Herbert Paul Sollenberger

Herb was born September 19, 1925 in Fayetteville, PA and then moved to Gettysburg when he was quite young. He graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1943. After graduation, he went to Philadelphia where he attended instrument school and learned how to repair aircraft instruments. He served in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers from 1944-1946, and then went to watchmakers’ school in Washington, D.C. for two years.

In 1949, Herb, along with his mother, brother, and sister moved to Uruguay, South America. He worked in a store with another watchmaker in Montevideo, the capital city, and then opened his own store in another part of the city. It was in Uruguay that he met his future wife, Hildegard Woelke. They were married on February 2, 1954 in Uruguay. In 1955, they moved to the United States, living first in Gettysburg, then in Washington, D.C.

Herb’s search for a job in a jewelry store took him to Hanover, PA. He and Hildegard moved to Hanover in 1956. He worked first for Columbia Jewelers, then in partnership with Robert Beyeler. In 1963, Herb bought out his partner and the store became Sollenberger Jewelers. He fixed watches and clocks along with selling jewelry there until 1992 when he ‘retired’ and closed the store, but he continued to fix watches and clocks from his home workshop until 2018.

Herb was a member of First United Methodist Church in Hanover for many years. He sang in the choir and was part of the United Methodist Men’s group. He was an active helper in the Boy Scout Pack 110 at the church as records keeper.

In March 1997, Herb and Hildegard moved to Bethany Village Retirement Center in Mechanicsburg, PA and eventually joined Camp Hill United Methodist Church. Herb was a part of the Men’s chorus at Bethany Village and helped with the biannual furniture sales.

Over the years, Herb and Hildegard were avid travelers and visited countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Belize, St. Croix, Jamaica, Morocco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Poland, and Canada.

Hildegard passed away in June, 2022. Herb is survived by his two daughters, Susan (Ron) Hopkins, and Sylvia (Dale) Reese, five grandchildren and one great grandson.

A private graveside service will be held in September. Memorial donations may be made to the Bethany Village Benevolent Care Fund (The Asbury Foundation, 5258 Westview Drive, Frederick, MD 21703 (with Bethany Village Benevolent Care Fund on the memo line) or to First Church of Hanover, 200 Frederick Street, Hanover, PA 17331 (with music ministry on the memo line).