Obituary for William C. Sherry

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Life Story for William C. Sherry

William Clarence Sherry, the second child of Esther and Austin C. Sherry, was born 20 June 1924 at Northwood, Snyder Township. He later lived at Vail. and then, when the family again relocated, attended first and second grades at P.S. #38 at Buffalo, New York, in school years of 1930 and 1931. Employment needs necessitated a family move back to Pennsylvania which, during the next two school terms placed Bill in the Maine School at Vail, Snyder Township, then at Central City in Centre County and at Milesburg. Finally in 1937, at State College, he entered the school system in which his public education was completed.
After finishing public school, Bill found work in general farming until he was called into the army and, following training, was ultimately assigned to a medical detachment with the 33rd Infantry Division in the Panama Canal Zone. There he met and, on 1 February 1947, married Rosalie Rodriquez in a military ceremony performed by Chaplain William T. Hoffmeyer. Rosalie was born 20 March 1924 in Colon City in the Republic of Panama, the daughter of Genaro and Berta Rodriquez. On 21 December 1955 at Hollidaysburg, in Blair County Court she became a naturalized citizen of the United States. In her native country Rose attended a Catholic convent school operated by German nuns. She had employment at various times in the commissary and as a waitress at Coca Sola Navy Base and the NCO club at Fort Sherman. She also worked at a jewelry store, in her brother’s clothing store and at a branch of Chase Manhattan Bank. Often she worked at two jobs. After marriage she was not employed outside her home but trained extensively in the art of designing and creating miniature furniture and accessories for doll houses and for display. She was also an accomplished seamstress. Rosalie Rodriquez Sherry died 22 January 2006 at Altoona Hospital after a lengthy illness.
Following an early separation from the army Bill and Rose located near Bald Eagle, Blair County where they, for a time, rented a farmhouse from Bill’s uncle, Scott Sessamen. They then built a home on a parcel of the Sherry farm. Bill during this time was employed in construction work with J.C. Yenter of Tyrone, and Moyer Brothers of Altoona, in building the Tyrone Hospital and the Veteran’s Administration Hospital at Altoona, Thereafter he was with the Hammond Tank Company which erected water towers and tanks throughout the northeast. With slackening of construction work he also worked for a time as a woodsman, cutting and hauling saw logs and paper wood. Bill was during that time also a member of Service Company 104 of the Pennsylvania National Guard. In 1957, after ten years in the area, the family set out to find better employment opportunities and settled finally in Mesquite, Texas. For the next forty five years they remained there while Bill worked for several employers in construction or metal fabrication. As in Pennsylvania, he was associated with a military unit; the 49th Armored Division of the Texas National Guard. In 2002 Bill and Rose returned to the area they had left in 1957, acquired the property they had previously owned, demolished their former house and erected a new home on the site. Bill, an avid hunter throughout most of his life, also greatly enjoyed fishing. He is a life member of the North American Hunting Club and the National Rifle Association.
William C. and Rosalie Rodriquez Sherry were parents of four daughters. Sharon Rachel, Rubia Esther and Robyn Denise were all born in Pennsylvania prior to the family relocation. The youngest child, Billie Rose was born in Texas where all continue to live.