Harold “Hal” Aldwyn Ostrum, 76

August 22, 2022

Harold “Hal” Aldwyn Ostrum, 76, of Camp Hill, PA died on August 22, 2022 at Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Carlisle, PA, after a brave journey through cancer.
He is survived by his loving wife of 24 years, Deborah “Deb” (Mills) Ostrum; three sons – Jeff and his wife Mary Anne Ostrum of Cedar Rapids, IA, Todd and his wife Jennifer Ostrum from Richmond, VA, Scott and his wife Tammy Ostrum of Fredericksburg, VA; as well as three stepsons – Tim and his wife Rebecca O’Neill of Etters, PA, Brian and his wife Christy O’Neill of Mechanicsburg, PA, and Chris O’Neill and Tracy Steele of Shermans Dale, PA.
“Papa Hal” was also grandfather to 13 grandchildren – Mikayla, Heather, Sarah, Rebecca, Matthew, Nathan, Kyle, and Ashton Ostrum – and Joel, Kelly, Derek, Ryan, and Padraig O’Neill.
He is also survived by his sister Karen Ballard and brother Robert Jones; as well as many cousins, nephews, and nieces. He was born on July 15, 1946 in Petoskey, Michigan, and was the son of the late Merlyn A. Ostrum & Betty (King) Jones.
In addition to parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother Ethelyn (Barns) Ostrum, his brother James Ostrum, and sisters Marlyn Catalano and Linda Teichmiller. He was a Navy and Vietnam War veteran, serving with the VP-49 Patrol Squadron and as a Navy recruiter. He was also a member of the Lower Allen VFW Post 7530. He capped off his 12 years of service aboard the USS Spruance (DD-963) from May 1975 to May 1977.
After the Navy, he attended Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University, obtaining degrees in Business Administration. In 1983, he started his civilian career as a supply clerk at the Navy Ships Parts Control Center (SPCC), Mechanicsburg. Through promotions he became a Supply Technician, an Inventory Specialist, a Logistics Management Specialist, and a Supply Systems Analyst. He ended his career as Information Technology Specialist with NAVSISA in 2004; and enjoyed a well-earned retirement with Deb – travelling and visiting with friends and family. Their favorite places to visit were Cape May and Mackinac Island.
When Hal wasn’t wearing Pittsburgh Steelers gear, his “formal” attire consisted of cowboy hats and boots, a bolo tie, and possibly even an embroidered shirt to top the outfit off. Hal loved any multi-functional tool or anything that combined different technologies. He was a quintessential “gadget guy”, always an early adopter of new technology.
A military funeral honors ceremony will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery on September 2, 2022 at 1:30PM, with a reception to follow at his stepson Brian’s house. There will be no viewing or visitation prior to the ceremony. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Memorial Council, Inc. (www.indiantowngapncmc.org) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).
We’ll meet again
Don’t know where, don’t know when
But, I know we’ll meet again, some sunny day
-Vera Lynn