R. “Robert” Rogers Herr

R. “Robert” Rogers Herr, 85, died on Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, at his home in Fayetteville, Pa.

Born on March 20, 1923, in Johnstown, he was the son of the late Duane Fred Herr and Dorothy Kathryn Rogers Herr of Altoona. Mr. Herr graduated from Altoona High School, with the Class of 1941, where he played basketball. He attended Gettysburg College from 1941-1943, where he also played basketball. His college studies were interrupted by World War II from 1943-1945, and he served in the U.S. Army’s 84th Infantry Division/Railsplitters Division and 42nd Rainbow Battalion. He was wounded in the European Theater on Dec. 6, 1944, and was decorated with a Purple Heart. After being honorably discharged, he returned to Gettysburg College and graduated in 1946. He earned his master’s degree in education from Western Maryland University.

Mr. Herr taught at Gettysburg High School, where he also coached basketball. He then moved his family in 1957 to Carlisle, where he taught and was principal at the former Lamberton Junior High School. He later became the assistant principal at the Lamberton Middle School, and retired from the Carlisle Area School District in 1983.

Mr. Herr was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed Pittsburgh professional sports whether it be the Pirates or his beloved Steelers. He was a life member of VFW Post 1599; a member of the Elks Lodge; a member of AMVETS Post 224; the Marine Corps League; and American Legion Post 46, all of Chambersburg. He was also a member of the Walnut Bottom Rod and Gun Club and Hub City, both of Shippensburg and Solomon’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chambersburg.

Mr. Herr was predeceased by his first wife, Shirley May Ellis Herr of Altoona, whom he married on Sept. 15, 1944, and was married to for 42 years.

He is survived by his second wife, Mary Grace McLaughlin Armstrong Herr, whom he married on Dec. 17, 1988. He was the father of Barbara Frances Herr Smith of Manassas, Va., David Stehley Herr (Rebecca Jane Jacoby Herr) of Newville and Kathryn Jeanne Herr Whistler (Richard “Rick” James Whistler) of Newville. He was a devoted grandfather to Larissa Michele Smith Fergeson (Jarrod) of Farmville, Va., Laryn Micaela Smith Weeks (Rodney) of Anchorage, Alaska, Brittni May Herr Zdunczyk (Kelly) of Carlisle and Karlyn Stehley Herr Miller (Samuel) of Carlisle. He was the great-grandfather of Samuel Adam Jacoby Miller and Ariana Maye Weeks. He is also survived by his children from his second marriage, Cynthia Ann Armstrong Tweedy (David) of Chambersburg, Kimberly Sue Armstrong Keith (Robert) of Mechanicsburg and Tina Marie Armstrong Sanders (Kenneth) of Chambersburg. He was the grandfather of Timothy David Tweedy of Shippensburg, Amanda Grace Tweedy of Chambersburg, Brandon Robert Keith, Jackson Daniel Keith and Nicholas Jerome Keith, all of Mechanicsburg and Andrew Joseph Sanders of Chambersburg.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. today, at Solomon’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Grindstone Hill), 4856 Wayne Road, Chambersburg. The Rev. Sandra Mackie will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to Lutheran Home Care Services/Hospice, 2700 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17201 or to the American Cancer Society, Franklin and Fulton Unit, 384 Floral Ave., Chambersburg, PA 17201 or to the above church and address.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.geiselfuneralhome.com.