Bernard E. Belknap

Bernard E. Belknap of Honesdale died Monday evening, December 16^th, 2019 at his home. Born on August 28^th, 1924 at the family home on Terrace Street, he was the son and last surviving member of the Russell and Florence (Johannes) Belknap family. He was educated in the Honesdale schools and Penn State University. As a teenager he worked various jobs before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1943, where he participated in the Saipan, Tinian operations and later the assault and capture of Okinawa, where he was wounded and merited a Purple Heart Medal. After three and a half years and attaining the rank of Sergeant he was honorably discharged and awarded the Good Conduct Medal. He gained employment with his father in carpentry before being selected to be the Operator of the Sewage Treatment Plant and then Director of Public Works, Sewage Enforcement Officer. He retired in 1988.

After arriving home from the service, he played baseball in the Delaware Valley League and was voted Most Valuable Player in 1947. Later he umpired games and was voted Best Umpire for three consecutive years.

In St. Mary Magdalen Church, he married Veramae Monington on October 11^th, 1947 by the late Rev. Linus Fricker. They have one daughter, Patricia, married to Kent Norman who live in Sewickley, Pa, one granddaughter Jessica Norman of Seattle, Washington.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Marie Garrett, Jean Carney, Etzie O’Connell and two brothers Myron and Albert and one nephew, William Belknap.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 20^th at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Honesdale at 10 am.  Interment with military honors will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Honesdale.  Friends may visit Hessling Funeral Home, Inc., 428 Main St. Honesdale on Thursday, 4 to 7.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the donor’s favorite charity.