David and Patty Caldwell and Family
Patricia Ann (Yanzetich) Caldwell was born to Edward and Margaret Yanzetich April 26, 1951 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Patty grew up in Sidman and Salix Pennsylvania as well as towns in West Virginia, Maryland and Ohio. Her father was a coal mine superintendent and had to move his family numerous times. However, Sidman is where they always called home. Patty graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1969 then went to work as a sewing machine operator for more than 25 years. In addition to her full-time employment, she used her cooking skills to make candy and decorated cakes for others and her sewing skills to make many items of clothing for others and herself. She baked and decorated her own wedding cake and sewed her own wedding dress.
David Paul Caldwell was born to Maxwell and Alice Caldwell on February 3, 1939 in Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania. David grew up primarily in Nanty Glo and Jackson Township, although the family did live for 2 years in Burnside Township, Clearfield County. David graduated from Central Cambria High School in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania in 1957. He also graduated from Cambria-Rowe Business College in 1962 and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in 1970. David has been a tire repairman, steel worker, truck driver, inventory controller, schoolteacher and cabinetmaker. His biggest job has been to constantly adjust to his diminishing eyesight.
David and Patty met on Memorial Day 1982 on a blind date arranged by mutual friends. They were married April 16, 1983 and lived at 1921 White Street, Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania with David’s mother. Within 2 years, they moved to 1925 White Street, which was a larger house David had owned before their marriage. They have since nearly doubled the size of the house. They both enjoyed working with children but had none of their own so they began care of foster children in 1986 and are still doing the same work. They also cared for David’s mother until she died in 1996. In 1992 Patty had her left ankle fused and had to begin using a wheelchair to get around. In 1998 David went to Guiding-eyes for the Blind in Yorktown Heights, New York and received his guide dog Lucky who joined the family’s other pet, Buffy. Although Lucky out weighs Buffy by 65 pounds, at age 13, she remains the boss.
Patty spends most of her spare time doing counted cross-stitch and reading. She can do both at the same time since she and David purchase audible books and borrow many from the local library. In spite of having to get around in a wheelchair, Patty keeps her household running smoothly and does all the driving for the family. Her favorite recreation is swimming which is very helpful for her arthritic joints. David is blind, with only light perception, but he does all the repair work for their home plus 2 other rental properties they own. David’s favorite recreation is walking which he does on the Ghost Town Trail, a local rails to trails project. With his guide dog, David can walk 7 miles in less than 2 hours. David and Patty both rely on computers for business, entertainment and information.
See the Framed, Cross-stitch Art Work Patty Does
See the Cross-stitch Art Work available to display in many ways