Butler native, husband killed in Centre County plane crash laid to rest
Funeral services will be held Wednesday for a Butler native and her husband who died in a small plane crash last week in central Pennsylvania.
Valerie D. Bernardo, 54, and Dr. Joseph T. Bernardo, 55, both of State College were killed May 1 when their single-engine plane went down into the side of Sandy Ridge Mountain in Rush Township, Centre County.
Valerie Bernardo was born in Butler. She was a registered dietitian for 28 years and is survived by her mother, Peggy (Yori) King, who lives in Chicora.
Joseph Bernardo, a New Jersey native, was employed at Penn State University as a senior research engineer at the Applied Research Lab.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Joseph Bernardo was piloting a Cessna C172 around 1 p.m. May 1 when it crashed just minutes after takeoff from University Park Airport.
Valerie and Joseph Bernardo were married in Rimersburg, Clarion County, and they would have celebrated their 33rd anniversary May 18.
They are survived by their two children, both of State College.
Funeral services for the couple will be held at 10 a.m. at Park Forest Baptist Church in State College. Burial will follow at Boalsburg Cemetery.
Pick up Wednesday's Butler Eagle to find out when the preliminary report for the crash will be released.
