James DeLuca

James “Jim” DeLuca, 83, of Saxton, went home to be with the Lord on December 26, 2025, at
the James E. Van Zandt, VA Medical Center after a brief illness. He was born on May 22, 1942 in
Dudley to the late Eli and Josephine (Salvaggio) DeLuca.
He was married to Donna Wise on August 17, 1968 at the Bible Deliverance Center, Saxton, R.D.
She proceeded him death on March 7, 2000.
He is survived by his three children Mark (wife Terri) of Huntingdon, Angela of Saxton, and Travis
of Mifflinburg. He is also survived by grandchildren Kyle (girlfriend Rainna), Kellie Martin
(husband Seth), Karen DeLuca; Sam DeLuca, Eliott DeLuca, Teddy DeLuca; Jack DeLuca. He also
was a proud great grandfather to Grayson. Jim also leaves behind his companion of 16 years
Esther Keith, honorary daughter Stephanie Maletta, and his feline buddy Bandit, siblings Donald
DeLuca (Myrtle Beach, SC), and Joanne (Robert) Taylor of Seven Valleys, PA, sister-in-law Jessie
Wise, Mechanicsburg and Esther Clark, Saxton and brother-in-law Tim Wise (Patty), Saxton and
numerous nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by his sisters Emma Miller and Virginia Slate and brother Charles
“Chick” DeLuca.
Jim attended schools in Dudley, Barnettstown and Saxton. He then went on the be drafted by
the US Army, where in earned his GED and served in the Vietnam Conflict. He worked various
construction jobs where he helped build the PA Turnpike Tunnels, and Raystown Dam. He later
was employed by the US Army Corps of Engineers – Raystown Lake as a maintenance employee
until his retirement in February 2005.
He was a member of the Raystown Brethren Church. He served as a Trustee for a number of
years and also helped with driving the church van for Children’s Church and other various
activities, including the WMS Spaghetti Dinners.
Jim enjoyed spending time with his family, friends, and church family, sitting outside on his front
porch and watching the hummingbirds and in the winter feeding the backyard birds. He would
never turn down ice cream, or a “bougie drink” from The Grind. He also enjoyed watching the
Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He dearly loved his Middletown neighbors where
he had lived since 1968. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, baking gobs, and making peanut butter
meltaway fudge until his health declined.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 P.M. at the Raystown Brethren Church, Saxton on
December 31, with Pastor Alfred Chamberlain officiating. The family will receive friends from
11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery, Saxton.
Donations in Jim’s name may be sent to the Raystown Brethren Church, PO Box 201, Saxton, PA
16678 or James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, CDCE/Voluntary Service Program, 2907
Pleasant Valley Blvd., First Floor 1E34, Altoona, PA 16602.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Curtis A. Heath Funeral Home Inc. 5010 Rialroad Ave. Broad Top City, PA. 16621. Online condolences can be made at www.caheathfh.com

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