Harry J. Geiger

HARRY J. GEIGER DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA- Harry J. Geiger, 102, died on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at Brookshire Nursing Center in Hillsborough, NC. He was born in Rochester, NY on September 14, 1914. He was the son of Arthur and Edna Poppelwell Geiger. Harry grew up in Rochester and attended nurses’ training during the depression. He was fond of saying, “I got $27.00 a month and room and board�. After graduation and marriage to Elly, he worked in the state hospital system both in Rochester and Buffalo, NY. Harry, Elly and daughter Gail moved to Canandaigua, NY in 1949 where he and Elly both worked as nurses in the Veterans Hospital until retirement in 1975. Harry and Elly moved to Burlington, NC in 2000 to be close to family, where he became the unofficial “mayor� of Oak Creek Retirement Community, easily making friends and orchestrating weekly poker games. He was an avid lifelong learner, fisherman, hunter, Elks Club member, golfer and poker player. He enjoyed travel with his wife and good friends to Mexico and Europe as well as yearly trips to the Keys in Florida. He had a curiosity about all things and his one regret was that his eyesight, due to macular degeneration, was too poor to be able to use a computer. He moved to Brookshire Senior living in 2015 just before his 101st birthday where he again won the hearts of those who cared for him. He was a loving and wise father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great grandfather with a smile and wink that will never be forgotten. Harry is survived by his son-in-law, Sidney H. Smith; granddaughter, Karen Robertson (Steve); grandson, Jeff Smith (Gerri) of Damascus MD; great grandchildren, Alyse Robertson Washington (Kenny), Whitney Robertson, Steven Robertson, Ethan Robertson and Zachary Smith; and great-great grandson, Darren Springfield, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, wife Eleanor, and daughter, Gail Smith. The family would like to thank the staff at Brookshire Nursing Center, Oak Creek Retirement Community, Caregiver Ellen Croft and the team from Hospice of Alamance Caswell for their care and attention. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua, NY at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Hospice and Palliative Care of Alamance Caswell. Clements Funeral Service, Inc. in Durham is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.clementsfuneralservice.com.