OBIT: Robert WATERS, 1918, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ FATHER WATERS, AGED PRIEST AT ST. MARK'S, DEAD Dean of City's Catholic Clergymen, Passed Away Last Evening at Rectory - Held Many Important Pastorates Rev. Father Robert Waters, one of the best known and most highly respected priests in the Altoona diocese of the Catholic church, died at the rectory of St. Mark's Catholic church last night at 10.15 o'clock, after a brief illness, dating only from last Wednesday, death being caused by gastritis. Father Waters was born in County Louth, Ireland, in 1833 and came to America in 1858. When the Civil war broke out, he enlisted in the Union army and served with the ranks for three years. After the war, he entered St. Michael's seminary, in Pittsburgh to finish his studies, where he was also employed as a teacher for some time in connection with his work as a student. He was ordained to the priesthood in Dec. 1868 and, had he lived, would have celebrated his golden jubilee on Christmas of this year. HELD MANY CHARGES During the fifty years of service in the church, he held many charges in both the Pittsburgh and Altoona dioceses. During the time when the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was being built, Father Waters had charge of the Catholic workers from Pittsburgh to the Maryland state line. In 1871, due to his strenuous life, his health failed and he went west to recuperate, and later returned east and became pastor at Ehrenfeld, Cambria county in 1888. From Ehrenfeld, he was transferred to this city, where he became assistant to Father M. M. Sheedy at St. John's church. After some time at St. John's he was transferred to the pastorate of St. Patrick's church at Newry, and from there went to St. Patrick's church at Spangler. CAME HERE FROM SPANGLER It was from Spangler that he was assigned to the assistance of Father Egan at St. Mark's church in 1910, where he has been located since. Up until a few days ago, Father Waters enjoyed good health and no one about him had any thought that he would pass away so soon. He was a man of sterling qualities and had the faculty of making friends wherever he went, so that he became one of the most beloved and well known priests of the diocese. He is survived by two sisters, both residing in Ireland but as far as is known, he has no other relatives living. No arrangements have been made for the funeral and the announcement will be made soon. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Monday Morning, April 29, 1918 FUNERAL OF REV. FATHER WATERS ON THURSDAY The funeral of Rev. Father Robert Waters will be held tomorrow in St. Mark's Catholic church. Priests from the Pittsburgh and Altoona dioceses of the church will attend the funeral. The remains of Father Waters, now reposing in the rectory of the church at 410 Sixth avenue, will be removed to the church this afternoon at 3 o'clock and will remain in state until the funeral. The students of the St. Mark's parochial school will pass in procession before the casket tomorrow afternoon. The students will be dismissed at that hour and the school will be closed to reopen on Friday. The recitation of the divine office will be held at 9:30 o'clock tomorrow morning in St. Mark's church. Requiem solemn high mass will be said at 10 o'clock. Rev. Father James B. Egan, rector of St. Mark's, will be the celebrant. Rev. Father Peter Fox, rector at Renovo, will be the deacon, Rev. Father C. Logan MacKinney of Bedford, the sub-deacon, Rev. Father Michael J. Canole of St. Leo's, Altoona, master of ceremonies Rev. Father Morgan M. Sheedy, rector of the St. John's pro-cathedral, will deliver the sermon. Bishop Eugene A. Garvey will preside in the sanctuary. The interment will be made in the priests' plot in Calvary cemetery. Only one priest has ever been interred in the plot. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday Morning, May 1, 1918 MANY FRIENDS AT FUNERAL OF FATHER WATERS A large concourse of friends attended the funeral of Rev. Father Robert Waters yesterday at St. Mark's church. More than half the priests in the Altoona diocese and a dozen from the Pittsburgh diocese were present, visitors from the latter diocese including Rt. Rev. Monsignor A. A. Lambing of Wilkinsburg and Rev. Father James L. Quinn and P. J. O'Conner from the Pittsburgh churches. The recitation of the divine office was held at 9:30 o'clock at St. Mark's church and the solemn requiem high mass was held at 10 o'clock. Rev. Father James B. Egan of St. Mark's was the celebrant, Rev. Father Peter Fox of Renovo, Deacon, Rev. Father C. Logan MacKinney of Bedford, subdeacon and Rev. Father M. J. Canole of St. Leo's, master of ceremonies. Rev. Father Morgan M. Sheedy, rector of St. John's pro-cathedral, delivered the sermon and spoke from the text of St. Paul, "I Have Kept the Faith." Father Sheedy spoke of the sacrifice of the priest as a boy, when he answered the call of his country and served in the Civil war. Father Sheedy also referred to the veteran priest serving nearly fifty years in the priesthood, remarking "that the golden jubilee, which would have been held in December, will be observed with the Great High Priest, who is Christ Jesus." The remains of Father Waters were carried by William Lanigan, sr., John O'Rourke, Vance Baird, Joseph Kimmel, Michael Kettl, Martin Higgins, Vincent Hickey and Michael Maroney. The body was accorded military honors, twenty-five members of the local G.A.R. post attending. A military service was held at Calvary cemetery, where interment was made in the priests' plot. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Friday Morning, May 3, 1918