Raymond H. Burtner

Raymond Henry Burtner, 95 of Carlisle died Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at Thornwald Home in Carlisle. He was born April 19, 1915 at Flora Dale, Adams County to Lemuel Austin and Annie Eliza (Deardorf) Burtner. He was the widower of Janet Flora (Delp) Burtner, who died in 1966 and Rita (Krouse) Burtner who died on January 6, 2011. He is survived by his daughter, Ann Travis and her husband, Harold of Gardners, three grandchildren: Matthew (Ruth) Travis of New Market, MD, Laura (Lou) Leskosky of Ramsey, NJ and Harold (Jan) Travis of Carlisle; and four great-grandchildren: Louis and Julia Leskosky, Peyton Travis and Audrey Travis. He is also survived by three stepchildren: George C. Holland (Susan) of Snellville, GA, Sandra Orlando and Georgann Beatty of Pensacola, FL and their families. He is also survived by one nephew, Roger L. Burtner, his wife Carol and their daughter Pam of Anaheim, CA. In addition to his wives, he was predeceased by his brother, Bruce L. Burtner (Bernetta Quigle) and his sister, Dorothy Rice (Rev. John H.). Raymond was a proud 1993 graduate of Biglerville High School and a 1937 graduate of Shippensburg State Teachers College. He also completed graduate work at Duke University. A US Army veteran of WWII, he served in the Philippines in 1944 and 1945. He earned three Bronze Stars while serving in the Asian Pacific Theatre. As 1st Sergeant he also continued his service in the US Army Reserves in Carlisle until his retirement in 1975. He taught school in the last one room school in South Middleton Twp. School District at Uriah School, before spending several years teaching Social Studies at Boiling Springs High School. After he returned from WWII he worked for the Veterans Administration in Wilkes Barre, at the US Army War College in Carlisle and at the Naval Supply Depot at Mechanicsburg. He was a member of Cumberland Star Lodge #197 F AM Carlisle; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Harrisburg, Zembo Shrine AAONMS, Harrisburg; Cumberland York County Shrine Clubs; Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Harrisburg Forest #43; National Sojourners, Harrisburg Chapter #76; The American Legion, Mechanicsburg; The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Carlisle and the Elks Lodge, Carlisle. He was a former member of First Lutheran Church, Carlisle. His enjoyment of hunting and fishing spanned his whole life and he shared that love with many friends and his family. Raymond and Rita had spent their winters in Florida for many years, staying in the Winter Haven area. Professional services are being handled by Dugan Funeral Home, Inc. Services will be held Monday, March 14 at Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4200 Carlisle Road, Gardners at 10:00 AM with Reverend Kenneth G. Swick officiating. Interment will be in the National Cemetery in Gettysburg with a reception immediately following at the church. There will be a viewing on Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Dugan Funeral Home, 111 South Main Street, Bendersville. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or Project SHARE Food Bank, 5 North Orange Street, Suite 4, Carlisle, PA 17013.