Mr. Bush’s passing had many local residents thinking back on his presidency and the example he set for everyday Americans.

“The man was a decent man, and I’ve said this several times, but that is to be admired. He was just a good person, and it was so nice to see him in office,” Blair County Commissioner Terry Tomassetti said.

Others agreed that President Bush was a good man. They also said they wish more politicians these days were more like him.

Frank Adams, a resident in Altoona, said he remembered “the war and how well it went.  He was a gentleman. He was a great man.”

“Well he was a man of character that was loved by his family, and we all felt kind of safe when he was president. He’s from an era that I wish we could sometimes go back to a little bit: civility, being kind to one another, and just having good manners,” said Lydia Hoopes, a resident in Huntingdon County.

Huntingdon County resident Sandy Rouser said, “I really enjoyed see him with his wife. That was the main thing. He really showed us what true love was, and then his devotion to country. I mean he did it all: he went to war and he was shot down, he was a congressman, CIA, he did it all, so he was well-rounded, and that’s the kind of politicians we should be looking for”

Ted Corcelius said he remembered Bush’s thousand point of light.

“He encouraged people to be a part of their community and active in their community, participating in their country. I enjoyed his humility and deferring credit to others instead of himself. It’s significant,” Corcelius said.

President Bush will be buries next to his wife Barbara, who passed earlier this year, and their daughter Robin, who died of Leukemia at the age of three.