Herbert Plasterer

Herbert P. Plasterer, 93, peacefully passed away at his home on Lincoln Way East on Thursday, January 7, 2016. Herbert Plough Plasterer was born in Chambersburg on December 17, 1922, the son of Hiram Plough Plasterer and Carrie Brake Plasterer. A graduate of the Chambersburg High School Class of 1940, he was attending Shippensburg College when drafted into World War 2. He served for 3 years in the South Pacific theater obtaining the rank of corporal while serving with the 27th Combat Engineers. Upon returning home, he became a partner with his brother in Plasterer’s Florist that had been started in 1914 by his father on the family’s farm. During this time, the business had many improvements including being one of the first air conditioned retail stores in Chambersburg, the hosting of an annual Christmas Open House, one of the first to build greenhouses covered in newly developed plastics instead of glass, and an expansion of the retail flower shop and garden center in the 1980’s. He remained president of the florist business for many years, growing it into one of the top 1,000 florists in the U.S. A life long member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, he served on many synod and church committees throughout the years including president of church council, chairman of the building committee, and also bowled in the church bowling league for many years. Herb was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the VFW. One of the oldest members of the Noontime Chambersburg Lions Club, he for many years maintained perfect attendance and also served as president of the club. A board member of the Lincoln Cemetery Co., he served, as did his father, as Secretary-Treasurer for many years. In 1970, he became the first president of the newly formed CASHS Trojan Band Parents Association and helped raise money for the band’s first trip to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. An avid tennis player, in his younger years he won a state championship while at Shippensburg College, played in Semi-pro leagues after the war, and was known by other tennis players in Chambersburg at the time as being very hard to beat. He will be remembered for his kind, unassuming manner and dry sense of humor. In addition to his parents, his brother, Lowell Brake Plasterer, preceded him in death. He was married to Lois “Pat” Piper on May 18, 1952 in Spring Run, Path Valley. They had one son, Gregory Piper Plasterer married to Patti Kessinger and two grandchildren, Trevor, married to Brittany Snyder, and Paige, married to Brian Massimilla. A memorial service to honor Herb’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, January 17, at First Lutheran Church 43 W. Washington St. Chambersburg, with visitation one hour prior. Pastor Jane Nicholson will officiate. Interment will follow in Lincoln Cemetery, where members of the Charles Nitterhouse VFW Post 1599 Honor Guard will conduct military graveside honors. Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home & Cremation Center.