Harold L. Altmire, 96, of North Apollo died Sunday at Elderton, Plumcreek Township, surrounded by his family members.

Mr. Altmire was born July 7, 1913, in Pardo, near Grove City, the son of William C. and Margaret Smith Altmire.

Mr. Altmire attended schools in Butler County. At a young age, he worked in the coal mines continuing his education during the day.

During these early years, he played baseball in the Butler and Armstrong counties region.

In 1943, he and three brothers and a brother-in-law organized Altmire Brothers Coal Co., located in North Apollo. Another enterprise, A&C Coal Co. Inc., a surface-mining company, was partnered by Mr. Altmire and his friend, Floyd Cass, and operated for more than 30 years beginning in 1953.

Mr. Altmire was a member of the Apollo Elks, the Apollo Chapter of Free and Accepted Masons, the Coudersport Consistory, the Shriners Consistory and was a life member of the North Apollo Fire Department.

He was a director of the Apollo Riverview Cemetery and director emeritus of the Apollo Trust Co.

He attended the Apollo First Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council or on church committees for many years.

Mr. Altmire and his wife, Ruth, spent winters in Florida, where they enjoyed fishing, golfing and bowling. Canadian fishing trips were favorite vacations. Each fall throughout his life, Mr. Altmire looked forward to hunting with his sons and grandsons. He especially enjoyed the company of his family and his many friends.

Survivors include two sons, Harold L. Jr. and his wife, Jonni, of Apollo, Gerald D. and his wife, Denise, of Elderton and a daughter-in-law Barbara Altmire. Surviving grandchildren are Jeril (John) Goss of Punxsutawney, David (Kim) Altmire of Renfrew, Jon (Debbie) Altmire of Apollo, Lisa (Eric) Hohn of Butler, Jay (Karen) Altmire of Apollo, Denny Altmire of Butler and Jesse Altmire of Elderton. Surviving great-grandchildren are Emily, Andrea, Tiffany, Tyler, Alex, Brittney and Megan Altmire, David, Aaron, Adam and Maggie Hohn, and Adrienne and Jillian Goss. Also surviving are a sister, Betty Conterno of Butler, two step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Altmire was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Ruth E. (Scott) Altmire; his son, James W. of Apollo; his parents, William and Margaret Altmire; six brothers, Theodore, Eli, William, Orrie Mack, Lloyd and Jimmy; and two sisters, Marie Watson and Pauline Kuhn.

<B>ALTMIRE</B> — Visitation for Harold L. Altmire, who died Sunday, July 19, 2009, will be from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the <B>Curran-Shaffer Funeral Home and Crematory</B>, 100 Owens View Ave., Apollo. Additional visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the services at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 214 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Apollo, where services will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Apollo.Memorial contributions may be made to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 214 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Apollo, PA 15613.