Carl Rifenbery

January 30, 2012

On Monday, January 30, 2012, Mr. Carl Rifenbery passed away in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, with his children each holding one of his strong hands. He was born to William and Stella Mowery Rifenbery on May 16, 1922, in Luzerne, and lived his entire life in that town. Carl graduated from Luzerne High School, where he played trumpet in the band. By the time he was a senior, he had mastered "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White." He graduated from Wyoming Seminary Dean School of Business, knowing full well that he would never work in an office. He was a foreman in a defense plant in New Jersey and declined a deferment from military service when it was offered him. When his friends joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, Carl joined the U.S. Army, being most reluctant to be near water. The U.S. Army made a medical Corpsman of him, and assigned him to various troop ships transporting the wounded from the European and Pacific theaters. This "landlubber" made several Trans-Atlantic crossings on the Queen Mary and the USS Dogwood. After three years on the water, Carl left the Army and apprenticed as a carpenter with Pethick Construction Co. and later became a foreman with Rex Craft Interiors. After retirement, he continued to work as the crossing guard at the only traffic light in Luzerne. Carl was a member of the Carpenters Union, Local 645, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Luzerne Volunteer Fire Company. He coached the A's baseball team of the L.C.P. Little League, and made sure that every kid got a chance to play. On June 15, 1946, Carl married Carrie Eicke and thus began a most beautiful love story. They raised two children in a house Carl remodeled from top to bottom. Their fondest hope was to live together in that Charles Street home forever. In addition to Carrie, Carl is survived by his daughter, Jane, and her husband, David Phillips, and by his son, Jeff, and his wife, Angie, all of Luzerne. He was so proud of his grandchildren, Major Stephen Carl Phillips, U.S. Army; Heather Rifenbery, Luzerne; Tiffany Rifenbery, Courtdale, and Megan Phillips Richards, Canterbury, Conn. Carl was a larger-than-life man in so many ways. He will be missed. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Luzerne Methodist Church, Bennett St., Luzerne, and to share memories with the family from 1 p.m. until the time of the service. Wyoming Valley Children's Association was important to Carl, so his family asks that any donations be made to that agency. Funeral arrangements are by the William A. Reese Funeral Chapel, Plymouth.