- SURNAME
Coldsmith
- FORENAME
William Harry David
- UNIT
2 Ranger Bn (Company F)
- RANK
Private First Class
- NUMBER
33242165
- AWARD
Bronze Star
- PLACE
France 1944
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 29.01.1922 Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, USA
father Harry David Coldsmith (1903-1968)
mother Martha (nee Smith ) Coldsmith (1902-1992)
grammar school education
civil occupation semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck and tractor
employed by Keppel and Ruof Inc.
single without dependents upon enlistment
30.06.1942 draft card Southampton, Pennsylvania
09.10.1942 entered service Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
09.1944 WIA
03.08.1945 discharged, Camp Pickett, VA
wife Dorothy Elizabeth (nee Greenwood) Coldsmith (1926-2019)
died 18.05.2009 (Aged 87) Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Parklawns Memorial Gardens, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Birth: Jan. 29, 1922
Shippensburg
Cumberland County
Pennsylvania, USA
Death: May 18, 2009
Shippensburg
Cumberland County
Pennsylvania, USA
Obituary (Patriot News 20.5.2009)
William H.D. Coldsmith, 87, of Shippensburg, passed away, Monday, May 18th 2009, at the Shippensburg Health Care Center.
Born Sunday, January 29th, 1922, a son of the late Harry David and Martha (Smith) Coldsmith. A lifelong resident of Shippensburg, William enlisted in the United States Army in 1942, during WWII, and became an Army Ranger participating in the invasion of Normandy. He was wounded in action in France, was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, and was honorably discharged in 1945.
On February 22, 1945, William married Dorothy E. Greenwood in Waynesboro, PA.
William was employed at the Letterkenny Army Depot, after being discharged from the Army, until retirement in 1975. He subsequently turned to working his orchard full time which was a hobby as much as a vocation.
Traveling to Chincoteague, VA, to fish was William's main hobby. Prior to this, the family had a summer home in Williamsport, MD, where family vacations were spent boating, waterskiing, and fishing.
Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Dorothy, eight children, Martha J. (Robert) Martin of FL, Shirley J. Kinder of FL, Mary Ann (Gerald) Goshorn of Lewisberry, PA, Dorothy Louise (Dan) Skelton of FL, Sandra Lee (Ellis) Durf of Shippensburg, William L. (Candy) Coldsmith of Shippensburg, Douglas E. (Cindy) Coldsmith of Shippensburg, and Susan M. (Steven) Graehling of Harrisburg; three brothers, John Coldsmith of St. Thomas, Irvin Coldsmith of Chambersburg, and Arthur Coldsmith of VA; one sister, Isabell Butts of Newburg; 22 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 22, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home, Shippensburg. Burial with full military honors will be in Parklawns Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Robert L. Mentzer will officiate.
Parklawn Memorial Gardens,Chambersburg,Franklin County,Pennsylvania
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