The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

August 9, 2009

The Rev. Bernard W. Bloom

BLOOM The Rev. Bernard W., 88, 1 Melody Lane, Russell, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Rouse Warren County Home. The Rev. Bloom was born May 22, 1921, in Curwensville, the son of the late Wilfred and Vera Clarkson Bloom, and a 1939 graduate of Portage High School. He served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater during World War II with the 746th Railway Operating Battalion. He then worked for 31 years with the Pennsylvania Railroad. He received his license to preach in 1970, attending a five-year course with summer study at Wesley Seminary. He then spent 32 years as a minister for the United Methodist Church. He was a member of Lander United Methodist Church. The Rev. Bloom was ordained in 1970 at the Annual Conference in Grove City. He then served as pastor for the Wilmore United Methodist Church until being called to Lander United Methodist Church in October 1973. He quit the railroad and sold their home in Portage, moving to Lander to serve the Lord until he retired in 1986. He continued to do the Lords work by filling in for other pastors when needed. He is survived by his wife, Ruth E. McQuillen Bloom, whom he married July 25, 1941, in Winchester, Va.; one daughter, Karen Braley, and her husband, Edward, Lander; a son, Bernard T. Bloom, and his wife, Lucy, Portage; a sister, Betty Gordon, and her husband, the Rev. Thomas Gordon, Portage; two granddaughters, Emily Braley and Tammy Aupperle, and her husband, J.; a grandson, Gene Bloom, and his wife, April; three great-grandchildren, Austin and Hannah Bloom and Rebekah Aupperle; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Todd Bloom, and his namesake, Bernard G. Nelson. Friends may call at Peterson-Blick Funeral Home Inc., 1003 Penn Ave., E., Warren, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Lander United Methodist Church on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Herbert Claar, retired Methodist minister, officiating, and assisted by the Rev. Wade Barto, pastor, Lander United Methodist Church; the Rev. Marcus Briggs, chaplain for the Rouse Home and Warren General Hospital; and the Rev. Brian Haight, pastor, Sugar Grove Mission Covenant Church. Burial will be in the Foster Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Lander United Methodist Church, RR 3, Box 3239, Russell, Pa. 16345 or Hospice of Warren County, 2 Crescent Park West, Warren, Pa. 16365.