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Lawrence E. Boellhoff Selinsgrove, PA QCWA # 13868 Chapter 119 |
Lawrence Earl Boellhoff, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, at the Geisinger Medical Center's Pavilion, Danville. Lawrence was born July 16, 1926, in Shelby, Ohio, a son of the late Zorada Lois (Pittenger) and Louis Earl Boellhoff. He attended Shelby schools, participating in the school band, the radio club, and an extracurricular dance band. In 1942, the family moved to Wilkinsburg, where he concealed his age and enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. He served as a radioman on submarines and submarine tenders until the end of World War II when he was discharged and moved to Sunbury, where his parents resided. After a short period of time as a civilian, he joined the Army, entering as a second lieutenant. Shortly after entering the army, he married Toisie L. Kramer, Lewisburg, and their next decades were spent living in Washington, D.C. and in many European and Asian countries including Saudi Arabia. Returning to Washington D.C., he was assigned to the code room at the White House where he served until his retirement with the rank of captain. Following retirement, he and Toisie moved to Toano, Va., where they lived until moving to Selinsgrove in 2009. In 2012, his beloved Toisie passed on and Lawrence became a resident at GraysonView, Selinsgrove, and later, The Village at Penn Manor, Selinsgrove. From childhood on, Lawrence pursued his interest in ham radio. He was a member of the radio club in Toano, participated in many field days and emergency trials over the years, and was a state examiner for people taking examinations for a radio license. He was also active in his church, St. Olaf's in Toano. Lawrence was a 4th. Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of the American Legion. He made many contributions to organizations helping veterans and to charities aiding children.
Lawrence is survived by his sister, Dr. Carol Giesen, of Selinsgrove; and many nieces and nephews, including Mark Lawrence Giesen, of Northumberland, Fritz Giesen, of Sunbury, Jim Frey, of Grantville, Stephanie Sell, Marlton, of New Jersey, Darcy Richards, of Frederick, Md., and Holly Giesen, of Olney, Md.
A viewing will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Selinsgrove, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from 10 to 11 a.m. with the Rev. Daniel F.X. Powell as celebrant. Interment will follow in Orchard Hills Cemetery, Shamokin Dam. Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors organization or to St. Pius X Catholic Church. Arrangements are by the V.L. Seebold Funeral Home, 601 N. High St., Selinsgrove.