Harry L. Straining

Harry L. Straining, age 93, a member of “The Greatest Generation”, passed away peacefully at the Hospice of Central Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, on Tuesday, December 6, 2011. He was born on December 13, 1917, in Shipoke, the son of the late Charles and Idessa Straining. He was the widower of Geraldine Rhinehart Straining.

Harry was a 1936 graduate of John Harris High School. He served during WWII as a Sergeant in the 8th Air Force 482nd Bomb Group stationed in Alconbury, England. After he returned home from the war he worked at Central Iron & Steel and Phoenix Iron and Steel in Harrisburg and Cumberland Bridge/Aycock in Camp Hill , from which he retired as shop foreman in 1982.

He had been a member of St. Marks Lutheran Church in Colonial Park and most recently became a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Steelton. He was a member of the former Post 27 American Legion of Harrisburg, Linglestown, American legion Post 272 and the Steelton VFW Post 710.

During his service in the US Army Air Force, he was a bomber mechanic. He carried that knowledge on in later life becoming the family and neighborhood “Mr. Fix-it”, with a special fondness for tinkering with cars. His greatest enjoyment was the quality time he got to spend with his family, particularly his granddaughters. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew him.

In addition to his wife and parents he was preceded in death by his 11 sisters and brothers; Anna Eisenacher, Edna Mull, Jean Roberts, Rena Charles, Charlotte Westenberger, Sara Schmauch, Charles Straining, Jr., Earl Straining, Robert Straining, Richard Straining and Katherine Miller.

He is survived by his daughter, Sue A. Davis and her husband, J. Michael, of Harrisburg, 2 granddaughters, Staci L. Morgan and her husband, Brian , of Carlisle and Kristen M. Davis and Michael Orr,, of Harrisburg, He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 12:00 Noon in the Neill Funeral Home, 3501 Derry Street, Harrisburg, with a viewing 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will be private at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.

Memorial contributions are requested to be made in his honor to Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

Arrangements under the direction of Neill Funeral Home, Harrisburg, PA.