"Another member of the greatest generation slipped the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God”, Harry J. “Pat” Hershey, 95, of Holton, KS passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. He was born January 23, 1921 in Belvue, KS, the son of Harry F. and Olive Louise Van Horn Hershey.

Pat graduated from Westmoreland High School in 1938 and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Kansas State University in 1947 and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII. Pat was in the 401 Bomber Group as a B-17 Bomber Pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for 25 successful missions. He had worked for Hixson and Lehenbauer Construction in Topeka. He had also worked for the State of Kansas and for G.W. Baker Construction.

Pat was a past member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holton, where he served as Deacon, Trustee and Elder. He later joined the Evangel United Methodist Church in Holton. He was a member of Holton Masonic Lodge #42 and the Golfer’s and Jester’s units of the Arab Temple Shrine in Topeka. He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post #44 and V.F.W. Post #1367, both in Holton. Pat was also a former member of the Rotary Club and Lions Club in Holton. He was a member of the Holton Country Club since the summer of 1954. Pat was a lifelong fan and supporter of K-State.

He was married to Betty Louise DeVolld July 27, 1943 in Topeka, KS. Betty passed away August 26, 1989. He was also preceded in death by his sisters; Marilyn Shehi and Phyllis Rezac and his grandson, Gregory Shaffer.

Pat is survived by his daughters, Susan Hershey of Plover, WI, Jean Williams of Overland Park, KS and Linda Shaffer and her husband Bob of Cascade, CO; his son, Joe D. Hershey of Holton, KS; his sister, Dorothy Boettcher of Bothell, WA; his grandchildren, David Hartman and his wife Anne, Heather Hartman, and Patrick Williams and his wife Heather; and his great-grandchildren, Christopher Hutcherson, Michael Robbins, Madeleine Hartman, Nicholas Hartman and Nicholas Williams.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. The family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow in the Holton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Shriners Hospitals for Children or Pennsylvania Place c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.