Donald F. Fuhrer

Donald Frederick Fuhrer, age 93, formerly of Pittsburgh, Meyersdale, and McVeytown, Pennsylvania, died on February 5, 2024 in Erie, Pennsylvania.  Don was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 23, 1930, the son of Joseph Charles Fuhrer and Marie (Banze) Fuhrer.  Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Joseph C. Fuhrer, Jr., and an infant daughter, Sara Marie Fuhrer.  Don was also preceded in death by his wife of over 70 years, Joyce Hanawalt Fuhrer, who died just 19 hours before him.  He is survived by his daughter, Susan Fuhrer Kardos and her husband, Jerry, two nieces, two nephews, two step granddaughters, seven step great grandchildren, and many dear cousins and friends. 

Don attended Peabody High School in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh, where he graduated in 1949.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from Lock Haven State Teachers’ College in 1956.  Don’s college education was interrupted by his service in the US Army during the Korean Conflict.

Don’s first teaching assignment was as a physical education teacher and football and wrestling coach at Chief Logan High School in Burnham, Pennsylvania. He was especially proud to be part of the coaching staff for the Chief Logan state football championship teams in 1960 and 1961.  He and his wife, Joyce, moved to Meyersdale, Pennsylvania in 1962, where Don taught health and drivers’ education and coached football and wrestling until he retired in 1986.  Upon retirement, Don and Joyce made McVeytown their permanent home.  They spent approximately 15 winters in Cape Coral, Florida.  Don and Joyce moved to Erie in 2021 to be close to their daughter and her family.  

Don and his wife developed and operated Idle Acres Camping Area in McVeytown, Pennsylvania from 1966 until 1996.  Most weekends and every summer were spent on the campground and Don embraced McVeytown as his home.  He loved the mountains of Central Pennsylvania and the outdoors in general. He hunted, fished, golfed, and worked outdoors most of his life.  While operating the campground, he also helped his father-in-law, the late William R. Hanawalt, on his dairy farm.

Don loved all sports and was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Steelers, the Penguins, and the Pitt Panthers.  He especially liked to wear his Pitt hat and shirt to his friend’s hunting camp, where he played cards with his buddies who were Penn State Nittany Lion fans. 

Don loved the game of baseball and played in high school, college and the US Army.  Shortstop was his favorite position to play until his dad told him that, with his strong arm, he should become a pitcher.  Self-taught, he was chosen for the City All-Star Baseball Squad while a pitcher at Peabody High School.  He went on to pitch two no-hitters while in college and in the Army.  While serving in the Army, Don played for the Fort Belvoir Engineers with teammates Bob Uecker, Dick Groat, and Russ Kemmerer.  Don also played baseball for Kitchener, Ontario in a summer league while in college.  He went undefeated as a pitcher at Lock Haven during its championship baseball seasons in the State Teachers’ College Conference in 1952 and 1953. Don continued to play baseball through his early adulthood in the McVeytown Twilight League.

Don had many friends and acquaintances who will remember his dry wit and his sarcasm.  He enjoyed a good laugh and had many interesting and amusing stories to tell.  Despite his penchant for joking and sarcasm, Don was intelligent, thoughtful, and caring. He was a private man; he kept his feelings and emotions to himself and maintained a low key approach to life.   

Don was generous to friends and the community.  He contributed to many worthwhile causes, including The Humane Society of the United States, Boys’ Town, the Wounded Warrior Project, and St. Jude Hospital.  Don especially enjoyed supporting the Rothrock Community LIbrary and the playground and ball field in McVeytown. 

Don was a good guy who had many friends throughout his lifetime.  He lived a good, long life and waited for his wife, Joyce, before passing.  He will be sadly missed by his friends and family. 

Interment will be private.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.   Memorials may be sent to the Lock Haven University Foundation (Fuhrer Scholarship), LHU Foundation, 10 Susquehanna Avenue, Lock Haven, PA  17745 or to the Rothrock Playground Authority, P.O. Box 223, McVeytown, PA  17051.

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