Robert E. Hemmis

Robert Elsworth Hemmis, 93, of Washington, died Thursday, June 3, 2010, in Washington County Health Center. He was born May 9, 1917, in Morrisdale, Clearfield County, a son of John James Hemmis and Agnes Yingling Hemmis. Mr. Hemmis graduated from Canonsburg High School in 1935, and then worked at Standard Tin Plate until he joined the Army on April 18, 1942. Mr. Hemmis’ time in the Army took him to many places: Illinois for Air Force and Radio School; to Tucson, Arizona, where he served with the 20th Air Force and was promoted to Technical Sergeant; to Great Bend, Kansas, to train on B-17s and where he was promoted to Master Sergeant; in 1943, to China-India-Burma Theater, where he spent 16 months with the B29 Superfortress Bombers; and in late 1944, to Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. While stationed on Tinian, Mr. Hemmis saw the atomic bomb being loaded onto the Enola Gay. In September 1945, Master Sergeant Hemmis returned to the United States where he was discharged from the Army on October 24, 1945, at Wright Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Hemmis was qualified as a carbine sharpshooter, and for his dedicated service, he received the Army Air Force Technical Badge with Communications Bar; Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with five bronze service stars; Distinguished Unit Badge; Meritorious Unit Award; Air Offensive – Japan, China, Central Burma, India; Air Combat – Sumatra; and Good Conduct Medal. In January 1946, Mr. Hemmis went to work at Drakenfeld in the glass-coloring lab, eventually becoming involved in sales and service. He worked at Drakenfeld/Hercules Powder Company for 31 years, retiring in 1977. Mr. Hemmis was an honorary member of Canadian Ceramic Society and Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorators. From 1978 to 1997, Mr. Hemmis and his wife traveled extensively. They took two trips to Great Britain, where they met with distant relatives in London and Scotland, toured Oregon, Colorado, Utah and California, where they visited state and national parks, and vacationed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as well as in Maine and New Hampshire. During his retirement, Mr. Hemmis served on the Board of Washington City Mission and was appointed by then-governor Dick Thornburg to serve as a volunteer on the Washington County Board of Assistance. He was a member of West Washington United Methodist Church for more than 60 years, Knights of Pythias for 50 years, F&AM Washington Lodge for 50 years, Scottish Rite (32nd Degree Mason) for 49 years and American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175 for almost 40 years. For nearly 30 years, Mr. Hemmis portrayed Santa Claus for Cub Scouts, churches and private parties. He retired his Santa suit when he became the full-time caregiver for his wife, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. On August 20, 1941, he married Martha Kennedy, who died January 22, 2007. Surviving are a brother, Dale Wayne Hemmis of Canonsburg; and a sister, Marion Hemmis of Moon Township. Deceased are three brothers, Norman, who was killed in action in World War II in the South Pacific, Lewis and Max Hemmis; and two sisters, Naomi Hemmis DaPra and Rhoda Hemmis Seargent. Friends will be received Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Monday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m., in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 8th, in West Washington United Methodist Church, 625 Fayette Street, Washington, with Rev. John Hoffman officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded graveside by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175.