1923
Harry
2016
Harry S. Overbaugh, Jr.
March 13, 1923 — November 20, 2016
Harry S. Overbaugh, Jr., of Hilltown, passed away at his residence on Sunday, November 20, 2016. He was 93.
He was the beloved husband of Sue (Mecray) Swinney Overbaugh for 25 years.
Born in Sellersville, he was the son of the late Harry and Frederica (Cliver) Overbaugh.
Harry was a 1941 graduate of Sell-Perk High School. Before leaving for military service in 1942, he had also attended Lansdale School of Business.
Mr. Overbaugh was a U. S. Army Air Force veteran of World War II, having served on a B-17 in the 398th Bomb Group in the European Theater of Operation. A waist gunner, he was on a bombing run over Czechoslovakia in April 1945, the last heavy bombing mission flown by the 8th Air Force, when the aircraft was hit by enemy flak. The crew bailed out of the burning plane behind enemy lines. Listed initially as MIA, Harry and the other crew members eventually reached the safety of the Allied lines. With communications erratic in the last days of the European war, Harry arrived home in Sellersville before his family had even received word of his survival.
Harry joined the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1947 and was appointed Company Commander of the 28th Quartermaster Company, Sellersville in 1953. He retired in 1980 with the rank of Major.
Mr. Overbaugh had been employed as the head electrician at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for 25 years, retiring in 1986. Prior to that, he had worked as an electrician in Sellersville, Perkasie, and Souderton and as a mailman in Sellersville.
A long-time member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hilltown, Harry had been an altar server.
Harry was a member of the 398th Bombing Group Association, the Nase-Kraft American Legion Post 255 and the Forrest Lodge VFW Post #245, both of Sellersville, the German-Hungarian Club, Hilltown, the Perkasie Owls Nest No.1224 and the Pennridge Community Center, both of Perkasie. Through the Community Center, he published his memoir, WWII Memories, in 2013.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Overbaugh is survived by his children, Kathleen Dickerson, of Quakertown; Cindy Clark, of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Carol Tyson and her husband, Mike, of Kintnersville; Peggy Lewis and her husband, Bruce, of Quakertown; James Swinney and his fiancée, Kathy Kline, of Coopersburg; Brenda Matern, of Perkasie; Joseph Swinney and his wife, Sandy, of Sellersville; eighteen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Belott, and two sons-in-law, Robert Belott and Mark Matern
His Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 30, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rte. 152 & Broad Street, Hilltown, PA 18927, where a visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of Mass.
Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church at the address above.
He was the beloved husband of Sue (Mecray) Swinney Overbaugh for 25 years.
Born in Sellersville, he was the son of the late Harry and Frederica (Cliver) Overbaugh.
Harry was a 1941 graduate of Sell-Perk High School. Before leaving for military service in 1942, he had also attended Lansdale School of Business.
Mr. Overbaugh was a U. S. Army Air Force veteran of World War II, having served on a B-17 in the 398th Bomb Group in the European Theater of Operation. A waist gunner, he was on a bombing run over Czechoslovakia in April 1945, the last heavy bombing mission flown by the 8th Air Force, when the aircraft was hit by enemy flak. The crew bailed out of the burning plane behind enemy lines. Listed initially as MIA, Harry and the other crew members eventually reached the safety of the Allied lines. With communications erratic in the last days of the European war, Harry arrived home in Sellersville before his family had even received word of his survival.
Harry joined the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1947 and was appointed Company Commander of the 28th Quartermaster Company, Sellersville in 1953. He retired in 1980 with the rank of Major.
Mr. Overbaugh had been employed as the head electrician at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for 25 years, retiring in 1986. Prior to that, he had worked as an electrician in Sellersville, Perkasie, and Souderton and as a mailman in Sellersville.
A long-time member of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hilltown, Harry had been an altar server.
Harry was a member of the 398th Bombing Group Association, the Nase-Kraft American Legion Post 255 and the Forrest Lodge VFW Post #245, both of Sellersville, the German-Hungarian Club, Hilltown, the Perkasie Owls Nest No.1224 and the Pennridge Community Center, both of Perkasie. Through the Community Center, he published his memoir, WWII Memories, in 2013.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Overbaugh is survived by his children, Kathleen Dickerson, of Quakertown; Cindy Clark, of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Carol Tyson and her husband, Mike, of Kintnersville; Peggy Lewis and her husband, Bruce, of Quakertown; James Swinney and his fiancée, Kathy Kline, of Coopersburg; Brenda Matern, of Perkasie; Joseph Swinney and his wife, Sandy, of Sellersville; eighteen grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Belott, and two sons-in-law, Robert Belott and Mark Matern
His Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 30, at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rte. 152 & Broad Street, Hilltown, PA 18927, where a visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of Mass.
Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church at the address above.
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