Eric Rodney Happel

Eric Rodney Happel, 93, of Waynesboro, PA, died at home, surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. He had been in failing health since March of this year. Born Feb. 13, 1919 in Blue Ridge Summit, he was a son of the late William and Nona Mae( Kettoman) Happel He graduated from Smithsburg High School, and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Law while attending night school, from the University of Baltimore. He served in the United States Marine Corp during WWII. He and his wife, Anna V. (Wierman) Happel were married on Dec. 24, 1942 at Saint Johns Reformed Church in Sabillasville, MD. After High School, Mr. Happel worked at Landis Tool alongside his brothers for a little over a year. He later worked in a management position at Crown Cork & Seal for about 25 years, and as a designer for a sign company approximately 10 years, before being employed by Social Security in Woodlawn, MD, where he worked for about 30 years, before retiring in 1994. Mr. Happel became a Mason on March 18, 1946. He was a member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD which he helped to design and build. He served as President of the Treasury and served on various other committees at the church. Mr. Happel will be remembered as a humble family man who always put others needs before his own, and freely gave of his time to help those in need. In addition to his wife, Mr. Happel is survived by his two daughters, Sandra Lee Brodsky and her husband, Richard, Shippensburg, PA and Patricia Ann Molesworth and her husband, Richard, Littleton, CO, two brothers, Les Happel, San Jose, CA and Preston Happel, Bloomfield Hills, MI and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Emory Happel, Richard Happel, and George Fredrick Happel; and a sister, Louise Eichelberger. Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, June 2, 2012 in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 South Broad St. Waynesboro, with Pastor Sandra Price officiating. Burial will follow in Bethel Cemetery, Cascade, MD, where military graveside services will be conducted by the honor guard of Charles Nitterhouse V.F.W. Post #1599, Chambersburg. A Masonic funeral will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, just prior to the religious service, by the members of Acacia Lodge #155, Thurmont. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephens Church, 25445 Highfield Rd. Cascade, MD 21719 Online condolences may be expressed at www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com.