Alfred William Puhalla

Alfred “Al” William Puhalla, 100, formerly of New Kensington, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 3, 2025.  

He was born in Johnstown on December 5, 1924, to the late Anthony & Mary Tertinsky Puhalla.

Mr. Puhalla was a 1943 graduate of Ken-Hi,  attended Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie-Mellon) and entered the Army Air Corps at the peak of World War II. Staff Sergeant Puhalla was a radio operator and aerial gunner on the B-17 Flying Fortress Heavy Bomber and served in Italy, the Azores and Africa.  

He enjoyed golfing, crossword puzzles, woodworking, and baseball, especially the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Surviving are his daughter, Debbie (Gordon) Adams, son, Michael (Nancy) Puhalla; grandchildren, Candice (Jeff) Phipps and Elizabeth (Chris) Lyons; great-grandchildren, Jeffrey Phipps, Josie Phipps, Jaxson Lyons, and Eli Lyons; and many nieces and nephews. 

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Dolores “Babe” Puhalla in 2020, and his sister Eleanor Owcar.  

Viewing will be at ROSS G. WALKER FUNERAL HOME LTD., 217 Freeport Road, New Kensington, on Monday, July 14, from 5-8 PM.  At the same time, friends and family are invited to pay their respects to Alfred’s wife, Dolores, who was unable to receive friends at the time of her passing, due to COVID-19 restrictions.  Prayers of Transfer will be held in the funeral home on Tuesday, July 15, at 9:30 AM, followed by a funeral Mass at 10AM in St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 1125 Leishman Avenue, New Kensington.  Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Lower Burrell.  

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