COLUMBUS
Our dear father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Harlan F. Lohr, 92, of Columbus left us Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, to be with his beloved wife, Ethel Louise Boxman.
Their reunion in Heaven will be celebrated by everyone that knew them.
Born Jan. 11, 1924, he was the son of Gottlieb and Bertha Lohr, both of whom preceded him in death.
From grades 1 through 6, he attended the two-room Sweet Ireland School. For grades 7 and 8, Harlan attended St. Peter’s Lutheran School, where he started to notice Ethel. From there, he graduated from Columbus High School.
Before leaving for the service, he went to work for Reeves Pulley Co. In the service, he served in the United States Ninth Air Force, IX Troop Carrier Command, 52nd Troop Carrier Wing, 61st Troop Carrier Group, 59th Troop Carrier Squadron. During his time in the U.S. Army Air Force, he was stationed in Casablanca, North Africa; Kouran, Tunisia; Licata, Sciattia Sicily; Grantham, England; and Abbeyville, France; and various posts in the United States. During his time in Sicily, a 150-pound bomb dropped within three feet of him and his buddies. It was ticking but never went off. God was with him this time as well as his entire life.
After the war, Harlan returned to Reeves Pulley Co. and married Ethel in June 1945. They had two children, David (Carolyn) Lohr and Diane (Bob) Crissinger. In 1952, after a trip to Texas and Mexico, Ethel contracted polio. Eventually she was moved to a clinic in Warm Springs, Georgia, the same place that President Franklin D. Roosevelt went for treatment. After partial recovery, she returned to Columbus in a wheelchair for the rest of her life, to be with her family, leading a fulfilling life as mother and housewife, cooking, sewing and raising African Violets.
In the following years they took many vacations, including one where Harlan pushed Ethel in her wheelchair around the Houston Astrodome. There were no obstacles for them.
After Ethel’s passing Nov. 12, 1993, Harlan concentrated on his family and enjoying every opportunity to be with them. When once asked if he would ever remarry he said, “Me get married again? Never! I could never love another person like I did Ethel. I do not want to erase any memories.”
Other survivors include his grandchildren, Ryan (Jessica) Crissinger, Dena (Keith) Oitpoby, Kim (Dan) Acres and Kris (Dave) Hastings; and great-grandchildren, Cassie (Spencer) Hamm, Morgan Johns, Katie and Justin Hastings, Avanleigh, Vivienne and Evelynn Crissinger, and Alison, Emmalee and Elizabeth Otipoby.
Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Gladys Finke and Agnes Niemoeller.
The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Myers-Reed Chapel on 25th Street with Pastor Mark R. Teike officiating. Burial, with graveside military rites performed by the Bartholomew County Honor Guard, will follow at Garland Brook Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. until time of service Friday.
Memorials may be given to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at myers-reed.com.