Harry Wherry

Harry A. Wherry Age 94 of Indianapolis, went to his heavenly home on January 8, 2013. He was born in Crestline Ohio on January 19, 1918 to Harry A. Wherry, Sr and Ola Reed Wherry. Harry loved all sports, especially football as he played halfback on his VanWert, Ohio high school team. He joined the Ohio National Guard at age 16 to get $19.00 every 3 months "because it was like finding money", he said He attended Griffin Jr. College in Van Wert, Ohio and graduated with a B.S. degree in business from Mississippi State in 1939. Harry proudly served his country during W.W.II with the United States Navy. Lieutenant Harry Wherry, Jr. was an aviation instructor in Pensacola, Florida before getting reassigned to Traverse City, Michigan where he was introduced to an experimental project in radio-controlled aircraft. Harry was assigned to a mission called "Operation Aphrodite" and its purpose was to use planes as precision guided bombs. He flew the mother ship. On the mission with Harry was Joseph Kennedy Jr., the older brother of John Kennedy, our future President, who was killed on the mission, Harry was discharged in 1945. Harry married Kathleen H. Purvis on May 30, 1942. They celebrated 67 years of marriage before her death from Alzheimer's in June 2009. Harry is survived by his son Robert B. (Lynn) Wherry, daughter Luanne (Gary) Wherry Stover; three grandsons, Mike Wherry, Steve (Stacie) Wherry, Dustin (Megan) Stover and three great granddaughters. Harry was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen and daughter Pamela, two sisters and his parents. Harry was a corrugated box salesman for over 35 years; working for Bell Fibre, Johnston Container and Gardner Box. He retired from Container Service Corp. in Phoenix, AZ. He never knew a stranger and enjoyed his volunteer work with the Lutheran Laymen's League and the Lions Club in Indiana and Arizona. Harry and Kathleen were charter member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church where they enjoyed singing in the choir. He is a member of Advent Lutheran Church Services will be held at Flanner and Buchanan-Oaklawn Memorial Gardens at the Good Shepherd Chapel, 9700 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis, Monday, January 14, 2013 at 1PM, with the visitation from 11 am until the service. Harry's family would like to express their gratitude to all the staff at the Clearwater Commons Assisted Living where he resided for the past 3 years; and to the Great Lakes Caring Hospice Program for their support and comfort to Harry and his family during his illness with COPD. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer's Research Association or to Lutheran Ministries Media, 5 Martin Luther Drive, Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 You are invited to go to the Guest Book page to pass along your personal message or tell a story. Sincerely, -Your friends at Flanner and Buchanan