Pat Hershey 1921-2016
“Another member of the greatest generation slipped the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God.” Harry J. “Pat” Hershey, 95, of Holton, passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.
He was born Jan. 23, 1921, in Belvue, the son of Harry F. and Olive Louise Van Horn Hershey.
Pat graduated from Westmoreland High School in 1938 and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University in 1947 and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII. Pat was in the 401 Bomber Group as a B-17 Bomber Pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for 25 successful missions. He was an engineer for Hixson and Lehenbauer Construction in Topeka. Pat was a partner with Kellerman-Hershey Agency in Holton from 1977 to 1985. He had also worked as an engineer for the State of Kansas and for G.W. Baker Construction.
Pat was a past member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holton, where he served as Deacon, Trustee and Elder. He later joined the Evangel United Methodist Church in Holton. He was a member of Holton Masonic Lodge 42 and the Golfer’s and Jester’s units of the Arab Temple Shrine in Topeka. He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post 44 and V.F.W. Post 1367, both in Holton.
Pat was also a former member of the Rotary Club and Lions Club in Holton. He was a member of the Holton Country Club since the summer of 1954. Pat was a lifelong fan and supporter of K-State.
He married Betty Louise DeVolld on July 27, 1943, in Topeka. Betty passed away Aug. 26, 1989. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Marilyn Shehi and Phyllis Rezac, and his grandson, Gregory Shaffer.
Pat is survived by his daughters, Susan Hershey of Plover, Wis., Jean Williams of Overland Park and Linda Shaffer and her husband Bob of Cascade, Colo.; his son, Joe D. Hershey of Holton; his sister, Dorothy Boettcher of Bothell, Wash.; his grandchildren, David Hartman and his wife Anne, Heather Hartman and Patrick Williams and his wife Heather; and his great-grandchildren, Christopher Hutcherson, Michael Robbins, Madeleine Hartman, Nicholas Hartman and Nicholas Williams.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 9 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial with military honors followed in Holton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Shriners Hospitals for Children or Pennsylvania Place, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
