Harry P. Bloomer Jr., 92, passed away at Eisenhower Army Medical Center on 6 March 2018. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy A. Bloomer as well as his mother and father, Harry P. & Marjorie Bloomer, his brothers Tom and Bill Bloomer, and his daughter Loretta Bloomer.
He was born on 16 April 1925 in Paoli, Pennsylvania where he grew up as a depression era child. That experience resulted in outlooks that stayed with him throughout the remainder of his life. He was a senior in high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked on 7 December 1941. Upon graduation in the spring of 1942 he joined the United States Marine Corps and spent much of the next several years serving in the Pacific Theater of Operations. In June 1944 at the age of 19 he was among the second wave of Marines to take part in the amphibious assault on the island of Saipan and he remained there throughout the six-week battle to secure that island. After the war he returned home and was a plumber for several years. During this period in 1946 he met his future wife, Dorothy; and after a brief 30-day courtship they married in April 1946 and they remained together until she passed away in April 2015. In 1948 he re-entered the military, this time the United States Army where he continued to serve on active duty until retiring in 1971. He is a Korean War and Vietnam War Veteran. Following his military service Harry entered the teaching profession where he taught at several local schools before being hired to teach at Evans Middle School that was located near the present-day location of the Evans, GA Home Depot. His teaching career included service as the Assistant Principal of Evans Middle School and later as the Assistant Principal of Evans High School before he retired from teaching in 1985.
Harry and his wife enjoyed many years of retired living at the home that they built on Clarke Hill Lake in Winfield, GA. They remained in that home as “empty nesters” for over 40 years. This became the focal point for many family gatherings with their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren where everyone looked forward to swimming and boating activities. When he was not spending time at his lake house with his family Harry was an avid golfer who played well into his 80s. In sum, Harry rose from humble beginnings, served his country in three wars rising from the rank of private to lieutenant colonel, went on to another successful career in education, and was able to enjoy many years of retired living surrounded by his loving family.
Survivors include his daughters Geri Deloughery (Tom) of Tuscaloosa, AL and Wilma Hodgkins of Barbourville, KY, his son (COL, Ret) Harry D. Bloomer (Doris) of Martinez, GA, his brother George Bloomer of Waynesboro, GA, his sister Betty Fahnenstock of Newark, DE, 9 grandchildren including Deana Ogilvie Wicklund (Jeff), LtCol Cheryl Deloughery (Andrew), Dr. (Phd) Kathleen Deloughery (Sean), Tony Thomas, Gary Hodgkins, Jennifer Teague (Jason), CPT Thomas Bloomer (KaiDee), CPT Daniel Bloomer, and CPT (Dr.) Zachary Bloomer; 14 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday 11 March at 1:00 PM at The Sanctuary located on Cox Road next to Evans High School, Pastor Bryan Cockrell officiating.
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