Carl H. Halstead, 84, of Cruikshank Road, Valencia, died at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at UPMC Shadyside Hospital.

Born March 16, 1921 in Clinton Township, he was the son of James G. and Bessie Leslie Halstead.

He attended the Rocky Run Elementary School in Clinton Township and Butler High School and was employed by Spang & Co. in Butler and the Wilson Machinery Co. in Grove City.

During World War II, he enlisted as a bandsman in the 704 Air Corps Band, which played for special occasions and for funerals. He served from 1942 through 1945 and was in Europe during the liberation of France and Germany.

Following his military service, he worked at the Butler Savings and Trust Bank, which then became Union National and is now National City, and worked at the South Butler and Bon Aire branches.

He was active with the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Association as a representative at the Meadows and at the county fairs in Pennsylvania. He was a horse breeder and raced trotters and pacers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, New York and Ohio. He was a member of the United States Trotting Association and the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Association.

Mr. Halstead was a 50-year member of the United Commercial Travelers of America, a member of the AARP and was a 1998 Butler County Voter Hall of Fame Inductee.

He and his three brothers sang as a quartet for many functions. He also sang in the Sarver Community Choir for about 50 years. Until recently, he also sang in the Men's Chorus, especially for the Easter sunrise service in the Saxonburg area, which was held at churches and later at Knoch High School.

He had been a member of the Middlesex Presbyterian Church for years and was the Sunday school superintendent and sang in the choir. Since 1989 he belonged to the Glade Run United Presbyterian Church, where he served as elder and delivered Meals on Wheels.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Esther Halstead, with whom he celebrated 54 years of marriage in September. He is also survived by a brother, Howard Leslie Halstead; 11 nieces and nephews; 19 grandnieces and grand nephews; six great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; and cousins.

He was preceded in death by two older brothers, Clair and Paul.

HALSTEAD - Friends of Carl H. Halstead, who died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2005, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 124 E. North St. Visitation also will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Glade Run Church, where services will follow at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Greg Weist and Rev. Dr. Donald Gowan officiating. Burial will follow at the Westminster Presbyterian Cemetery, Saxonburg.Memorial donations may be made to Meals on Wheels-Southern Butler County, 1091 Pittsburgh Road, Valencia, PA 16059; or to the church of the donor's choice.Information also is available at www.thompson-miller.com.