H. Ric Luhrs

Born March 22, 1931, in Chambersburg, he was the son of the late Henry E. and Pearl H. (Beistle) Luhrs.

Mr. Luhrs was a 1953 graduate of Gettysburg College, earning a bachelor's degree. He then joined the Air Force as a commissioned officer pilot, and was one of the first missile officers. He was a veteran of the Korean War and was discharged in 1959.

From 1962 until his retirement in 2002, he was president and CEO of The Beistle Company in Shippensburg. He also was a registered gemologist and the owner of Luhrs Jewelry and Luhrs Gem Testing Lab. In addition, he was CEO of The Walking Quail, Shippensburg, and the Lakeside Holding Co. in Boca Raton, Fla.

Mr. Luhrs was a member of Memorial Lutheran Church; the Carlisle Fish and Game Association; Cumberland Valley Lodge 315, Free and Accepted Masons; Valley Forest 145, Tall Cedars of Lebanon; and the Zembo Shrine. He was a member of the Cumberland Valley Industrial Management Society, the York Club of Printing House Craftsmen and the Green Jacket Club.

He was past president of the Shippensburg Public Library, the founding president of the Shippensburg Area Development Corporation, past president of the Shippensburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the past president and drive chairman of the Shippensburg United Way. Mr. Luhrs was a life member of Durff-Kuhn VFW Post 6168, a member of Oscar M. Hykes American Legion Post 223 and served on the board of directors of the Chambersburg Hospital, the former Carlisle Hospital, the Toy Manufacturer's Association and the National Small Businessman's Association. He also served on the Consumer Advisory Council for Capital Blue Cross.

He was also listed in Who's Who in America for more than 25 years.

Since 1991, he was a member of the board of directors of the Shippensburg University Foundation and was a member of the board of directors of the Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton from 1988-1991. He was on the board of directors of the former First National Bank of Shippensburg and the former Commonwealth National Bank. He also was a member of the Regional Board of Directors of Mellon Bank.

Mr. Luhrs was awarded the Eberly Philanthropy Award from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education in 1998 and a doctor of public service degree from Shippensburg University in December 2000.

Mr. Luhrs is survived by his wife, Grace (Barnhart) Luhrs, whom he married in 1973; a son, Stephen F. Luhrs of Shippensburg; three daughters, C. Michelle Wiest and Terriann Hilbinger, both of Shippensburg, and Patricia D. Lacy of Mechanicsburg; a sister, Helene D.A. Luhrs of Ardmore; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Sandra L. Welker, and a granddaughter, Molly Hilbinger.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Memorial Auditorium of Shippensburg University with the Rev. Jan Bye officiating. Burial with military graveside services conducted by the Shippensburg VFW and American Legion posts will be in Spring Hill Cemetery.

Friends may call from noon Friday until time of services in the auditorium.

Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home, Shippensburg, is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center, c/o Shippensburg University Foundation, Shippensburg, PA 17257 or to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 424 E. 92nd St., Fourth Floor, New York, NY 10128.