Howard L. Sipes

Howard L. Sipes, 87, of Harrisonville, PA passed away Monday, August 2nd, 2010 at Chambersburg Hospital, Chambersburg, PA.
Howard was born in Harrisonville, PA on October 22, 1922, the son of the late Joseph Wilmer and Lena (Hollinshead) Sipes. He was the widower of Bonnie A. (Cutchall) Sipes whom he married on August 1, 1942 and she passed away on January 4, 2009.
Mr. Sipes graduated from Green Hill High School in 1940 and the Pittsburgh School of Embalming in 1942. During WWII, Howard served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946, attaining the rank of Sergeant in the Medical Core. After graduating from a U.S. Army laboratory school, he served in the lab and morgue with the 60th General Hospital in New Guinea and Manila on Luzon Island in the Philippines.
In 1946, Howard was licensed by the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors. He became owner and director of the Sipes Funeral Service which is now the Howard L. Sipes Funeral Home, Inc. in Harrisonville, PA where this family business was established in 1875. In addition to serving as a funeral director, Howard was an avid farmer throughout his life working the land his father had purchased shortly after WWII.
He served as the laboratory supervisor at the Fulton County Medical Center, McConnellsburg, PA for twenty-seven years, retiring in 1978. Howard also served on the school board from 1962 to 1979. He began at the Licking Creek Township School Board and became a member of the Central Fulton School District Board of Directors in 1966.
Howard was a member of the American Legion Post# 561, McConnellsburg, PA, the VFW Post# 6241, Mercersburg, PA, the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and a lifetime member of the McConnellsburg Volunteer Fire Company. He also belonged to the Everett Lodge# 524, Free and Associated Masons, Jaffa Shriners of Altoona, PA and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, Harrisburg, PA.
He is survived by Daughters Penelope A. (wife of Gary) Shives of Harrisonville, PA, Katherine A. (wife of Ronnie) Carmack of Harrisonville, PA, Grandsons Jason L. (husband of Stephanie) Shives of Harrisonville, PA, Adam S. Carmack of Harrisonville, PA, Granddaughter Kara E. Carmack of Harrisonville, PA and Great Grandchildren Gracie Maye Shives and Grayden Douglas Shives. He was preceded in death by an infant son Timothy G. Sipes.
Religious Service at Sideling Hill Christian Church, Needmore, PA, at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 with Pastor William Swope officiating. Interment at Sideling Hill Christian Church Cemetery, Needmore, PA.. There will be visitation on Monday, August 9th, 2010 from 2 P.M. to 8 P.M. at Howard L. Sipes Funeral Home, Inc., Harrisonville, PA. There will also be visitation one hour before the service on Tuesday at the church.
A Masonic service will be held on Monday at 7:30 P.M. at the funeral home.
Military services will be conducted by the Fulton Honor Guard.