Elwood F. Umbenhauer

Elwood F Umbenhauer, 100 years old, passed away on October 24 at Geisinger St Luke hospital, surrounded by his family. Elwood was born in Pottsville on April 15, 1923, son of Francis and Violet (Lord) Umbenhauer. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sister Ruth Umbenhauer Bertsch and her husband Harry. Elwood was an Air Force veteran of WW II and served in Europe for 26 months. After his military service he married his beloved wife Anna, who passed away in 2022. They were married just a few months shy of 75 years. Elwood and Anna shared their family home for 67 years. He became the neighborhood expert on the original home coal stoker equipment, and was the last of the original home homeowners. He always had ongoing home projects, and enjoyed gardening and growing flowers outside and having cut flowers on the table. Elwood and Anna enjoyed camping, and vacations were often an extended family event where planning generally included ‘We’ll come too”. Everyone was always welcome. As a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church in Pottsville, Elwood served in various capacities including deacon, trustee and most importantly the unofficial handyman, being familiar with every square inch of the church building. Elwood was employed by Bell Telephone and its subsequent corporate entities for 35 years, starting as a coin box collector and retiring as the chief switchman in the Pottsville central office. He was a very active member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, a service organization comprised of long-term telephone employees. One area of public service was repairing and maintaining the cassette players (Talking Books) provided by the public libraries so sight-impaired individuals could listen to books on tape. Elwood and colleagues got together regularly in his basement to clean and repair thousands of these cassette players. Another activity involved fitting various toys with electronic switches and controls to enable physically disabled children to play and provide them with visual and mental stimulation. The group also developed templates and painted large maps of the United States on local school playgrounds to help children learn the states and their locations within our country. Elwood is survived by a son, Rob Umbenhauer and his wife Deb and a daughter Diane and her husband Bill Schaefer, a grandson Andy Schaefer and his wife Naomi Clayman, a granddaughter Emily Schaefer, and the family cats, Jasmine and Nellie, that he enjoyed so much. He is also survived by nephews Hal and Dean Bertsch and their extended families, as well as numerous other nieces and nephews with whom he was very close. Services for Elwood will be 11AM, Monday, October 30, at James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville. As per Elwood’s wishes, the family requests that friends not wear black to the service. Family and friends are invited to a viewing from 10AM until the time of services. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Elwood be made to First Baptist Church, 701 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, PA 17901 or the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W Market Street, Pottsville, PA 17901 (pottsvillelibrary.org). Interment with military honors will be held at the convenience of the family. Please share your memories and condolences with Elwood’s family signing the guest book at www.jehumphreyfuneralhome.com