Paul Shirk

Paul Hoke Shirk was born April 28, 1916 in Lebanon, PA and died June 13, 2012 at the Lebanon VA Medical Center, Hospice.

Shirk graduated from 10th grade at Harrison High School in Lebanon. In 1933 his father, William Cleveland Shirk died. When he was 16, Shirk quit high school to support his mother, Sadie Ellen Shirk nee Hoke and younger brother, Ray K. Shirk. Before federal regulations or unions, he went to work at Bethlehem Steel, putting in 60 hour work weeks. After 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Shirk enlisted in the Navy. He became a radar/radioman on a PB4Y- 1 Bomber (B24 Liberator), flying 41 anti-submarine missions out of Dunkeswell Aerodrome, an airfield in East Devon, England. Following the war, Shirk returned to his wife, Lillian Mae Catherine Shirk nee Keller and family in Lebanon and resumed working at Behlehem Steel until his retirement. Shirk was avidly interested in politics, gardened well into his eighties and enjoyed traveling. Many of his vacvations were spent driving all over the USA. With the sudden death of his wife of more than 50 years, Shirk''s daughters moved back to Lebanon from Maryland and New Jersey. At age 81, Shirk married Viola Oswald, who predeceased him. To celebrate their marriage, he took her to England for the opening of the Dunkeswell Memorial Museum, where he was stationed during WWII and then to Paris. A member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and its Brotherhood, Shirk was the creator of the Book Nook at the church''s annual Holiday Bazaar. Additionally, for many years he volunteered with their Free Noon Meal program. Shirk was also a member of numerous organizations, including the VFW Post 23 in Lebanon, International B-24 Liberator Club, Navy Ship Club 91, Moose Lodge, Lebanon County Historical Society, Lebanon Senior Center, Friendship Fire Co., Rescue Fire Co #4 and 50+ Club of Bethel.

Shirk is survived by daughters Jean Moncarz and Barbara Haubrich, son-in-law Marty Haubrich, grandchildren Ryan and Beth Moncarz, Michael and Melissa Haubrich, great granddaughters Lily Moncarz and Danielle Haubrich, great great grandchildren Lisa Marie and Danilla Haubrich. Also surviving is sister-in-law Gloria Shirk, nephew Bill and Paula Shirk, niece Marilyn and Kirk Galbach, brother-in-law Ellis Keller, Jr., niece Cindy and Fred Waybright, nephews Jeff and Dave Keller, nieces Kay and Jack Feaser, Gail and Dick Yiengst, Judy McCarthy, Fern Keller and Sheila Hummelbaugh.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 10:00AM with Rev. Craig Dorward officiating at Christman''s Funeral Home, Inc., 226 Cumberland Street, Lebanon with visitation at 9:30AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations for the Lebanon VA Medical Center Hospice, 1700 S. Lincoln Ave. Lebanon, PA 17042 or Lebanon Historical Society, 924 Cumberland Street, Lebanon, PA 17042 or Central PA Animal Alliance, Helping Hounds Program, 1802 Silver Pine Circle, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050, a program which works with veterans living with PTSD to assist them in training their own service dog to help manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

www.christmansfuneralhome.com .