Robert J. "Buzz" Pelen
Buzz liked going on cruises, casino bus trips, spending Summers at his place at the beach in Delaware, people watching, carpentry, and playing with his grandchildren in the backyard
Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 409 Cherry St, Columbia, PA 17512.
The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time.
Burial will be private and he will be laid to rest with his son at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery.
Robert John “Buzz” Pelen, 83, of Columbia passed away on May 4, 2025. He was born in Columbia to the late John and Phyllis Shortlidge Pelen and was a lifelong resident of Columbia.
Buzz was a graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School with the Class of 1960 and proudly served in the United States Army being stationed at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas. Following his service, he worked with RCA in Lancaster, the former ITT Grinnell, and in construction where he helped build Park City Center. Buzz was also union president of Local 376 AFL-CIO and completed courses earning numerous certificates from all over the USA.
In his later years he became a realtor and had his own business of flipping homes. Buzz enjoyed Penn State Football tailgating, NASCAR races, and playing on the Hartman’s Café softball team. He also liked going on cruises, casino bus trips, spending Summers at his place at the beach in Delaware, people watching, carpentry, and playing with his grandchildren in the backyard. Buzz was a lifelong parishioner of Holy Trinity Catholic Church where he served as an usher.
Buzz leaves behind his wife of sixty years Frances Pelen of Columbia; his daughter, Melissa, wife of Jim Elliott of York; two granddaughters, Kelsey Lenhert of Mount Joy, Kendall Lenhert of Lancaster; great granddaughter, Joelle Lenhert of Mount Joy; a brother, Tom Pelen of Millersville; two step granddaughters, Madison Graham and Kendall Moxley; two step great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, James G. Pelen; two siblings, Donald “Nip” Pelen and Sara “Sally” Young.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 409 Cherry St, Columbia, PA 17512. The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will be private and he will be laid to rest with his son at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Our Lady of the Angels School, 404 Cherry St, Columbia, PA 17512 or Columbia Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 391, Columbia, PA 17512.
The family would like to thank the staff of UPMC Lititz and the Hillman Cancer Center, especially Dr. Sunil Patel and Dr. Naeem Latif, as well as Sister Anna Cosgrove for the great care they showed toward Buzz.
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