Louis E. Vernon Sr.

Louis E. Vernon Sr., 85, of Elverson passed away Thursday, March 24, in his residence.

Born in Phillipsburg, N.J., on Dec. 3, 1925, he was the son of the late Mary H. (Graham) and Clarence H. Vernon. He was the widower of Fior (Castiglia) Vernon, who passed away on March 17, 2007.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1951. In World War II he was a Seaman First Class/Petty Officer, serving as a gunner on Lib-erty Ships to Russia. During the Korean War, he was a Seaman First Class/Petty Officer and an equipment operator with the Seabees. In 2002 he received a letter and medal from the Russian Embassy thanking him for his service during World War II in defeating Nazism.

He was employed as a railroad worker with the Pennsylvania Railroad and later at Conrail as a track and wreck foreman.

He was a member of Delaware Masonic Lodge 52, Consistory board of W. Jersey Shrine, Cresent Temple of Trenton; Tall Cedars of Lebanon; VFW Post 9308, Phillipsburg, N.J.; American Legion Post, Morgantown; and Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow. He was also a Silver Beaver Award recipient.

Louis is survived by two sons, Edward L., husband of Joanie Vernon, Sr., of Pottstown, and Louis E. Vernon, Jr., Pottstown. He is also survived by three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was predeceased by one grandchild and his brother, Donald J. Vernon.

Services are private at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements entrusted to the John P. Feeney Funeral Home in Reading's Centre Park Historic District, 625 N. Fouth St. at Centre Ave., Reading, PA 19601.

Obituary and condolences at johnfeeneyfuneralhome.-com.