Paul Piper

Paul William Piper, Sr., 80, of Newville, died Saturday, June 17, 2023 in the Green Ridge Village after suffering a stroke on Sunday, May 28.

Born August 31, 1942 in Shippensburg, Cumberland County, he was a son of the late Wilbur J., Sr. and Tressa E. Earley Piper.

Since birth, Paul was a member of and attended the Leesburg United Methodist Church, Shippensburg. He retired from the Big Spring School District in 2005 where he worked in maintenance and grounds-keeping for over 30 years. Paul attended the Shippensburg Area Senior High School. Paul was enlisted in the United States Army from 1964-1966 when he then received an honorable discharge. Paul loved nature and the outdoors; he enjoyed gardening – especially mowing his grass, camping – where he and Edna traveled to almost every state park in PA, hunting and spending time at his family cabin in Lower Horse Valley. He also enjoyed woodworking – making many special pieces for family members, collecting and working on his John Deere tractors, playing cards with his kids and grandkids – who he never “let” win, and watching western movies. In addition to his parents, Paul was preceded in death by his brothers, Wilbur Piper Jr and Dale Piper, and his sisters, Betty Durf and Jean Thomas.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Edna P. Graham Piper whom he married May 30, 1964, his daughter, Carmen R. Piper Jones and her husband William F. Jones Jr. of Shippensburg and his son Paul W. Piper Jr. and his wife Sherry L. Heberlig Piper of Newburg, five grandchildren and their spouses, Jennifer R. Jones Spratt (Brian) of Pittsburgh, Tyler W. Jones (Genevieve) of Carlisle, Brandon D. Jones (Corinne) of Pittsburgh, Cecilia M. Piper Scott (Tyler) of Newburg, and Leah E. Piper Carey (Taylor) of Shippensburg. He also has three great-grandchildren, Christian P. Carey, and newborns Jude W. Jones and Amelia J. Spratt, both of whom he never met but will watch from Heaven.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 22, 2023 in the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home Inc., Shippensburg at 10:30 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. Officiating will be Pastor Gary Hornbaker. Burial will military honors conducted by the Minutemen of the American Legion Post #223 will be in Cumberland Valley Memorial Gardens. A viewing will be held Wednesday evening, June 21 from 5-7 p.m. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shippensburg First Church of God, 121 E. King St., Shippensburg, PA 17257 or Newburg United Methodist Church, 203 N. High St., Newburg, PA 17240.

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