Diane Jean Alwine

Diane Jean Alwine, 70, Altoona, died unexpectedly on Wednesday.

She was born in Altoona, daughter of the late Ben and Norma Jean (Barnes) Waslin. On June 9, 1979, she married the love of her life, Leonard Alwine.

In addition to her husband of 42 years, she is survived by a sister, Debbie Falger of Altoona; sister-in-law’s, Gail (Wayne) Monahan and Anita (Robert) Haupt; father-in-law, Howard “Boots” Alwine; and her best friend, Donna Gray.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Marcy.

Diane was a 1970 graduate of Altoona High School and a 1972 graduate of Altoona School of Commerce. Her first employer was W.F. Gables where she played the Easter Bunny at Easter. She then worked at Tritex Sportswear for 19 and a half years and then Skills of Altoona for 20 years where she retired from on February 1, 2020.

She attended the East End United Methodist Church with her husband and enjoyed going to Mahaffey Church Camp and the Central Pennsylvania Bible Conference for two weeks each summer. She was a member of the Grandview Fire Company and Logan Township United Fire Company where she did fire prevention programs at preschools and grade schools around Blair County. She received an award for this from Grandview in 1992. She was also a member of the Blair County Allied Firemen’s Association where she served as chairperson of the social committee and where she was named Firefighter of the Month in August 2002. Diane was also a member of the Central District Volunteer Fire men’s Association and they honored her with the Robert E. Kerns Fire Prevention Award in 1996. She also belonged to the Horseshoe Curve Chapter NRHS and acted as a car host for many of the former Rail fest trains. She also enjoyed watching trains with her husband.

Diane loved animals, especially her adopted cats: Fluffy, Tiger and Mittens and her special pug dog friend, Sophie. She belonged to the ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, Alley Cat Rescue and PETA. She also enjoyed buying treats and taking them to the Altoona Library to give to the library Ferrets.

Her hobbies included collecting small stuffed bears and records. She also knit yarn washcloths and then gave them to friends and family. Diane was a person full of love for everyone, not holding a grudge or bad mouthing anyone. She will be greatly missed by all who really knew her.

Friends will be received from 10 am until noon on Monday, November 15, 2021 at Mauk & Yates Funeral Home, Inc., 719 N 4^th Avenue, Juniata where a funeral service will be held at noon with Pastor Fred Hickok officiating. Interment will be made at Grandview Cemetery.