they re-enacted

Arnold’s battle.  To record this, he wrote daily dispatches about their travels and sent them to the

Altoona Mirror where they were published.

     Friends and family will be received on Sunday, June 12 from 2 - 4 P.M. and 6 - 8 P.M. and

Monday, June 13 from 10 - 11 A.M. at the Myers-Somers Funeral Home, 501 Sixth Avenue,

Altoona.  The funeral service will begin at 11 A.M., with Rev. Evelyn Madison officiating. 

Interment will follow immediately afterwards at Rose Hill Cemetery.

     In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to the Blair County

Genealogical Society, 431 Scotch Valley Rd., Hollidaysburg, PA. 16648; Mt. Olivet Lutheran

Church, 2266 Kettle Road, Altoona, PA  16601; Wehnwood United Methodist Church, 2511

Juniata Gap Rd., Altoona, PA  16601; or the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania

Chapter, PO Box 96011, Washington, D.C.  20090-6011.