Norman R. "Bud" Harpster

Norman R. ‘Bud’ Harpster, 98, of Zephyrhills, Florida, with a summer home in Lewistown, PA passed away peacefully on Monday, September 26, 2022, at Sacred Heart Senior Living in Center Valley, PA.

Born on June 19, 1924, in Lewistown, he was a son of the late Willard C. and Beulah (White) Harpster. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis (Weaver) Harpster, whom he married on October 21, 1950, and a brother, Wilson Harpster. 

Bud is survived by a son Norman R. ‘Chip’ Harpster and his wife, Diane, of Center Valley, PA; two granddaughters, Amy (Allentown, PA) and Lauren (East Stroudsburg, PA); Phyllis’s sister, Joanne Thomson, of Hollidaysburg, PA; nephew, Ken Thomson (Becky), Hollidaysburg, PA; and niece, Penny Willard, Lewistown, PA.

Bud was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lewistown, PA.

Norman was a graduate of Lewistown High School, and he served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 157th Combat Engineers, the longest-serving continuous combat engineering unit of the war (Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes Alsace, Rhineland, Central Europe).  After the war, Bud earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Lafayette College (Easton, PA) in engineering and physics and was Co-captain of the Leopard’s soccer team. He was a research engineer at Armco Stainless Steel in Baltimore, MD, Director of Quality Control Metallurgy at Cyclops Steel in Pittsburgh, PA, Technical Service Director, and recipient of several patents; Plant Manager Bridgeville Plant; Export Sales and Technology; Operation Manager; V.P. Technology 1950-1986 and Sr. V.P. of Operations.  Bud and Phyllis attended the British and French International air shows for 20 consecutive years. After retirement, he did aeronautical metallurgical consulting work for eight years.   Bud and Phyllis had many opportunities for traveling and they visited England, Scotland, France, Germany, and Italy.  They had the great fortune to be in France with all the family for the 50th D-Day Anniversary.  While there, they visited Omaha Beach where Bud had landed during the war.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 p.m., on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Homes, Woodlawn, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown, PA 17044, with Pastor Allen Hulslander officiating.

Private interment will take place in Juniata Memorial Park, Lewistown. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Juniata Valley YMCA, 105 1st Avenue, Burnham, PA 17009. 

Online condolences can be offered to the family at www.hellerhoenstinefuneralhome.com

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