Russell Stanley Klingensmith, 99, of Camp Hill, PA, passed away on Sunday August 4, 2019 at his home.
Born on July 13, 1920 in Roston, PA, he was the oldest child of the late Ernest S. (Sr.) and Margaret May (Cooper) Klingensmith, and he was the widower of Bernadine "Penny" (Bucko) Klingensmith.
He was a 1937 graduate of Ford City High School, a civil engineering graduate of the former Carnegie Institute of Technology and an environmental engineering graduate of UNC in Chapel Hill, NC. He was a registered professional engineer in PA. He served in the US Army Air Corps during WWII, where he was a member of the 303rd Bomb Group "Hell's Angels" in the ETO, flying as a navigator in a B-17 Flying Fortress. He was a life member of the 303rd Bomb Group Assoc., and VFW Post 4843 in Ford City, PA. He enjoyed rabbit, grouse, and especially deer hunting and playing cards at Cooper's Camp and the farm in West Virginia. Reading was his passion.
He is survived by three sons, Mark (Wanda) Klingensmith, of Greensburg, PA; Kevin (Marti) Klingensmith, of Lewisberry, PA; and Kurt (Amy) Klingensmith, of Richmond, VA; a son-in-law, Thomas Stewart, of Harrisburg, PA; a daughter, Kim (Karl) Lewis, of Tazewell, VA; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two sisters, Ruth Sulava, of W. Leechburg, PA, and Helen Boarts, of Kittanning, PA; a sister-in-law, Susan Klingensmith, of Baltimore, MD; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his parents and wife he was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Beth Stewart, and two brothers, Ernest "Snuffy" Klingensmith, Jr., and Meade "Jeep" Klingensmith.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday August 12, 2019 in the Church of the Good Shepherd, 3435 Trindle Rd. Camp Hill, PA 17011, with Rev. Neil Sullivan as Celebrant. A viewing will be held in the church on Monday from 9:00 A.M. until the time of the mass. A reception will be held in the church Parish Hall immediately following the Mass. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Monday at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. Myers-Harner Funeral & Cremation Services, Camp Hill has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Church of the Good Shepherd.