OBIT: Lester P. ECKHARD, William A. SCOTT, Michael FANELLA, of Altoona, Blair County, PA

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PLAN FUNERALS OF YOUTHS WHO DIED IN ITALY

  Arrangements have been completed for funeral services and reinterment 
of the bodies of three Altoonans who gave their lives in the European 
theatre of operations in World war II.
  The bodies of T/4 Lester P. Eckhard, aged 33, of 3219 West Chestnut 
avenue and of Pvt. William A. Scott, aged 24, of 2311 Eighth avenue 
will arrive at 6.10 o'clock tomorrow evening, while that of Pvt. 
Michael Fanella, aged 21, of 301 Mountain avenue, Pleasant valley, will 
arrive in the city at 6.10 o'clock Thursday evening.
  Friends of Sgt. Eckhard will be received at the Laughlin funeral home 
from 7 to 10 o'clock Thursday evening and private funeral services will 
be held at the funeral home on Friday morning.
  The body of Pvt. Scott will be removed to the Axe funeral home where 
friends will be received after 8 o'clock tomorrow evening, with funeral 
services to be held Friday afternoon in the Broad Avenue Methodist 
church.
  The body of Pvt. Fanella will be removed to the V. L. Stevens funeral 
home and repose there after 7 o'clock Thursday evening.  Funeral 
services will be held in Mount Carmel Catholic church Saturday morning.
  Sgt. Eckhard was killed in action at the Anzio beachhead May 25, 
1944, while serving with the 69th armored division, field artillery.  
He enlisted in the army here April 8, 1942, and served in Africa prior 
to moving into Italy.
  He was born in Altoona Nov. 21, 1910, a son of David E. and Ina Mae 
(Showalter) Eckhard, and married Miss Betty Jane Bloser.  Surviving are 
his wife, his parents and one sister, Mrs. Irene M. Brown of 
Harrisburg.
  At the time of entering the service he was serving as assistant 
manager of the Personal Finance company Altoona office, having earlier 
been employed by the Central Trust company and the Second National 
bank.
  Pvt. Scott was the son of the late William H. Scott and Mrs. Minnie 
C. (Snouffer) Scott Dutrow 2311 Eighth avenue.  He was born July 7, 
1919, in Altoona and was graduated from the Altoona High school in the 
class of 1938.
  A former Altoona Mirror carrier, he was employed as a helper in the 
steel shop of the Altoona works at the time of his induction June 12, 
1943.  He was sent overseas December 1943, after basic training at Camp 
Pickett, Va., and Camp Balkley, Tex.  
  A month before his death, he was cited for bravery under heavy 
artillery fire and received the Bronze Star.  He was killed on the 
beachhead below Rome shortly after he returned to combat from a rest 
camp.
  Pvt. Scott was a member of the Broad Avenue Methodist church and at 
the time of his induction was secretary of his Sunday school class at 
the church.
  Surviving are his mother; two sisters, Mrs. Fulton Wilson of Altoona 
and Mrs. Frank Kunkel of Detroit, and several nieces.
  Pvt. Fanella was killed in action in Italy in May, 1944, after having 
survived service in North Africa, the Anzio beachhead and the march on 
Rome.  He entered the service Feb. 12, 1943, leaving employment in the 
Altoona works to serve in the field artillery.
  He was born in Landisville, N.J., Jan 31, 1923, a son of Joseph and 
Elizabeth Fanella, and accompanied his family to Altoona.
  Surviving are his parents, four brothers and three sisters, John, 
Daniel, Anthony, Joseph, Mrs. Grace Grassi, Mrs. Mary Sardella and 
Josephine, all of the city.  Pvt. Fanella was a member of the Mount 
Carmel Catholic church.

Altoona Mirror, Tuesday, July 27, 1948, pages 1, 21