Henry Dan Balcom, 93

November 16, 2025

Henry Dan Balcom, 93, entered into rest on November 16, 2025, at his home in Lancaster. Born in Cuba, NY, he was the son of the late Henry D. Balcom and Mary E. Lester Balcom. His father worked for the Erie Railroad and was promoted and relocated several times. Hank’s early education took place in a two-room schoolhouse in Bear Lake, PA. His junior high and initial high school years were in Salamanca, NY. He completed his senior year at Huntington High School in Huntington, IN, graduating in 1949.

After high school, he attended business college in Fort Wayne, IN, but left at the age of 18 to join the Army following the start of the Korean War. After completing infantry basic training at Fort Breckinridge, KY, with the 101st Airborne Division, he was sent to the Seventh Army Headquarters in Germany as a typist assigned to a message center. He was cleared to handle secret material and was later promoted to Staff Sergeant. While in Europe, he toured 10 different countries. After three years of service, he was discharged in 1953 and returned to finish college using the G.I. Bill.

His greatest achievement during that time was meeting a lovely girl named Shirley, also a student, who later became his wife. They were married at the Bedford Presbyterian Church near Maysville, IN, and shared nearly 70 wonderful years together.

Hank began his accounting career with General Motors in Flint, Michigan. His career also took him to Fort Wayne, IN; Elma, NY; and with RCA in Cambridge, Ohio; Caldwell, NJ; and Brunswick, Maine. He retired from RCA in 1992 after 27 years of service. He later worked two years for the U.S. Army at Fort Indiantown Gap and 10 years part-time at Manheim Auto Auction.

One of Hank’s hobbies was collecting presidential political items and visiting their birthplaces and libraries. He and Shirley traveled to all 49 continental states, Europe, and took seasonal fishing trips to Canada. He was also deeply interested in American history, especially the Civil War, and attended many lectures and battlefield sites. Another passion was family genealogy, through which he discovered three close relatives who served in the Civil War.

Hank was a longtime member of the Leola United Methodist Church. Other memberships included VFW Post 3376 in Ephrata, American Legion Post 34 in Lancaster, the Heritage Foundation, and the Republican National Committee.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley, and three children: Charlotte Boas, wife of Joe; Henry Balcom, husband of Dawn; and Brian Balcom, husband of Barbara. He is also survived by his grandchildren Henry Balcom III, Charles Balcom, Joe Boas, Cory Boas, and Grace Balcom; and great-grandchildren Chase and Landon. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings Leigh, Charlotte, Mary Jo, and Hazel.

If desired, memorial contributions may be made in Hank’s honor to the Education Endowment Fund at Leola United Methodist Church, 7 West Main Street, Leola, PA 17540.

At his request services will be held privately and at the convenience of family. Hank will be laid to rest at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.