Elmer Greey

Elmer Greey departed from this life on September 15th, 2020, at 92 years of age. He is the son of Mary (Acuff) Greey and Captain Elmer B. Greey Sr. of Princeton, N.J. He is survived by Gertrude (Pinion) Greey, his wife of almost 68 years. He is preceeded in death by his sister Mary Woody of Columbus, Ohio, and survived by 3 sisters: Barbara Marshall of San Antonio, Texas; Valerie Patience Vrieze of Frostburg, Md., and Charlotte Chrisiti of Lake Hamilton, Arkansas.

He and Gertrude share 5 surviving children, Mary Hickman of Shippensburg, Edward Greey of Berkeley Heights, N. J., Catherine Harruff of Clayton, NY, Elizabeth Shaffer of Wilmington, Delaware, and Martha Duff of Steubenville, Ohio. Additionally, he is survived by 23 grandchildren and 11 great grand children.

Elmer is a veteran of the Korean Conflict. He served on Okinawa with the United State Navy, as a member of the “SeaBees”, the building and construction arm of the US Navy.

As a civilian, Elmer worked as an Executive for the Boy Scouts of America. He worked for 32 years in various capacities, starting in Jamestown, NY; followed by working in Elizabeth, NJ; serving the New York City councils as Boro Executive of Queens; and as Camp Director for Ten Mile River Scout Camps. He served as the Scout Executive of Passaic County, NJ; Deputy Scout Executive of Valley Forge, Pa., and finished his distinguished career as the Northeast Regional Executive Director of Programming. Elmer achieved the rank of Life Scout as a young adult, and served in numerous adult volunteer capacities in retirement. He volunteered with the local Keystone Area Scout Council, and received many recognitions, such as the Silver Beaver and Antelope Awards, Distinguished and Vigil Order of the Arrow Awards, Scouters’ Key and was admitted to the Fellowship Circle for Professionals.

The central focus of his life was his Catholic Faith. He was active throughout his adult life in various parishes. He had a deep appreciation of the sacramental Eucharist and was a student of Marian Apparitions.

He served as a Franklin County Master Gardener and volunteered at the National Arboretum. He was a Lifetime member of the Conifer Society. His interest in woody ornamentals lead to the unique collection of over 1100 plants from miniature to full sized trees. This hobby focused on plants with “four season” attraction, plants in bloom every month, with many variations of colorful foliage. His four acre home was the site of garden tours, pruning clinics, and other horticultural opportunities. Elmer was also a skilled maker of fine furniture and cabinets, and enjoyed fly fishing.

Mass services will be held Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church, Shippensburg with The Father Dwight Schlaline officiating. Burial will be privately held in the Spring Hill Cemetery. A viewing will be held Monday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. with the Rosary service at 6:30 p.m. in the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home & Crematorium, Shippensburg. There will also be a viewing one hour prior to the services at church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Visitation Catholic Church in Shippensburg, or to the New Birth of Freedom Scouting Council of Central Pa. (formally the Keystone Area Council.)

Online condolences may be expressed at www.fogelsanger-brickerfuneralhome.com.