Thursday, March 28, 2024

Obituary of Samuel Markle , 84

Name of Deceased Samuel Markle
Age 84
Date of Death 09/20/2015
Date of Birth 02/11/1931
Funeral Home Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral & Cremation Services

Samuel E. Markle, 84, of Bellefonte died Sunday, September 20, 2015 at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College, PA.

Born February 11, 1931, in Pleasant Gap, he was the son of the late Carl and Agnes (Mowery) Markle. On April 28, 1951, he married the love of his life Norma (Pifer) Markle who survives at home. They met when they were only sixteen; married at 20 and together they started their life raising three devoted children. They celebrated over 64+ wonderful years of marriage.

He was a 1949 graduate from the Bellefonte Area High School, where he wrestled and was a member of the first Bellefonte wrestling team in 1946-1947. After graduation in June of 1949 Sam enlisted and served his country in the U.S. Navy for 4 years. During this time period his ship was sent to the Mediterranean Sea for training exercises with the NATO Allies. He was honorably discharged, and received the Good Conduct Medal and the Naval Occupation Medal (E).

Sam then went on to further his education at the Pennsylvania State University. He attended PSU from 1953-1957 earning his Bachelor’s degree while raising his three children. He wrestled and was on the 1957 EIWA Penn State Championship wrestling team. He later obtained his Master’s degree in Secondary School Administration at Shippensburg State and his Principalship from Penn State University.

Sam worked for the Bellefonte School District for 36 memorable years from 1957-1993. He was a Science teacher, a Physical Education and Health teacher, and an Assistant Principal. Sam also coached wrestling, football, and golf. He started the Bellefonte Golf Team and coached Bellefonte’s first PIAA State Golf Champion. Sam had also worked at Riverside Market, Pifer Music Center, and sold Assemblies to school districts. He was an Usher and then Usher Supervisor at PSU Beaver Stadium for over fifty-four years; a PIAA Wrestling Official since 1963, refereeing over 400 matches. Sam officiated the PIAA State Championships seven times during his career. Sam touched many lives.

He was a member of numerous organizations. They include: Bellefonte American Legion Post 1600, Bellefonte Moose, Bellefonte Elks Lodge #1094 (Life member), Undines Fire Co. (Life member), Pleasant Gap Fire Co. (Life member), Bellefonte Kiwanis Club, Penn State Wrestling Club, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, PSU Quarterback Club, Penn State Alumni Association and Nittany Country Club. He held numerous offices and positions in some of these. In the past, Sam also served on the Centre Co. Library Board and was a Spring Township Supervisor.

Throughout his life he earned several awards. He was inducted into the Bellefonte Wrestling Hall of Fame, District 6 Hall of Fame (2014), and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma (Class of 2016). His brother in-law, Ronald Pifer and grandson Curtis Markle are also members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which makes Sam the 3rd member of his family to be inducted.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, and sports. He loved most sports but some of his favorites to attend or watch were PSU football, PSU basketball, PSU and Bellefonte wrestling, the State College Spikes, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was an avid golfer and it was often joked that he played every day that had “y” in it. He enjoyed golfing with the Ice Cream Golfers and the Tuesday gang. Sam was an avid PSU and Bellefonte fan. He enjoyed spending time at “The Bungalow” along Spring Creek in Fisherman’s Paradise. Most importantly, he loved spending time with his family and friends, including his great friends at Coffee Club. Sam especially enjoyed the time he spent with his great-grandson, Jayden Stamm. It isn’t often you see an 80+ year old man out playing in the leaves or wrestling on the mats with his then 3 or 4 year old great grandson.

One of his last accomplishments was in getting the Bellefonte Wrestling room named in honor of Bellefonte’s first wrestling coach, Glenn Smith. Glenn was not only Dad’s coach, he was a good friend and best man at Norma and Sam’s wedding.

Along with his loving wife Norma, he is survived by two daughters, Susan Roberts of Mojave, CA, Debra Markle Shelow (fiancé Michael J. Roan) of Pleasant Gap; one son, Ronald Edward Markle (Janice) of Rattlesnake Pike; two sisters, Eleanor Houser (Richard) of Altoona, Beverly Miles (Chet) of Julian; half-sister Caroline Horner of Bellefonte; three grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Shelow Stamm, Curtis Markle, and Jessica Smith (Jason); two great-grandchildren, Mary’s son Jayden Samuel Stamm, and Curtis’s daughter Anna Lovrich; two brothers-in-law Ronald Pifer (Barbara Benner), David J. Brown, numerous nieces and nephews and many many friends.

Along with his parents he was preceded in death by his brother Fred Markle, in 1963, and sister-in-law, June Pifer Brown in 2015.

The family would like to thank Dr. Hussein Aboul-Hosn and his staff and the doctors and staff of Shaner Cancer Group, Hershey Medical Center and Mount Nittany Medical Center for their excellent care and compassion. The family would also like to thank all his friends at Sunset West and Denny’s Restaurant.

Friends will be received from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, September 25, 2015 at Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral Home, 1034 Benner Pike, State College. A memorial service will follow at 5:30 p.m. with military honors in accord. Pastor Chester Marshall will be officiating. Burial is private and at the convenience of the family.

Since Sam fought both cancer and heart issues since 1990, his final request would be that in lieu of flowers for you to contribute to the Cancer Society, the Heart Association or The Christopher Reeve Foundation (in honor of his grandson, Curtis Markle) in Sam’s name.

An online guestbook can be signed and condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com.