Howard B. "Pete" McKinnis, 79, died at 5:40 p.m. Thursday in Beaver Falls.

Born Feb. 8, 1929, in Prospect, he was the son of the late H. Merle McKinnis and the late Helen Barnhart McKinnis.

Mr. McKinnis was a Presbyterian.

He was a foreman in the welding shop for Armco, retiring in 1990 after 37 years.

He was a member of the Eagles in Kane, the Kane Sportmen's Club and the Russel City Sportmen's Club. He enjoyed hunting and camping and spending time with his family and with his dog, Buddy.

Mr. McKinnis is survived by his wife, Judy McKinnis; a son, H. Bruce McKinnis and his wife, Lisa T., of Ridgley, W.Va.; a daughter, Sherri L. McKinnis and Edward Perry of Sarver; two stepdaughters, Mary Beth and Charles Lechner and Sharon Yoho and David Widek; a stepson, Douglas Yoho; a grandson, Maxwell C. McKinnis; step-grandchildren, Heather and Justin Lechner; seven sisters, Ruth Sherman of Butler, June Reed and her husband, Harold, Ruby Brown of Prospect, Fay and Don King, Edna Mae Knaur of Butler, Bonnie Bolton and her husband, Crawford, and Sandy Henricks and her husband, Robert, of Slippery Rock; two stepsisters-in-law, Millie and Al Terlizzi and Rosemary Morelli, all of Beaver Falls; and by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Thelma Kelley McKinnis, who was deceased Dec. 28, 1989; his sister, Betty Allison; and twin brothers.

<B>MCKINNIS </B>— Friends of Howard B. "Pete" McKinnis, who died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, 124 E. North St. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at the funeral home with the Rev. David Wider, a retired Methodist minister, officiating. Interment will be in Butler County Memorial Park.Contributions may be made to the Butler County Humane Society, 1027 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.