Harold R. Leary

Born March 24, 1921 in New Brunswick, NJ, son of Russell Stevens Leary and Helen Warnsdorfer Leary, Mr. Leary graduated from New Brunswick High School and Rutgers University. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed in Alaska for 22 months. He married Janet Wright of Hightstown NJ in June 1949 and they were married 58 years, until her death in 2008. He worked as engineering manager at Hercules Powder Company (Parlin NJ), GAF Corporation, (Linden NJ), Crompton & Knowles (Reading PA), Great Lakes Carbon (Johnson City TN), and retired as Director of Engineering for Hershey Foods Corporation in 1988. While living in New Jersey he served on the South Brunswick School Board for 6 years and led efforts to build the township’s first high school and Greenbrook School. He was Chairman of the South Brunswick Municipal Authority, and Chairman of the Building Committee for Community Baptist Church, Somerset, NJ. At the time of his death he was a member of the Evangelical Free Church of Hershey, PA and the Hershey Country Club. He enjoyed times with family, the beach, reunions with high school and college friends, travel and golf.

He is survived by his children, daughter Katherine Alsdorf and husband John of New York, NY, Richard and his wife Barbara of Kiev, Ukraine, Jim of Virginia Beach VA and Paul and his wife Lynn of Wyncote, PA. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren Richard and wife Virginia, Rachel, Russell, Ruth, Rebekah, Libby, Matthew and Jacinta and 2 great grandsons – Richard and Paul. His sisters Jane Smith, Anita McFarland, Susanne DeBartolo, and brother Arthur also survive him.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 3, at Evangelical Free Church of Hershey, 330 Hilltop Rd., Hummelstown, PA.

A memorial service will be held at 12 noon, Saturday, Augusth 4th, at Community Baptist Church, 211 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Rothermel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 25 West Pine St., Palmyra, PA 17078.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the hospice where Janet and Harold Leary were both well cared for in their last days: The Carolyn Croxton Slane Residence, 1701 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg PA 17110.