Gerald E. "Gerry" McMath

Gerald E. McMath of Shade Gap entered into rest on March 10, 2026, in the Tell Township home where he was born and lived all 85 years of his life. He and his wife, Darlene M. (Daughenbaugh) McMath, shared 65 years of marriage on their beloved Valley Dairy farm.

Born December 27, 1940, Gerald was the son of the late Samuel J. and Camillus (Werner) McMath and was raised by Bernard and Bernice (Werner) McMath. He graduated from Orbisonia High School in 1959 and devoted his working life to dairy farming, first with his uncle and later on the farm he purchased himself. He continued milking until 2005 before turning his focus to crop farming. He took great pride in becoming the first farmer in Huntingdon County to produce 30,000 pounds of milk a year from his prize cow, Hilda.

A lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Orbisonia, Gerald lived his faith daily. He served on the board of directors of Juniata Valley Bank in Blairs Mills and on the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Committee. He was also active in the Huntingdon County Holstein Club and Young Farmers of America. In retirement he took up iron crafting and became affectionately known as the “Heart Man.” A dedicated farmer and deer hunter, his greatest joy remained his family.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene; his children, Renee Sue McMath of Newton Hamilton, Jackie Horst (Charles) of Chambersburg, Tracey McMath Page of Port Royal, Bernard McMath (Connie) of Orbisonia, and Gerald W. McMath of Orbisonia; seven grandchildren, Lindsey, Bradley, Blake, Kyle, Taylor, Garrett, and Cortney; and thirteen great-grandchildren, Easton, Emerson, Bentley, Brooklyn, Bauer, Charlie, Sawyer, Lilybelle, Lincoln, Hudson, Liam, Lorelai, and Knox. He is also survived by his brothers, Frank of Bellefonte and John of Orbisonia, and his sisters, Elizabeth McClure, Kathy Donaldson (Woody), and Martha Cullen (Sonny), all of Lewistown. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Samuel and E. James, a sister, Mary Margaret Yohn, and his son-in-law, William Page.