Category: Necrology

By Stephen Rute, WPSD Class of 1974 A native of Pennsylvania, Ida Wynette Gray enrolled at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) in 1949 and graduated in 1951. She went on to make history as the first Black Deaf woman to enroll at Gallaudet College, breaking significant racial and social barriers. While at…

Note: Misty (Finnegan) Elder enrolled and left WPSD around 1995. Misty Dawn Elder, 49, of Altoona, entered into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Tuesday evening at UPMC Altoona following an extended illness. She was born in Roaring Spring, the daughter of Vicki (Davis) Finnegan and the late Alan Finnegan. Misty is survived…

Leslie Ann Layton, 72, Somerset, died June 4, 2026 at The Patriot. Born April 6, 1954 in Clarksburg, WV, daughter of Donald Eugene and Betty Luverne (Rogers) West. Preceded in death by parents and nephew Jonathon Morgan. Survived by her husband of 46 years, Robert Lloyd Layton, Jr.; twin sister Linda K. (Michael) Morgan; nephew…

Alumni Note: She enrolled Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and did not graduate at WPSD. Martha Delores Frye died peacefully on July 8, 2017 at Harbor Manor in Noblesville, Indiana. She was born on February 15, 1930 in Weirton, West Virginia to John and Josephine Jezerski. Martha attended the West Virginia School for the Deaf…

Born May 1, 1981, in Clearfield, the daughter of Douglas and Patricia “Patty” (Odrosky) Hess. She was a graduate of Clearfield Area High School. Renee had worked for the Pressley Ridge School for the Deaf, Pittsburgh and more recently the dietary department at Mt. Laurel Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was a member of the…

Note: Patrick Hartnett was teacher of WPSD from 1976-1977 until his retirement in 2003. He worked at WPSD for 27 years. Norfolk, VA – Patrick Lawrence Hartnett, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother passed away peacefully on April 27, 2026 at home in Norfolk, Virginia at the age of almost 81. He was surrounded by…

Frederick C. Roadarmel Jr., 61, of Indiana, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Pittsburgh. He was born on Sept. 16, 1964, in Indiana, to Frederick C. and Millicent (Nicholson) Roadarmel. Fred graduated from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and spent his career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the maintenance department.…

Joanne E., 86, Portage, passed away March 23, 2026. Born July 17, 1939, in Latrobe. Preceded in death by parents, Ernest K. and Mary K. (Baum) Voigt; and brother, Ernest Voigt. Survived by children, Lawton (Beverly Beers), Allan (Christi Maxwell), and Jessica Greathouse; grandchildren, Anna Serenko (Josh), Lawton Jr. “L.J.,” Cheyenne Miller (Dylan), Andrew Conrad,…

Jim McMahon was hired as a housekeeper during Easter break at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) in April 1980. He later became the foreman of the housekeeping staff before transitioning to the maintenance department. Over the years, Jim developed extensive knowledge of the school’s buildings, grounds, and history. A substantial portion of…