We are sorry to hear of the loss of one of our Life Members, Harry Downer. From the Lancaster Newspapers’ Obituary:

Harry W. Downer, 86, of Columbia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 19, 2012 at the Susquehanna Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a brief illness.

Harry was a technician for American Testing Laboratories.

Born December 25, 1925 in Fruita, CO, he was the son of the late Harry E. and Goldie Mae (Bickel) Downer. He was married to the late Viola I. (Kline) Downer, who died in 2008.

A Veteran of WWII, Harry proudly served with the ­United States Navy. He was a life member of the Millersville/Manor VFW-Post 7294.

Surviving are his five children, Marilyn I. married to Michael E. Hite, of Lancaster, H. Frank Downer married to Cheryl, of Wilmington, DE, Steele E. Downer married to Barbara, of Detroit, MI, ­Darlene L. married to Jonathan Rose, of Greenville, NC and Crystal T. married to Robert Nosworthy, of Gibsonville, NC; nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Colin M. Nosworthy.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Andrew T. Scheid Funeral Home, 320 Blue Rock Road, Route 999, Millersville, on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 7 PM. Interment will be on Friday at 9:30 AM in the Conestoga Memorial Park, Lancaster, PA with Military Honors. Relatives and friends may call at Scheid’s on Thursday between 6 and 7 PM. Kindly omit flowers. Memorial Remembrances can be made in Harry’s memory to the Millersville/Manor VFW-Post 7294, 219 Walnut Hill Road, Millersville, PA 17551.

There’s always a feeling of guilt when we learn of a member’s passing after they’re gone; the inevitable scramble to find records and/or someone that knew them, particularly when it’s an older member. This happened with Dale Carbaugh, who passed on November 5, 2011. Dale was a WWII veteran and served in the US Army. His family chose to have donations come to the Post, which is incredibly touching and we’re eternally grateful for their generosity – but we feel terrible that we only learned of Dale’s passing when a donation arrived in his name. We looked him up and learned belatedly we missed his funeral, and that makes us feel terrible. All of us at Post 7294 wish his family the very best.

His obituary from the Ephrata Review:

Dale Eber Carbaugh, 89, of New Holland and formerly of Lancaster, passed away peacefully Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 at Maple Farm, Akron.

Born March 23, 1922 in South Mountain, he was the son of the late Oscar and Anna (Eicholf) Carbaugh. He was married to Janice A. (Bennett) Carbaugh on April 30, 1943.

A veteran of WWII, Dale proudly served with the U.S. Army. Carbaugh retired in 1984 from Dentsply International, York, where he worked in the Data Processing Department for 18 years.

Dale enjoyed hunting and spending time with his family. He was also a member of Keystone Church, Paradise.

In addition to his wife of over 68 years, he will be lovingly missed by two sons: Dale L., husband of Barbara, of Ephrata; Gary L., husband of Barbara, of Huntsville, Ala.; a daughter: Brenda A., wife of Thomas Weaver, of New Holland; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers: Melvin and Eugene Carbaugh.

Funeral services will be held at the Andrew T. Scheid Funeral Home, 320 Blue Rock Road, Millersville, on Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. Interment will be in the Conestoga Memorial Park, Lancaster, with military honors accorded by the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard and the Vet 21-Salute Honor Guard.

Kindly omit flowers. Memorial remembrances can be made in Dale’s memory to the Millersville VFW Post #7294.