Pauline H. (Hendershot) Reece

Pauline H. Reece, 91, of Pinehurst, NC, passed away on Monday, January 7th, 2013. She was born Friday, June 17th, 1921 at her family home in Brush Creek Township, Fulton County, a daughter of the late William Clyde Hendershot and Maude M. (Spade) Hendershot Akers. On January 16, 1946 she married John L. "Jack" Reece who passed away on March 3rd, 1971. Survived by their children, Rockford M. Reece, and wife Kathryn M. Reece, of New Bloomfield, Missouri Rae (Reece) Williams and husband Jerry O. Williams, of Pinebluff, North Carolina Stephanie Reece Covahey, of York, Pennsylvania 2 grandchildren, Jesse L. Reece and Jennifer L. Williams, a sister, Mabel Clark, of Big Pool, Maryland and several nieces and nephews and their families In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in passing away by a sister Virginia (Akers) Shanholtz and a brother Wayne Akers. Mrs. Reece was a lifelong member of the McKendree United Methodist Church. She grew up on her family farm in Crystal Spring, Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Warfordsburg High School, attending and graduating from nursing school in Cumberland, Maryland. Pauline first worked as an industrial nurse for Kelly-Springfield Tire Company in Cumberland until enlisting in the United States Army Nurse Corps during World War II, serving as a Lieutenant Nurse Anesthetist in the South-East Asian Theatre, spending 22 months in the Burma Campaign, supporting injured troops of General Joseph Stillwell. It was in Burma that she met her future husband Jack, a C-47 navigator who was awarded two Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying "The Hump," a Himalayan mountain range delivering military aircraft and supplies from India to China. Upon returning to the states, Pauline and Jack married and settled down in Omaha, Nebraska where Pauline continued her nursing career while raising three children and caring for their many pet cats and dogs. Later moving to St. Louis and Chicago, she and her husband enjoyed square dancing; bowling and a love of New Orleans jazz and each other. Following Jack's untimely passing in 1971, Pauline moved to Baltimore where she spent the next 39 years raising her youngest daughter and fulfilling her nursing career goals as the Clinical Director of United Health Maintenance until retiring in the early 1980's. There she was an active member of the China-Burma-India Veterans Association and Parkville Maryland VFW Post #9083. Moving to Pinehurst North Carolina in 2010 to be close to her daughter following an elevator accident, Pauline learned a whole new "southern way of life", making new friends and continued her involvement with the VFW at Post #9604 in Pinehurst. Pauline's last days were spent at Fox Hollow Senior Living where she and her chubby black and white cat named Missy made many lasting friendships. In earlier years, she traveled extensively throughout in the United States and visited Europe on more than one occasion. She was fortunate to be loved by most everyone she met, and lived to see her three children "come in to their own" and share in the delight and love of two exceptional grandchildren who adored her. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 15th, 2013 at 1:00 pm in the Chapel at Dalla Valle Funeral Service, 22 West Main Street, Everett, PA 15537 with Pastor Debi Decker officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 11:00 am until the hour of service and share memories online at www.dallavalle-everett.com. Burial will be held at McKendree Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the Everett Honor Guard. Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of Pauline to The Foundation of FirstHealth, Fox Hollow Senior Living or the VFW Post of your choice.

Visitation Details

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013 11:00am - 1:00pm, Dalla Valle Funeral Home

Service Information

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013 1:00pm, Dalla Valle Funeral Home

Interment Details

McKendree Cemetery

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pauline H. (Hendershot) Reece, please visit our floral store.