From Page 1 of the Altoona Mirror (8/30/76):

Duncansville Boy Drowns at Glendale

   A 16 year old Blair County boy drowned yesterday while swimming in the beach area at Glendale Lake at Prince Gallitzin State Park.

   He was identified as Richard L. Murtiff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin L. Murtiff of Duncansville RD 1.  He was pronounced dead on arrival at 1:50 p.m. at Altoona Hospital by Blair County Coroner Charles R. Burkey.  The coroner set the time of death 12:30 p.m., and said the boy had died by asphyxiation by drowning.

   According to State Police at Ebensburg, the boy had been swimming with family members in water approximately five and a half feet deep when he had a seizure.  The victim reportedly had been under medication for epilipsy.  He was the second epileptic to drown at the lake within the past month.  James S. Fazenbaker drowned August 14 while boating with his mother.

   Unsuccesful attempts to revive the boy were made by a lifeguard and ambulance attendants from the Patton Volunteer Fire Company.  The victim would have been a junior at the Hollidaysburg Area High School.

(Obituary):

Richard L. Murtiff was born November 14, 1959 in Altoona, a son of Melvin and Lois (Servello) Murtiff.

Surviving are his parents, three sisters and two brothers, Deborah, Garland, Michael, Joseph, Melva Jean, and Jennine, all at home; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Servello of Altoona and Mrs. Virginia Murtiff of Duncansville RD, and great-grandparent, Mrs. Hazel Reading and Frank Servello of Altoona.

He was a member of the Foot of Ten Bible Church.

Friends will be received in the Donald E. Liebegott Funeral Home, Duncansville, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today.