Dr. Byron Paul Hartley, age 91, of Bellefonte, passed away Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. He was born on May 18, 1931, in Millsboro, PA. a son of the late Scott and Lulu Amelia (Bane)Hartley. Predeceased by his siblings, Donald Lee, Robert, Shirley, and Wilda. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Charlotte (Regel); two daughters, Robin (John) Carson of Pittsburgh, and Dawn (John) Van Bramer of Hampstead, N.C. and four grandchildren, Jake Van Bramer of Vienna, VA., Katerina Van Bramer of Hampstead, N.C., Christopher Carson of Pittsburgh, PA., and Alyssa Carson of Gainesville, FL.
Paul grew up on a small dairy farm with his sisters and brother in southwestern Pennsylvania. He would tell many stories from his childhood. Getting up early before school to milk cows, driving the tractor, helping with various chores. He graduated from Brownsville High School in 1949.
He worked as an auctioneer before enlisting in the Navy in 1951, where he spent 4 years as a personnel man, radioman and yeoman. He also was a secretary to the Commodore, Atlantic Reserve Fleet, in Charleston, South Carolina. He spent a lot of time in Puerto Rico where he was able to enjoy the beaches when off duty.
After leaving the navy in 1955, he enrolled at his beloved Penn State, majoring in agriculture education and minoring in animal science. During his undergraduate days he was active in his college fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho.
He worked as a vocational agriculture and industrial arts instructor at Victory Joint High School, near Slippery Rock, PA for 2 years following graduation and then returned to state college and Penn State to get his master’s degree in Agronomy, and a minor in genetics. It was here that he met Charlotte, the love of his life. She was working on campus when she caught his eye, and he knew she was the one. He graduated and they married in 1964.
They moved to Colorado where Paul was employed by Ball Seed Company and their first daughter, Robin, was born. They stayed in Colorado two years before returning east to be closer to family. At that point, Paul began his employment through Ohio State University working as a 4-H Agent in Scioto County and his second daughter, Dawn, was born. Later the family ended up in Trumbull County where Paul worked as the County Extension Agent from 1969 through his retirement. In the interim, he did go back once more to Penn State to achieve his Doctorate at Penn State in 1977. He retired as an associate professor emeritus from The Ohio State University in 1988.
He was very active in his community and church. He belonged to the Rotary Club, holding various offices. He served as president of the Lakeview High School band boosters when his daughters were attending. He taught adult Sunday school and was a lay leader, often delivering sermons at the local United Methodist Church.
Saturdays in the autumn were filled with college football. Paul had season tickets to Ohio State while his daughters were in high school and college, so home games were spent in Columbus. Of course, if Penn State was playing, he would be watching on television. He was a diehard Nittany Lion fan, and he had a room dedicated to Penn State in his retirement home, when they moved back to Happy Valley in 1990.
Being a grandfather was one of Paul’s most cherished roles. Jake, Katerina, Christopher, and Alyssa were his pride and joy. They called him “papa” and he would do anything for them. He always had pets and his last dog, Wally, was his faithful companion.
Paul enjoyed traveling. From family vacations, with a couple memorable road trips to Florida and Idaho, to the bus trips of dairy farmers that he planned and organized over his working years to Toronto, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and North Carolina. In retirement he and Charlotte traveled to Europe, Australia and New Zealand. They enjoyed many cruises to the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Antarctica and South America.
Paul was very creative and oil painting was one of his hobbies. His family is very blessed to have these treasured pieces of art to remember his talent.
All who knew him, know that Paul was a loving and caring person. He loved his family and friends and liked to keep in touch with all those who have touched his life. He adored his wife, two daughters, four grandchildren, all his dogs, and of course, his alma mater, Penn State.
He will be missed by all who loved him.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pleasant Gap United Methodist Church, 179 S. Main Street, Pleasant Gap, PA. 16823 with Pastors Bob Dornan and Elisa Osman officiating. Friends and family will be received at the church from 10:00 am until the service begins.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Gap U.M.C., 179 S. Main St., Pleasant Gap, PA. 16823.