Reuben Brechbill

Master Sergeant Reuben J. Brechbill (US Army, Ret.), 88, of Fayetteville, PA, died Saturday morning, July 21, 2012 at Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where he had been a guest for one day. Born November 17, 1924 near Fort McCord in Hamilton Township, he was a son of the late Jacob Tobias and Ella May Wenger Brechbill. Reuben entered the US Army in 1943 and served during WWII in the European Theatre with Company L, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Division. He participated in four European Campaigns; Naples-Foggia, Italy, Rome-Arno, Southern France, and the Rhine Valley. He received numerous service awards and decorations during his military career. In 1962 he was assigned to the Eisenhower Farm in Gettysburg as chauffeur and security to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. He retired from military service in 1966 at a ceremony in Carlisle where former President Eisenhower presented him with an Army Commendation Medal. He then worked for a short time at Brechbill and Helman Construction Company and was last employed by John VanHorn Construction. He was a member of Oscar M. Hykes Post 223 American Legion in Shippensburg and the AARP. Reuben was of the Protestant faith.

He is survived by a brother, Ralph Brechbill of Chambersburg, a sister, Bertha E. Henry of Fayetteville, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Guy, Roy, and Orville Brechbill; an infant sister, Dorothy, who died at birth; and five sisters, Leahia Brechbill, Cora Brown, Mary Crider, Rhoda VanHorn, and Emma Foust.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, July 26, 2012 at Parklawns Memorial Gardens. Rev. Paul B. Baker will officiate.

Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA.

Condolences and memories may be shared on his Book of Memories page at www.geiselfuneralhome.com.