WWII-Vet Obit-HARSHBARGER, John Russell - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The remains of Pvt John Russell Harshbarger, a WWII deceased member of the Army from Hillsboro being returned from overseas for final burial will arrive within the next month accompanied by a uniformed army escort from the Chicago Distribution Center of the American Graves Registrationi DIvision. The body of Pvt. Harshbarger was interred in the El Alia temporary military cemetery in Algiers, but has been returned to this country for final interment at the request of his next of kin, Mr. Lester Harshbarger, the father, residing near Hillsboro.   --- kbz

Final tribute was paid to Pvt. John Russell Harshbarger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Harshbarger, first WWII dead of Hillsboro to be returned home from foreign fields of burial. The body ws interred in the El Alia

temporary cemetery in Algiers, North Africa. The casket was accompanied here last Thursday by a uniformed army escort. The body remained at the Crumley Funeral Home in HIllsboro until Sunday afternoon when a military service was held at the Hillsboro Methodist Church. Hillsboro Memorial Post American Legion was in charge with George Janeway as commander. The Rev. HJ Hunsinger, Chrsitian minister of Wingate officiated. Appropriate organ music was played by Mrs. Mildred Cooper. The pall bearers were Legionaires: Charles Shade; Harlan Spicer; Sam Janewaay; Herman Allen; Charles Donham and Joe Newman. Those assisting with the flowers were members of his graduating class and members of the Legion Auxiliary and were: Ileen Simmons, Crawfordsville; Mary Alice Ratcliff, Kingman; Evelyn Hall, Attica; Hilda Harding, Indianapolis; Elouise Shade, Mary Newman, Bernice DeFloria, Ruth Marie Templeton, Phoebe Humphreys; Mary Reynolds; Gwelda Johnson; Julia Kay;; Ileen Lighty; Dorothy Scott; Helen

Donham and Thelma Maudlin.The Legion Post marched from the funeral home to the church with the funeral cortege.  Maurice H. Williams conducted the military services at the Liberty Cemetery north east of Waynetown with the service concluded by the firing squad under the command of Marion B. Cooper and "Taps" by Bob Lighty; Charles Humphrey was commander of the color guard. The large flag which had covered the casket ws presented to Pvt. Harshbarger's mother. Pvt. John Russell Harshbarger, son of Lester and Reta Harshbarger, was born January 15, 1919, 9 miles NW of Waynetown, Indian. Pvt Harshbarger attended the Waynetown public school and later graduated from Hillsboro HS with the

class of 1939.  He also attended Danville State Normal College, Danville, Indiana.