Deborah M. (Haigh) Darnell

Deborah M. Darnell, 74, originally of Altoona, passed away Sunday in Cape Coral, Florida. She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late Glenn W. and Shirley F. (Holderman) Haigh. In 1968, she married Richard G. Darnell.

She is survived by her loving husband, of 56 years, of Fort Myers, Fl; daughter, Jennifer (Jay) Davis, of Fort Myers, Fl; granddaughter, Abigail Biddle of State College; sister, Karyn (Ron) Espenlaub, of Altoona; sister in law, Kimberly Darnell of Altoona; cousins: Linda Raneri of Philadelphia and Joan Foor of Palm Springs, CA; numerous nieces and nephews; and her dog, Maggie May.

Deborah was preceded in death by a daughter, Julie Biddle; granddaughter, Elizabeth Biddle; brother, Glenn Haigh; brother in law, Gordon Darnell; and sister in law, Gail Barree.

Deborah was a 1967 graduate of Altoona High School, where she met her husband. She worked for State Farm, Warner Cable, JC Penney and retired from Altoona Area School District as a van driver.

She loved to spend time with family, read, and go on vacations to Florida to hunt for seashells and relax on the beach.

She enjoyed cross-country road trips to see the National Parks and beautiful sites with her family and her dog. 

Debbie was a life long member of the Fourth Street Church of God, where she started the women’s Bible study group along with her sister Karyn, and started Toys For Tots distribution.

Friends will be received from 9am until the 11am funeral service on Thursday, May 30, 2024 in the Axe and Santella Family Chapel, 1534-4th St. Altoona PA 16601. Interment will be at Alto-Reste Park. Arrangements are by Leslie E. Axe Funeral Home. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Vincent De Paul Food Bank or Huntington’s Disease Society of America. www.hdsa.org

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