Willard Hershey, Jr., 92

August 21, 2018

Willard Hershey, Jr., 92, passed away on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at Luthercare in Lititz, PA. He was born in Lititz, son of Willard S. Hershey and Anna Kline Hershey. He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 after graduating from Lititz High School. He attended Midshipman’s School at Notre Dame University, graduating as an Ensign and then served as a Line Officer aboard the USS Tranquility in the Pacific during World War II.

After the war, he attended Elizabethtown College where he graduated with a BS Degree in Business Administration. He was associated with D&E Telephone Company and Enterprise Telephone Company, retiring in 1987 as Vice President/General Manager.

Bill was an avid hunter/fisherman, and for many years, enjoyed boating at his cottage on the Sassafras River with his first wife of 56 years, the late Marian J. Summers Hershey. He traveled extensively with his second wife, Jeanette Kauffman Hershey during their 15 happy years of marriage.

He was a Past President of the Ephrata Rotary Club and the Past President of The Bareville Leola Leacock Lions Club. He was also a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

He was preceded in death by his sister Evelyn Hershey Wonder, and his infant daughter Beverly. He is survived by his wife Jeanette, and two daughters; Linda, wife of Robert Yurejefcic from Lititz, and Anita Eby from Denver, PA. Four grandchildren also survive: Marc Yurejefcic, husband of Caryn; Jody Graham; Jason Eby, husband of Crystle; and Julia Armstrong. Five great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter also survive him.

Bill was a member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to the St. Paul Endowment Fund, 202 West Orange Street, Lititz, PA, 17543.

Bill’s family will receive friends from 10:30 to 11:00 AM, followed by a celebration of his life at 11:00 AM with Chaplain Walt Cleckley officiating, on Saturday, August 25, 2018, in the Chapel at Luther Acres, 600 E, Main St., Lititz, PA 17543. Private interment will be in Machpelah Cemetery.