Olana Lynn “Tick” Hedrick-Sheaffer, 75, of Altoona, passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2025. She was born in Fairmont, a daughter of the late Olan G. “Oley” Hedrick and Yvonne Little Hedrick.
She married Albert A. Sheaffer July 15, 1995.
Surviving are her husband, Al; sister, Jan Bachowski (Gary) of Sarasota, Fla.; niece, Ashley Reinhold (Chris) and their children, Taylor, Kai and Lilly; nephew, G. Jake Bachowski (Gianna) and their children, Luna, Capri and Olan; cousin, David Little (Marsha); Jeffrey and Cathy Bathgate (sister-in-law) and their children, Andy, Stacey and Stephanie, and their families in Mechanicsburg, Pa.; special friends: Chris and Mickey Sisto and dog, Kaley of Hollidaysburg, Pa.; Becky Snyder in West Virginia; Rhonda Shawley and family of Hollidaysburg; Fredina Ingold and family of State College, Pa.; Donna Tremmel of Duncansville, Pa.; Darren and Cindy Kester of Huntingdon, Pa. and family; and Kristen Martin and Pam Wertz.
Tick was a 1967 graduate of East Fairmont High School. She earned her B.S. in 1971, M.S. in 1973 and graduated with her M.S. in Physical Education and Sport Science respectively from West Virginia University. She earned a National Athletic Training Certification in 1989.
Tick was an instructor in kinesiology at Penn State Altoona for 35 years (retired in 2009). She was the women’s volleyball coach for 28 years, the men’s club volleyball coach for six years and the women’s tennis and basketball coach for one year.
Her teams earned 13 Commonwealth Campus titles, eight Western PA Conference titles and four PA State Conference titles.
She was Conference Coach of the Year 11 times, with a 505-175 record in her career.
Her 1995 volleyball team was inducted into the inaugural Penn State Altoona Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.
Tick was a member of the Irvin Stewart Society and a life member of the WVU Alumni Society. In 2017, she was inducted into the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame.
She was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honorary, a member of the Ivyside Society of Penn State Altoona and a 1997 recipient of the Robert J. Scannell Roll of Honor award for outstanding service to the Commonwealth Education System in Recreation and Sports at Penn State Altoona.
In 2023, she was inducted into the Penn State Altoona Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.
She was a member of the National Athletic Training Association for 25 years, a member of the American Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance for more than 30 years and a volunteer for the American Red Cross for more than 20 years.
In her retirement years, Tick was a member of Scotch Valley Country Club and enjoyed traveling with her husband, Al.
Tick was a member of Altoona First Church of the Brethren, 510 Fifth Street, Altoona, where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 30, with the Rev. Gary Koontz officiating.
A Celebration of Life is planned to be held at a future time.
Arrangements are by Myers-Somers Funeral Home Inc., 501 Sixth Avenue, Altoona.
