Obituary of Henry R. Duda

Henry R. Duda, 92, of Ocala, FL died Saturday September 17, 2011 in his residence. He was the husband of the late Norma Korneke Duda who died in July of 2001. Born in Pittsburgh on December 24, 1918 he was the son of the late Agnes Kelty. Henry was a 1936 graduate of the Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh, PA. He began his college career at Slippery Rock State Teachers College prior to the outbreak of WWII. He later enlisted in the US Army and served during WWII stationed in North Africa and Italy. On being honorably discharged from the army he continued his college degree at Slippery Rock and graduated in 1947. In that same year he and Norma wed. In 1949 his son was born and he went back to SRU to add elementary education to his certificate. In the late 70's he retired from Mt. Lebanon School District as a sixth grade teacher. During his tenure at Mt. Lebanon he was the assistant band director under Lou Scarsi and was the adult leader of the Rockettes. After retirement he and his wife Norma moved to Ocala, Fl where they spent time volunteering in the Marion County School District. In his thirty years of volunteering Henry logged more than 37,000 hours. He was honored in 1992 as the National Outstanding School Volunteer and received the honor at Disney World in Orlando. For the last few years of his volunteer career he worked in the student assignments and records department at the Marion County Board of Education Office. Surviving are a son Gary R. husband of Sharon J. Duda of Weirton, WV; two grandchildren Brian S. husband of Gretchen H. Duda of Annville, PA and Andrew C. Duda of Weirton, WV; sister-in-law Gail Jacobs of Pittsburgh, PA; two nieces and two nephews; three great nephews and four great nieces. Funeral services will be held Saturday September 24, 2011 at 4:00pm from the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services 910 SE Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL. Interment will be held at the convenience of the family in Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens. Friends may call on Friday evening from 5:00-8:00pm and from 1:00-4:00pm on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in his memory to Community Companion Care, Inc. 4110 SW 5th Avenue Ocala, Fl 34471.