Emery Horn

Emery P. Horn, 91, of Shippensburg and formerly of Chambersburg, passed away Tuesday afternoon, December 27, 2016 at the Chambersburg Hospital. Born October 10, 1925 in Freestone, PA (Horse Valley), he was one of fifteen children born to the late George D. and Vera Wright Horn. Emery, along with six of his brothers served their country honorably, and survived WWII. He enlisted in the US Army on December 7, 1943 and served with the 242nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd Rainbow Division. A veteran of the European Theatre of Operations, he served at the Battle of the Bulge and was then captured by the Germans on January 9, 1945. He was held as a prisoner of war for seven months in Germany. Emery was awarded the Purple Heart and a Presidential Citation. He was employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Highways for seventeen years, retiring in October of 1985. He also worked at various times in his life as a truck driver at Letterkenny Army Depot, and as a logger.

He was a dedicated member of the Church of God in Upper Strasburg; a life member of Durff-Kuhn Post 6168 VFW in Shippensburg and LSL Sportsmen’s Club in Orrstown; and held membership in Detrich-Brechbill Post 612 American Legion in St. Thomas and D.A.V. Post 78 in Chambersburg. Emery enjoyed life and liked spending time hunting, fishing, and metal detecting. He was invited by The Greatest Generation Foundation to attend the 72nd Normandy D-Day Anniversary celebrations in France, where he traveled with nine other WWII veterans and visited Paris and Normandy as well as Omaha and Utah beaches, Point du Hoc, St. Marie Eglise, and Carentan. In September of 2016 he was awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal by the French Ambassador and a French General for his participation in the liberation of France at the French Embassy in Washington, DC. In addition, he had the honor of serving as the Grand Marshal in the Shippensburg Veteran’s Day parade for numerous years.

He is survived by his wife, Rose Geyer Brown Horn, whom he married in June of 1998; four daughters, Lucy Hillyard and husband Larry of Glenpool, OK, Nancy Piper and husband Paul of Orrstown, Susan Scott and husband Terry of Chambersburg, and Jenny L. Fickes and husband Darryl of Orrstown; three sons, Emery L. “Mike” and wife Susan of Orrstown, Andy L. and companion Vicky Baughman of Chambersburg, and Kenny L. and wife Robyn of Fitchburg, MA; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Oralee Gipe of Mongul, and Berle Walls of St. Thomas. He is also survived by two step-children, Charles Brown and wife Pamela of Chambersburg and Norine Watson and husband George “Henry” of Hockessin, DE; three step-grandchildren; and eight step-great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia G. Heckman Horn on December 20, 1994; a daughter, Judy Powell; seven brothers; five sisters; and two great-granddaughters, Jordan Horn and Sharice Powell.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, December 31, 2016 at the Church of God in Upper Strasburg, PA. Pastor Tim Redmond will officiate. Interment with military honors by members of the American Legion Post 223 Honor Guard will follow at the Upper Strasburg Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00-8:00 PM Friday at Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Contributions in Emery’s memory may be made to the Church of God, PO Box 68, Upper Strasburg, PA 17265.