Harry D. Helsel

Harry David Helsel, age 96, former resident of Wells Tannery passed away Sunday, November 19, at The Village of Morrisons Cove where he has resided the past five years.

Harry was born in Wells Township on February 24, 1927, the son of the late Harry and Eva Lowery Barton Helsel. 

He is survived by his wife of 78 years, Mary E. Parlier Helsel, whom he married on August 5, 1945, in Hustontown, PA. He is also survived by a daughter and three sons: Rena Ritchey and her husband Delbert of Stewartstown; Joseph and his wife Trudy of Wells Tannery; Byron and his wife Janis of Wells Tannery; and David and his wife Beth of Richland, PA. In addition, Harry is survived by nine grandchildren, one step-granddaughter: sixteen great grandchildren, and one great step-granddaughter.

Harry was preceded in death by all of his siblings, brother George, stepbrothers Walter and Roy Barton and sisters:  Elda Siler, Vesta Marquart, Alice Hann, and Lelia Decker.

In 1944, Harry graduated from Robert Smith High School.  Following graduation, he became a power shovel operator at local coal mines. In 1945 he was inducted into the U.S. Army and was stationed in occupied Germany from February 1946 to December 1946 serving in close proximity to the Nuremberg Trials. For his service to his country, he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Following his military service, Harry spent his working career operating heavy equipment.  During his later working years, he mainly operated cranes, building pipelines, dams, and bridges. After retiring in 1989, Harry enjoyed working in his metal shop.  With his welding skills he was able to fabricate and repair many items (including farm implements, furniture, log splitters, along with inside and outside wood stoves). He was also called upon by neighbors to do digging with his Kubota backhoe or to “smell” for water when people would be drilling wells.

Harry also used his retirement years to travel with various family members.  His travels included trips with Mary to Nashville, Dollywood, Graceland, and on to Texas to visit a grandson.  Other trips to visit family took them to New England and the Boston area and New Jersey.  He and Mary especially liked to go camping with their son and daughter-in-law at Frontier Town in Ocean City, MD.  Other family members joined them at the campground to help create cherished memories. 

Another favorite pastime for Harry was taking Mary out to eat at various restaurants.  They did this several times a week before Harry had to give up driving. They would usually go in his Ford pickup.  Harry was a Ford man most his life. Harry was a member of the American Legion and the International Union of Operating Engineers for over fifty years.

A public funeral service will be held at 11 am Saturday December 2 at the Presbyterian Church in Wells Tannery. The funeral will be followed by interment at the Presbyterian cemetery in Wells Valley.  Friends are invited to a visitation from 10:30 am to 11 am at the church.  

Arrangements by Akers Funeral Home, 299 Raystown Road, Everett.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.akersfuneralhome.com

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