Obituary for Norman A "Bunk" McCleary
Norman A. “Bunk” McCleary, 90, of Chambersburg, PA, passed away Monday evening, February 21, 2022 at Chambers Point Nursing Center. Born August 27, 1931 in Chambersburg, he was the son of Charles Norman and Hannah Pheil McCleary.
Bunk was a 1949 graduate of the former Chambersburg High School and served honorably with the US Army. Early in his life he was employed with the former L.B. Smith Company in Chambersburg as an Apprentice Carpenter for five years and received his Journeyman’s papers. He worked for several local contractors and then joined the Chambersburg Fire Department as a paid firefighter where he served for 3 ½ years. Bunk then transferred to the Chambersburg Police Department, retiring at the rank of Sergeant in 1987. Following his retirement from the Borough of Chambersburg he was employed for ten years as Chief of Security at Wilson College, retiring in 1997. He then joined the staff of the Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home where he worked for more than twenty years. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, reloading, and feeding animals, both at home and at the mountain. Bunk shot pistol competitively for many years. He was a member of Grand Point Church (the former Chambersburg First Church of God), George Washington Lodge #143 F&AM, the Harrisburg Consistory, Tall Cedars of Lebanon Valley Forest #145, and a former member of the Shrine Club. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association and Charles Nitterhouse Post 1599 VFW. He was a member and Past President of the Junior Hose and Truck Company and a member of Burt J. Asper Post 46 American Legion, Fraternal Order of Police, Chambersburg Pistol and Rifle Club, St. Thomas Sportsman’s Association, and the Patriotic Order Sons of America.
He is survived by his wife, Stella Ramsey McCleary, whom he married April 18, 1954, and numerous brothers and sisters in laws and nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two step-brothers and two step-sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, February 28, 2022 in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA. Rev. Lawrence Metzler will officiate. Interment with military honors by members of the Charles Nitterhouse Post 1599 VFW Honor Guard will follow at Parklawns Memorial Gardens. A viewing will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Sunday, February 27, 2022 and one hour prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home. A masonic service will be held Sunday evening at 7:00 PM.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Grand Point Church, 2230 Grand Point Road, Chambersburg, PA 17202 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Bunk was a 1949 graduate of the former Chambersburg High School and served honorably with the US Army. Early in his life he was employed with the former L.B. Smith Company in Chambersburg as an Apprentice Carpenter for five years and received his Journeyman’s papers. He worked for several local contractors and then joined the Chambersburg Fire Department as a paid firefighter where he served for 3 ½ years. Bunk then transferred to the Chambersburg Police Department, retiring at the rank of Sergeant in 1987. Following his retirement from the Borough of Chambersburg he was employed for ten years as Chief of Security at Wilson College, retiring in 1997. He then joined the staff of the Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home where he worked for more than twenty years. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, reloading, and feeding animals, both at home and at the mountain. Bunk shot pistol competitively for many years. He was a member of Grand Point Church (the former Chambersburg First Church of God), George Washington Lodge #143 F&AM, the Harrisburg Consistory, Tall Cedars of Lebanon Valley Forest #145, and a former member of the Shrine Club. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association and Charles Nitterhouse Post 1599 VFW. He was a member and Past President of the Junior Hose and Truck Company and a member of Burt J. Asper Post 46 American Legion, Fraternal Order of Police, Chambersburg Pistol and Rifle Club, St. Thomas Sportsman’s Association, and the Patriotic Order Sons of America.
He is survived by his wife, Stella Ramsey McCleary, whom he married April 18, 1954, and numerous brothers and sisters in laws and nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two step-brothers and two step-sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, February 28, 2022 in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA. Rev. Lawrence Metzler will officiate. Interment with military honors by members of the Charles Nitterhouse Post 1599 VFW Honor Guard will follow at Parklawns Memorial Gardens. A viewing will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Sunday, February 27, 2022 and one hour prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home. A masonic service will be held Sunday evening at 7:00 PM.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Grand Point Church, 2230 Grand Point Road, Chambersburg, PA 17202 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.