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Judge George Hancher

1938 - 2021

Judge George Hancher obituary, 1938-2021, Harmony, PA

BORN

1938

DIED

2021

FUNERAL HOME

Marshall Funeral Home - Ellwood City

200 Fountain Ave

Ellwood City, Pennsylvania

George Hancher Obituary

Judge George Hancher
Harmony - Retired Court of Common Pleas Judge, George Harold Hancher, passed away on April 11, 2021 at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Born March 5, 1938 in Ellwood City, Lawrence County, he was the son of the late Wendell Shields Hancher and Ethel Mary Cavert Hancher. He attended Ellwood City elementary school and then graduated from the military-prep school Admiral Farragut Academy in Toms River, New Jersey in 1956.
Judge Hancher was a proud alumnus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received an economics degree in 1960 and Juris Doctorate degree in 1963. He was member of the Phi Delta Theta national fraternity and made many life long-friends during his time at Cornell.
After graduation, Mr. Hancher served two years of active duty as an Officer in the U.S. Army Field Artillery. He was stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Mr. Hancher returned to Lawrence County in 1966 where he practiced law with the firm of Barletta and Hancher and served as assistant district attorney under the late Thomas Andrews for the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas.
In 1970, Judge Hancher opened a private practice in Zelienople, Butler County. His office was located in the historic Bastian House, built in 1858. Mr. Hancher diligently restored the home to its original glory and it remains a pride of the Zelienople community today.
Judge Hancher had an active private practice and represented individuals and businesses across all areas of law. He assisted with the organization of the Western Butler County Authority and Zelienople Historical Society and represented the Seneca Valley School District, Butler Area Vocational Technical School, Lancaster Township, Marion Township, Franklin Township Municipal Authority, the Harmony Fire District and Ellwood City Fire Department. He was joined in practice by his wife Darla J. Hancher whom he married in 1980. George and Darla worked side-by-side to build a thriving and well-respected practice.
Mr. Hancher was appointed to serve as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County in 1996 by then Governor Thomas Ridge. He was subsequently elected to a full ten-year term in 1997. He retired from the bench in January of 2008.
Judge Hancher was extremely proud of his hard-working courtroom. He spent much of his time on the bench assigned to the criminal division where he presided over some of the county's highest profile matters, including four capital homicide cases.
Judge Hancher was a member of several fraternal and community organizations including the American Legion Post 474, the Packard Club, and was a 33rd Degree Mason and member of the Royal Order of Jesters.
In addition to his many contributions to the community, Judge Hancher should also be remembered for his love of antique automobiles, particularly the Packard. He spent much time restoring his antique vehicles, visiting car shows and participating in car club events. He especially treasured spending time on his family's farm in Lancaster Township where he enjoyed gardening, bird watching and daily visits with his children, grandchildren and Doberman Maggie.
Judge Hancher was an excellent chef and enjoyed cooking for his family often - with specialties such as crab cakes, chicken ala king, barbeque ribs and birthday cakes made from scratch.
Judge Hancher is survived by his loving wife, Darla J. Hancher originally of Pleasantville, Pennsylvania, his son Derek B. Hancher and wife, Sarah (Johnston) Hancher and son Brett G. Hancher and wife, Kendra (Ivol) Hancher as well as two granddaughters, Madeleine Grace Hancher, Charlotte Jayne Hancher and his grandson, Wade Wendell Hancher, all of Lancaster Township, Butler County.
Friends of Judge George Harold Hancher who died on April 11, 2021, will be received from 2-4pm and 6-8pm Saturday at Marshall Funeral Home in Ellwood City, 200 Fountain Avenue. Funeral services will be held on Sunday at 1:00pm at Marshall Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children or Harmony Fire District. Online condolences may be sent to marshallsfh.com.

Published by Ellwood City Ledger from Apr. 13 to Apr. 15, 2021.
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Memories and Condolences
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4 Entries

George and I were classmates in 7th Grade at Hartman Grade school. At that early age George already had an aura of dignity about him. Always kind, considerate and quiet. Our English teacher (Miss Ealy) very likely had a profound influence on both of us. I was silly at that age but not George. I wound up an aeronautical Engineer and George a Judge. Both collected and restored antique automobiles, I wish I could have seen his but aircraft are on the West coast!

Richard Olzak

School

June 26, 2021

Sad to receive this news of George’s passing. He was a Lincoln High classmate and friend. Was so glad to see him at our last class reunion. His was a life well lived RIP,friend

Patricia Rodgers Downer

Classmate

April 17, 2021

George was a righteous man, and provided Butler County with a hard-working, fair judge during his time in office. He will be surely missed by many. May he rest in peace.

PHYLLIS E ROTH

Coworker

April 15, 2021

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Sal DiDomenico and the crew at Foreign Tech, Inc.

Friend

April 15, 2021

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Memorial Events
for George Hancher

Apr

17

Visitation

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Marshall Funeral Home - Ellwood City

200 Fountain Ave, Ellwood City, PA 16117

Apr

17

Visitation

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Marshall Funeral Home - Ellwood City

200 Fountain Ave, Ellwood City, PA 16117

Apr

18

Funeral service

1:00 p.m.

Marshall Funeral Home - Ellwood City

200 Fountain Ave, Ellwood City, PA 16117

Funeral services provided by:

Marshall Funeral Home - Ellwood City

200 Fountain Ave, Ellwood City, PA 16117

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