Gerald W. Dubs

Gerald W. Dubs, 83, of Hanover, entered into God's eternal care 6:23 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at Hanover Hospital. He was the husband of Helen Wildasin Dubs, to whom he had been married more than 62 years. Born in Hanover on March 17, 1921, he was the son of the late Claude E. and Miriam L. Wetzel Dubs. Raised in Hanover, Mr. Dubs graduated from Eichelberger High School with the Class of 1940. He was then employed by a local glove factory and in January of 1942 he married Helen Wildasin. Wanting to serve his country during World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on Nov. 25, 1942, and in October of 1944, Staff Sgt. Dubs was shipped to England where he served with honor, distinction and valor in the European Theatre of Operations as ball turret gunner aboard a B-17 attached to the 486th Bomb Group 833rd Bomb Squadron. He flew 28 missions with the 833rd in the battles and campaigns for the Rhineland and Ardennes, but while on his final mission over Stuttgart, Germany, on Feb. 22, 1945, his plane was hit by flak, the crew was ordered to bail out and he became a prisoner of war. Upon his return, he was awarded the Purple Heart for breaking his right ankle while parachuting into enemy territory, an Air Medal, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon. Following his return to Hanover, he began a career in construction and at the time of his retirement was one of the principal owners of Hoffheins Brothers Inc. General Contractors, serving as the secretary/treasurer of the corporation. He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Hanover Lodge 763, Hanover Lions Club, and the Hanover Exchange Club. Mr. Dubs also served the Hanover community as a former member of both the South Western School Board and the board of directors of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, W. Barry Dubs and his wife, Sharon L. Dubs, of Hanover and Randall W. Dubs and his wife, Lisa Dubs, of York; five grandchildren, Christopher B. Dubs of New Oxford and Angela M. Stallard, Ryan M. Dubs, Jeremy R. Gallagher and Bryan J. Gallagher, all of Hanover; and a great-grandson, Brandon Dubs of New Oxford. He was preceded in death by a brother, Burnell Dubs. A service of Thanksgiving to God and in loving memory of Gerald will be held 10 Friday morning at Panebaker Funeral Home, 311 Broadway, Hanover. Viewing will be from 6 to 8 this evening at the funeral home. Burial will be in Marburg Memorial Gardens with military honors by the Allied Veterans Honor Guard. His pastor, the Rev. Julian E. Hall, will officiate. Serving as pallbearers will be Robert Smith, Vance Stabley, Ryan Dubs, Chris Dubs, Bryan Gallagher, Jeremy Gallagher and Glenn Miller. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's and Related Disease Association, 2001 N. Front St., Building 2, Suite 321, Harrisburg, Pa. 17102, or to Homewood at Plumcreek, 425 Westminster Ave., Hanover, Pa. 17331.