Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Behney, Thomas A. June 2010 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon S. M. shabodeho@aol.com June 28, 2010, 11:56 pm Published in Lebanon Daily News on June 27, 2010 Thomas A. Behney Attorney Thomas A. Behney LEBANON Thomas A. Behney was born July 9, 1931, to the late Donald A. and Alice H. Behney. He was married to Sally O'Neill Behney, who died June 16, 2000. He was married to the former Elaine C. Messersmith in September 2006, who survives him. Mr. Behney was a graduate of that remarkable Class of 1949 at Lebanon High School, where he also served as President of the Hi-Y. He attended Lafayette College and graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with the Class of 1954. After several years of employment, he then attended Dickinson School of Law and graduated with the Class of 1964 where he was awarded the Juris Doctorate Degree. In his senior year at law school, he was awarded the prestigious Law Week Award for the most satisfactory scholastic progress in his senior year. He was admitted to practice before the Several Courts of Lebanon County and was also admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He was a Trustee in Bankruptcy for many years and was admitted to practice before the United States Middle District Court of Pennsylvania. For many years, he was an Assistant Attorney General for Pennsylvania working in the area of Worker's Compensation. Mr. Behney founded the Young Lawyers Association of the Lebanon County Bar in 1965 and was its president for seven years. He was also President of the Lebanon County Bar Association for two years and served as Co-Editor of the Lebanon County Legal Journal for over 30 years. He also founded the Lebanon Valley Alumni Club for Franklin and Marshall College and served briefly on the F&M Alumni Council. Mr. Behney had been an active member of St. Mary's Parish and was President of the then Pastor's Advisory Council in 1971 and 1972. He also served as President of the Holy Name Society of St. Mary's Parish. The late Bishop Daley had appointed him a member of the Bishop's Advisory Committee in 1970. He was a member of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church (St. Mary's), as well as the Church of St. Cecilia in Lebanon. He was the founder and President of Lebanon Valley Catholic Home, Inc., a Continuing Care Retirement Community, located on Oak Street in North Cornwall Township, which is known as Heritage Commons. Mr. Behney was politically active as a Republican Committeeman in the First Ward of the City and after he moved out of the City, in North Cornwall Township. He was a member of the Republican Executive Committee and a Director of the Lincoln Republican Club. In 1972, he won election as Commissioner of Lebanon County and served three consecutive terms and served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for seven years. During his tenure as Commissioner, he was also elected as Vice President and later President of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Commissioners serving in 1977 and 1978. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Association of County Commissioners in 1978 and 1979. During his term as Commissioner of Lebanon County, the two year waiting list for entrance into Cedar Haven was resolved when this nursing facility was expanded by nearly 50 percent. In addition, a nearby facility for the severely mentally and physically disabled was constructed which was originally known as the Life Support but now is known as the Renova Center. Likewise, the Commissioners were responsible for the Veterans Amphitheater at Coleman's Park and a new prison was constructed to replace the century old, overcrowded prison that was located immediately adjacent to the Municipal Building. Mr. Behney was active in various community organizations having been a member of the Society of Crippled Children and Adults of Lebanon County, which later became the Easter Seal Society of which he served as President. He was their solicitor for over 20 years. He was a member of the Boy Scouts Executive Committee and served as solicitor for the Friends of Camp Bashore. He was the solicitor for many years of the Independent Fire Company of Lebanon. He was the founder and longtime President of the Lebanon County Retired Employees Association. He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas A. Behney, Jr. on July 7, 1990. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Erdman, and his brother, Donald A. Behney, Jr., as well as a sister, Mary B. Erickson. He is survived by his daughter, Mary B. Ostien, wife of Steven Ostien, and a grandson, E. Thomas Ostien, of Berwyn, Pa. The mother of his children, Nancy S. Behney, also survives. He is survived by his stepdaughter, Linda Wells, wife of Joel Wells, and a stepgrandson, Jamie Wells, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; and stepson, Andrew J. Kreider, husband of Anita Kreider of Mechanicsburg. He is also survived by stepdaughter, Lori Messersmith-Brandt, son, Paul, and a daughter, Regan, and stepdaughter, Kate Tshudy, her husband, David Tshudy, Esq., and their two sons, Luke and Ian, both of whom are residents of Lebanon. Tom will be remembered for his humor, as well as his rose garden. He was extremely thankful for all the assistance in his final days by his loving wife, Elaine. Funeral arrangements are pending. Thompson Funeral Home, Inc., Lebanon, is in charge of the arrangements. Published in Lebanon Daily News on June 27, 2010 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb