Olga Mary Howse Shattls, 96, died Friday, March 23, 2018, in Spangcrest Lebanon. She was the wife of Jerome (Jack) Shattls who died February 19, 2010, with whom she celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in October 2009. Olga was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, on October 9, 1921, daughter of the late Frederick George Howse and Violet Aileen Masters Howse.
After graduating high school, Olga worked at a major department store in Cheltenham and later as a switchboard operator. When World War II broke out she enlisted in the British Army. Her initial deployment was with the fire brigade extinguishing fires from the incendiary bombs dropped on rooftops by enemy aircraft. As she rose through the ranks of the military she was attached to the anti-aircraft guns and was instrumental in the downing of attacking bombers over London. During the evacuation of British Expeditionary Forces and other Allied Forces during the Battle of Dunkirk, Olga was assigned to the coast to assist the military as hundreds of civilian boats ferried the wounded troops back to England.
Olga and Jerry married in England where Jerry served as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army as an aide to General Eisenhower. After the war, Olga came to the U.S. and proudly became a U.S. Citizen. She and her husband operated a grocery store at the corner of 8th & Guilford Streets in Lebanon until the early 1980’s. Olga was a member of Congregation Beth Israel, Beth Israel Sisterhood and Hadassah. She also served on the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and on the Board of Directors of the Department of Welfare in Lebanon.
Surviving are son, Frederick J. and wife, Bernadine Shattls of Lebanon; daughter, Trudy J. Shattls of Lebanon; three grandchildren Elyse wife of Jeremiah Vazquez, Joseph Shattls, and Justin Magdule; and five great-grandchildren: Elijah, Ariel, Josiah, Levi, and Ashton. Nephew Steven Shattls and niece Debra Freeburn plus several great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brother, Raymond Howse of England and was the last of her immediate family.
Funeral services Wednesday, March 28th at 1 p.m. at Rohland Funeral Home, Inc., 5th and Cumberland Sts., Lebanon. Interment Beth Israel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Congregation Beth Israel, 8th and Oaks Sts., Lebanon, PA 17042.
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