Obituary |
Obituary:
"Jack" was born in Harrisburg, PA, on February 5, 1918. He was the son of the late John D. and Rachel Runk Berrier.
He lived in Montoursville, Coudersport, Duncannon and Harrisburg. He attended Duncannon High School and then William Penn High School in Harrisburg. He played football at both high schools and then at Temple University, where he played under Pop Warner. He also played for a semi-pro team in Norristown and coached the freshman team at Temple. During his college years, he worked as a bricklayer's assistant for his uncles, Ted and Jim, in Washington, DC, and New Haven, CT.
He enlisted in the Army Air Force in February, 1941, and became a flight instructor for B-17's from February, 1942, until May, 1945. He then became a pilot of B-29's until he was discharged from the Air Force in January, 1946, as a Captain. Later, he served in the Air Force Reserves, flying out of Reading and Olmstead in Pennsylvania, reaching the rank of Major. He resigned in 1958. He was married to Grace Viola Markley on June 12, 1943. They were married for over 63 years.
After the war, he became an administrator at Temple University, first as the Assistant Registrar and then as the Veterans Administrator. For several years, he was the Director of Off-Campus Courses for Temple at various locations in Eastern PA. He received his BS, M.Ed. and D.Ed. from Temple University. In 1958, he became the administrator of the Harrisburg Area Center for Higher Education. In 1963, he became Dean of the Faculty at the new Harrisburg Area Community College and in 1966, he became the first President of the Lehigh County Community College in Allentown, serving until retirement in 1983. He was active in Boy Scouting throughout his life and was member of the Minsi Trails Council. He served on the board of the Kalmbach Estate in Macungie. He was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Allentown.
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He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially at Berrier Island in the Susquehanna River. He and Grace built two homes there, in 1955 and 1973 (rebuilt after the flood from Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972).
Services will be Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 11 a.m., at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 822 N. 19th Street, Allentown. Calling hours from 10-11 a.m., at the church. Burial will be held Wednesday, December 17, at Noon in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, 4855 Londonderry Road, Harrisburg.
Arrangements by Trexler Funeral Home, Allentown. trexerfuneralhome.com
Contributions in his memory, may be made to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 822 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104 or Lehigh Carbon Community College, 4525 Education Park Drive, Schnecksville, PA 18078. |