Neil Gingrich

Neil B. Gingrich October 6, 1925 August 22, 2017 Neil B. Gingrich, 91, of rural Centre Hall, died, Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at Salem Hill Haven, Spring Mills, PA He was born October 6, 1925, at Fredericksburg, PA, a son of the late Dr. Harry S. and Margaret (Gassert) Gingrich. June 28, 1947, he married Lorraine R. Gingrich, who preceded him in death on January 31, 2017. Neil graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1943. In the Fall of 1943 he began his collegiate career at Penn State University, WWII intervened and Neil served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Mallucta in the South Pacific. In 1946 he was discharged and resumed his undergraduate studies at Penn State, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education. In 1962, after farming for several years in Lebanon County, Mr. Gingrich went on to pursue a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics graduating in 1967. In 1968 the family moved to Centre County. Mr. Gingrich joined the faculty at Penn State University as an instructor in the College of Agricultural Sciences, where he taught in the Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Department until his retirement in 1992. He was a member of Alpha Zeta Fraternity, a national agricultural honorary fraternity. Neil and Lorraine enjoyed retirement going to auctions and collecting antiques. Neil was an authority on locally made furniture, painted chairs, and his clock collection. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Mt Lebanon Lodge #226, Lebanon, PA Surviving Mr. Gingrich are two daughters, Marilynn Lewis (Richard) of rural Centre Hall, Carol Gingrich (David Sampsel) of Spring Mills.; two sons Dr. David Gingrich (Pamela) of Beech Creek, and Michael Gingrich of Centre Hall; seven grandchildren, Andrew Lewis (Brandi), Heather Bryant (Kareem), Amy Ilgen (Scott), Angela Anderson (Don), Amanda Rummel (David) and Eric Gingrich; eleven great-grandchildren, Anthony, Hayden, Caleb, Cheyenne, Tyler, Payton, Jordan, Jillian, Lanna, Zachary, and Jeremy; and two nephews, Gary Gingrich and Boris Gingrich. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a grandson Michael Gingrich; two brothers John Gingrich (Virginia) and Verling Gingrich (Dorothy). Friends will be received from 4 - 6 pm Monday, August 28, 2017, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 331 North Pennsylvania Ave. Centre Hall: a Masonic service will be held at 5:45 pm. Monday, at the church. The funeral will follow at 6 pm, with the Reverend Rebecca Horn officiating. Burial with Military honors, will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA with the Rev. Andrew G. Wilson officiating the committal service. Our family would like to thank the staff at Salem Hill Haven for their exceptional support and care for our father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Neil's memory may be made to the M. E. John Memorial Endowment, Office of Development, College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State University, 240 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA, 16802. An online guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelman.com