OBIT: Claude A. SHELBAER, Staff Sgt., 1940, native of Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
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CLAUDE A. SHELBAER

Sgt. Shelbaer Laid to Rest in Berlin Cemetery

  With impressive military rites the body of Sgt. Claude A. Shelbaer, of 
Hempstead, N.Y., one of 11 army air corps men to meet death in the collision of 
two army bombers over New York City on June 17, was laid to rest in the I.O.O.F. 
Cemetery in Berlin on Friday afternoon.
  Services were held in the Johnson Funeral Home by the Rev. R. C. Ehrheart, 
pastor of the Berlin Methodist Church.  Six of his former Berlin High School 
classmates were pallbearers.
  Harry Fisher Post 445 American Legion, at Berlin had a firing squad.  The 
funeral cortege left the Johnson Funeral Home and traveled down Main Street to 
the cemetery.
  At this time Al K. Young, Somerset and Johnstown pilot, started to encircle 
Berlin with his plane.  Following the salute at the cemetery, the airplane 
lowered to 200 feet above the grave and dropped flowers.
  The floral tribute was picked up by those attending and placed on the grave.
  Several hundred friends of the late Sgt. Shelbaer attended the burial 
ceremonies and the funeral procession was one of the longest processions ever 
remembered in Berlin.
  A military escort was headed by Staff Sgt. Charles Yoder, of Somerset, who is 
stationed at Mitchell Field, L.I., where the late Sgt. Shelbaer was stationed 
prior to his untimely death.  The two were close friends and enlisted in the 
service at the same time.
  The late Sgt. Shelbaer spent 10 years in the air corps, three of which were 
spent in Panama and seven at Mitchell Field, L.I.  In his rating he was a 
bombadier, expert gunner and flight engineer.  He was a graduate of Berlin High 
School.
  In addition to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Shelbaer of Diamond Street, 
Berlin, Sgt. Shelbaer is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ida (Vencini) Shelbaer, and 
a daughter, Lois Ann, both of Hemstead, N.Y.
  Also surviving are a brother, Sgt. Ross Shelbaer, who is now on his way to a 
new station in Hawaii, and one sister, Mrs. H. T. Needham of San Antonio, Tex.

Meyersdale Republican, June 27, 1940