Blakely A. Eyster, 87

April 25, 2023

Blakely A. Eyster, 87, of Willow Street, formerly of State College, PA passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Born June 6, 1935 in Stewartstown, PA; the fourth son of Stanley and Mary Eyster. His brothers; Lloyd J. Eyster; Hilda Grimm, (both deceased), William S. Eyster; Janet Eaton (deceased), and William’s twin brother Robert E. Eyster who died in infancy.

He attended Leib’s Grammar School (one room school) from 1941 to 1949. Graduated from Kennard Dale High School, Fawn Grove, PA in 1953; the first class to graduate from the consolidation of students from four townships; East Hopewell, Hopewell, Fawn and Peachbottom.

He worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad as an Electrician’s Apprentice from August 1953 thru May 1954. US Marine Corps- Wilmington, DE reserve unit – Sept. 1953 thru May 1954; active duty from June 1954 thru May 1956; served as a Battalion Legal Clerk in Headquarters Battalion, Second Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, NC.
He married his long-time love; Patricia Elaine Miller of Stewartstown, PA January 26, 1957 in the Stewartstown Presbyterian Church by Rev. Ralph Kaufman. He fathered three sons: David Blakely Eyster (1959), Daniel William Eyster (1961), and Robert Lloyd Eyster (1963). He also has seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

He graduated from The Pennsylvania State University in Electrical Engineering in 1960. He was an engineer with the Bendix Corp. in York, PA. – June 1960 thru March 1963. Engineer with HRB Singer Corp./Raytheon Corp. in State College, PA from April 1963 thru June 1997. Retired from Raytheon Corp. July 1, 1997 as a Program Manager.

He was a forty-nine-year member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, State College, PA; serving as Trustee and Usher for many years. He also built the Processional Cross for the church; as well as many other wooden items. He served four years on the Penn State Engineering Society Board of Directors. He was St. Paul’s representative on State College Interfaith Mission from 1997 to March 2003. He was selected as the Rose Cologne Volunteer of the Year in 1999. He was the Featured Artist at the Penn State Palmer Museum of Art November 2007. He served in various volunteer capacities on the State College Centre Volunteers in Medicine from April 2003 to April 2012. He was also selected as the Rose Cologne Volunteer of the Year in 2007.

He enjoyed hunting with his sons, fishing with his wife and sons, and golfing with his wife and friends. He also enjoyed wood-working and reading. He moved from State College, PA to Willow Valley Communities, Willow Street, PA May 16, 2012.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Interment will be in the Centre County Memorial Park, 1032 Benner Pike, State College, PA.