Ralph "Toot" Umstead

Ralph “Toot” Umstead, 94, of Shippenville Health Care, formerly of Cranberry, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2024 at the Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born September 26, 1929, in Oil City, Toot was the son of the late Harry and Gertrude Umstead.

 Toot graduated from Ashland Consolidated School in Ashland Township.  He served two years in the Marines during the Korean War.  Toot worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad for 2 ½ years, then worked for Chicago Pneumatic Toll CO. for 40 years before retiring.

On June 2, 1950, Toot married Margaret “Peg” Fleming who preceded him in death.

Toot enjoyed hunting, fishing, working on old engines, carving things out of wood and spending time with his grandchildren.

Toot was a member of the Salem Reformed Church in Lamartine where he was on Consistory and was a Sunday School Teacher and the DeHart Rossman Wenner American Legion post 997.  He was a Deputy District Commander of the 27th District of Pennsylvania.

Toot is survived by a son Dan Umstead of Lake City, a daughter Tammy (Chris) McHenry of Knox, three grandchildren Mindy (Kyle) Musch of Columbus, OH, Skyler McHenry of Knox and Brooke McHenry of Franklin.  Also surviving are Toot’s two sisters in law Karen Umstead of Cranberry and Dawnice Umstead of Franklin.

Along with his parents Toot was preceded in death by his brothers Alfred, Harry, Archie, Earl and Harold, his sisters Mildred Latshaw, Isabella Hogue, Beatrice Umstead and Pluma Pratt, seven brothers in law, 8 sisters in law, 5 nephews and 4 nieces.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM Tuesday, March 12, at the McEntire-Weaver Funeral Home Inc., 504 East Penn St., Knox, and 10 to 11 AM Wednesday at the Salem Reformed Church, 2055 Turkey City Road, Knox PA 16232.  Funeral services will be held at 11 AM in the Church with Pastor Chris Lewis officiating.

Interment will follow at the Salem Reformed Church Cemetery.

Toot’s family would like to give a special thanks to the caregivers who helped take care of him the past several years

Donations in Toot’s honor may be made to the DeHart Rossman Wenner Scholarship C/O Doug Fox, 9173 Route 322, Cranberry PA 16319, Venango County Humane Society, 286 South Main Street, Seneca, PA 16346 or the Salem Reformed Church, PO Box 238, Lamartine, PA 16375.

To view and share photos or leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.mcentire-weaverfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ralph "Toot" Umstead, please visit our floral store.