Wilbert Frank Berry

S. AMHERST - Wilbert Frank Berry, 86 years of age, and a resident of South Amherst, passed away Thursday, March 10, 2011 at the Wesleyan Village in Elyria following an extended illness.
He was born September 16, 1924 in Lorain graduating from the former Lorain High School with the class of 1943A. South Amherst has been his home since 1948. Wilbert was honored to serve his country in the United States Navy in active duty for nine years during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in the South Pacific on a mine sweeper USS Defense AM317 during World War II and again at the Naval Amphibious Base at Little Creek (Norfolk), Virginia during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge in 1952, he served thirty-six more years in the Naval Reserves in Lorain and Cleveland, retiring in September, 1984. While stationed in the Cleveland Command, he served as Master Chief Petty Officer. In 1982, he was presented the Navy Commendation Medal for work done at the Port Services Command in New Port, Rhode Island. After returning from the military, Wilbert worked as a Machine Repair Group Leader at the Western Cold Drawn Steel Corp., a division of Stanadyne Corp. in Elyria for twenty-seven years, retiring in 1987. He also worked at the Lorain Shipyard; US Automatic/Nordson in Amherst, Nelson Fastner. He owned and operated his own boiler repair business. Wilbert also served his South Amherst hometown with the Fire Department for forty years, retiring in 1987 as Captain. A member of the South Amherst First Congregational United Church of Christ, he was active as Deacon and Trustee. He was a member of the Lorain Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #451 in Lorain, the South Amherst American Legion Post #197, the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 17, and the Chief Petty Officers Association of Cleveland. After his retirement, he enjoyed vacationing at his cottage on Little Long Lake in Hale, Michigan and in the later years in Naples, Florida with friends and Navy buddies.
Wilbert leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of sixty-three years Beverly Ann Berry (nee: Witt); his daughters and their husbands Holly and Daniel Sprague of Delaware, Ohio and Wendy and Howard Akin of Lorain; his grandchildren, Traci, Nicholas and Bradley and his great grandchildren Andrew and Olivia.
He was preceded in death by his parents William Frank and Caroline Anna Berry (nee: Raider); by his sister Dorothy Peters-Stark; and his brother Clifford Berry.
Friends may call Sunday, March 13, 2011 from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 p.m. at the Hempel Funeral Home; 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst. Funeral services will be held Monday at 10:00 A.M., March 14, 2011 at the funeral home. Chaplain Jerry Murphy, of the Chief Petty Officers Association of Greater Cleveland, will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, South Amherst.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Honor Flight of Cleveland, 37 Levan Drive, Painsville, Ohio 44077 or to the charity of the donors choice.
Additional information and online register book are available at www.hempelfuneralhome.com.
Question, please call Hempel Funeral Home at (440)988-4451