Sears H. Sickler, Jr., 92

Sears H. Sickler, Jr., 92, passed away on April 7 at St. Anne’s Retirement Community, Columbia, PA, where he had lived with his wife, Claire Maher Sickler, since June 2007.  They had previously resided on N. Pine Street in Lancaster City and would have celebrated their 68^th wedding anniversary in August.

Sears was born on January 12, 1916 in Philadelphia, PA.  He was the son of Sears H. Sickler and Lavina Dressler.  He served in the U.S. Navy in WWII and was stationed in the North Pacific Aleutian Area, specifically Kodiak, Alaska.

He had a life-long career with Armstrong World Industries and retired in 1979 after 43 years of service. Upon retirement, Sears worked as a consultant for Forbo, Inc. and as a real estate agent for the former C.L. Cibos.

He especially enjoyed furniture restoration, employing many of the skills and crafts he learned from his father who had owned a furniture store in Lancaster City in the 1920’s.  In his youth, Sears was an avid swimmer and golfer and sang in the St. James Episcopal Church Choir.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Claire Maher Sickler, and four children; a son, William J. Sickler, husband of Tracee Sickler of Leola, PA and three daughters, Helen A. Sickler, Lancaster, Eileen C. Sickler, partner of Sarah Willard of Burlington, MA, and Mary T. (Sickler) Low, wife of Richard C. Low of Lancaster. Sears is also survived by three grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at St. Anne’s Retirement Community Chapel, 3952 Columbia Avenue, Columbia, Thursday, April 10 at 11:00 am.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and are invited to a lunch immediately following the service.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sears’ memory to St. Anne Retirement Community, 3952 Columbia Avenue, Columbia, PA  17512 or to Lancaster Area Meals on Wheels, 1085-B Manheim Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601.  Arrangements by the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, Lancaster, PA.