Hugh S. Niles

Hugh S. Niles, 87, retired Pennsylvania Army National Guard Brigadier General, well-known civic volunteer, and a long-time resident of Sellersville, formerly of Wellsboro, passed away on Thursday morning, May 14, 2009, at Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia. He was the husband of Mary Patricia "Pat" (Doyle) Niles.

Born in Elkland, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Homer Frederick Niles and Mary Electa (Spencer) Niles.

Mr. Niles was a 1943 graduate of the former Bloomsburg State Teachers College, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Science degree in business education. He attended Army pilot and Army Air Force pilot training schools in the Midwest and was commissioned as a U.S. Army Air Corps 2nd Lieutenant in 1944.

Assigned to the 15th Air Force in Italy, he flew 35 combat missions over Europe as a decorated B-24 bomber pilot. Following the end of World War II, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force Reserve, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, until 1948.

During this period, Mr. Niles also taught business education at Sell-Perk High School, where he helped to coach baseball, football, and basketball. In later years, he earned a Master of Science degree in business education from the University of Pennsylvania.

First Lieutenant Niles joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1948 and was assigned to the 32nd Quartermaster Group, Sellersville. During the Korean War, he served in various U.S. Army supply and administrative posts in Massachusetts and in Heidelberg, West Germany.

In 1953, he rejoined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and began full-time employment with the Department of Military Affairs. He worked as the Director of Technician Personnel for the Pennsylvania Army and Air National Guard, supervising 1,950 full-time technicians.

Appointed in 1977 as Chief of Staff for Headquarters, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, he was considered an expert on labor relations. He retired in 1979, the same year he had earned his general's star.

Following his retirement, General Niles continued to serve the Guard as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania National Guard Scholarship Fund and as an Honorary Member of the Joint Force Headquarters Officers Mess.

General Niles received 17 military awards, including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and several Air Medals.

The General had been a member of the VFW Forrest Lodge Post 245, of West Rockhill Township; the American Legion Nase-Kraft Post 255; the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1539; and the former Sellersville Lions Club, all of Sellersville. He also served on the Board of the Sellersville Armory, HQ 228th FSB, Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

At one time, he had been president of the former Sellersville School Board and later was a member of the Pennridge School Board.

He served as Secretary to the Sellersville Planning Commission, and also was Chairman of the Sell-Perk Committee for the Restoration of Lake Lenape. The General also served on Sellersville’s 250th Anniversary Committee and was Chairman of the Sellersville Veterans’ Memorial Monument Relocation Project.

In the early 1980’s, he was one of the original organizers of the annual Veterans Day assemblies held for local elementary school children, now expanded to a tri-district program for Pennridge, Quakertown, and Palisades students.

A member of the Pennridge Community Day Committee, General Niles helped to establish and conduct the opening ceremonies for the annual July event, still participating in 2008. He also composed the program for the Good Citizenship Award.

A loyal American, the General took great pride in leading the "Pledge of Allegiance" and voicing a short patriotic speech before countless civic events and banquets.

General Niles was actively involved with the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce for many years, sitting on the Board of Directors. He served as the editor of the organization’s newsletter and as Chairman of the Chamber’s Legislative Affairs Committee. He was also a member of the Pennridge Community Senior Center Advisory Board.

Always politically concerned, the General was coordinator for the 145th Legislative District of the Bucks County Republican Committee. Recently, he had been honored with an award for his long-term service to the Bucks County Republican Party.

He was recognized in 1987 as "Citizen of the Year" by the Pennridge Community Day Committee for his dedicated civic service. In 1994, he was honored with the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce’s Frank R. Kulp Memorial Award as a "true pioneer and inspiration" to his community.

He was a long-time member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sellersville.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his seven children: Susan Valimont, of Sellersville; Sandra G. Hoopes, and her husband, David, of West Chester; Spencer G., and his wife, Kathy, of State College; Scott D., and his wife, Kathy, of Sellersville; Shawn D., and his wife, Cindy, of Souderton; Sherri L. Kratzer, and her husband, George, of Sellersville; and Shelley S. Platt, and her husband, Jeff, of Quakertown; 17 grandchildren: Peter S. and Matthew S. C. Valimont; Jennifer and Jonathan Niles; Joshua, Zachary, Seth, and Britney Niles; Cole and Quinn Niles; Caitlin, Bradley, and Erin Kratzer; and Andrew, David, Christian, and Daniel Platt; and a sister, Jane Barndt, of Wellsboro.

His funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at 11:00 AM in St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 104 Green Street, Sellersville, PA 18960. Family and friends may call on Tuesday evening, May 19, at the church, beginning at 6:00 PM until 8:30 PM or on Wednesday morning from 9:30 AM until time of service.

Interment with full military honors will be in Sellersville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pennsylvania National Guard Scholarship Fund, c/o DMVA, Attn: Executive Director, PANG Scholarship Fund, Bldg. S-0-47, FTIG, Annville, PA 17003-5002.