Committal Service for Husband and Wife
Henry E. and Ruth M. Wise
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 11:00am Graveside (Section 30 Lot 4 Grave 1A)
Henry “Hank” Edgar Wise passed away on September 8, 2011 at Colestock Center in Quincy Village, PA. Born November 9, 1922 in Utica, NY, Mr. Wise was 88 years of age. He was the oldest of four children born to John Edgar Wise and Anne Bevan with one surviving brother, John Arthur Wise, of Marcy, NY. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 66 years, Ruth May Hannah Wise, his brother, Robert Allen Wise, and sister, Marjorie Anne Wise Ryan.
Mr. Wise earned a B.S. in Meteorology from the University of Chicago in 1944. In 1947 he completed his M.A. in Mathematics Education from Columbia University.
During World War II (1943-1946), he was a meteorologist in what was then the Air Weather Service, Eighth Air Force, United States Army Air Forces. He served in the European Theater of Operations as well as the Continental United States.
In civilian life, Mr. Wise taught high school mathematics in New York state from1947 to 1949. He then moved on to a lengthy career as a meteorologist with what was then the U.S. Weather Bureau (now the National Weather Service), starting in 1949 and serving in Bakersfield, CA, Detroit, MI, Boston, MA, Syracuse, NY, and finally Washington, DC.
Mr. Wise retired from the government in 1978 and, together with his wife, Ruth, moved into a log home they built by themselves in Woodstock, VA.
Mr. & Mrs. Wise relocated to Quincy Village in 1992.
They were long-time members of the Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild, and attended many State and National Conventions all over the United States, including Alaska, through the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) for Airstream owners. They were active in Region 3 (the Northern Virginia unit) and Region 2 (the Central Pennsylvania unit).
Ruth May Hannah Wise went home to her Lord on June 28, 2011 at Colestock Center in Quincy Village, PA. Born January 19, 1921 in Mt Pleasant, RI, Mrs. Wise was 90 years of age. She was the daughter of Herbert Hannah and Edith Hall Grove.
She earned a degree from Rhode Island College in Providence, RI. Later she earned a Masters in Library Science from Syracuse University. She worked as an elementary school librarian in Cicero, New York. While in Washington, she was employed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Gaithersburg, MD. She then moved on to serve as a contract employee of the Department of the Interior in Washington. She finished her professional librarian career as a Federal employee of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
During World War II, she helped assemble aircraft for Chance Vought.
Survivors of both Mr. and Mrs. Wise include two sons; Gareth Alan (and Jo Ann) Wise of York, PA and Robert Peter Wise of Reno, NV, three daughters; Susan Ruth Wise (Mrs. William Henry) Turner of South Egremont, MA, Beth Ann Wise (Mrs. Joseph William) Whitford of Lorton, VA, and Ellen Jane Wise of Altamonte Springs, FL. Mrs. Wise had three grandsons, two granddaughters and one great granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that contributions to the Quincy Village Benevolence Fund be considered.
Arrangements are by Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com
