Wayne Gibson Morrow

Mr. Wayne Gibson Morrow, age 90, well known and well respected Sugar Run resident, passed away early Thursday morning, December 8, 2016.

Wayne was born at the family home in Sugar Run, Bradford County, PA on June 7th, 1926. He was born the youngest child of Frank Charles Morrow and Nellie E. Wheeler Morrow.

He attended the Sugar Run Elementary School for 7 years. In the 8th grade he attended the Wyalusing Public School on Church Street, across from the Methodist Church. He graduated from Wyalusing High School in May of 1943.

In August 1943 he joined the US Navy and attended boot camp at Sampson Training Center, Geneva, NY. After boot camp he was assigned to Navy Machinist School at Dearborn, MI. This school was begun by Ford and taken over by the Navy during WWII. Wayne studied there for 3 months with 1400 other Navy Personnel. Each day was divided between classroom and machine shop work.

Upon graduation from Dearborn, his next assignment was additional training at the Fleet Services School in San Diego, CA. Stationed at Coronado Island he was trained and operated a landing craft (LCVP) between the island and San Diego.

His next port of call was Pearl Harbor. That evening he witnessed the arrival and docking of seven battleships in preparation for the attack on Saipan. While in Hawaii, he assisted the Sea Bees with construction of another Navy base at YPO Point. He also operated the LCNP during mock invasions on Maui.

Wayne arrived on Roi-Namur of the Marshall Islands in August of 1944. He was in charge of the marine motor repair shop. He departed for the USA on December 1945. He received an honorable discharge on March 19, 1946, after working on the decommissioning of the USS Langley in Philadelphia Navy Yard.

On June 7, 1952 he married the former Mabel Irene Wells of New Era, PA in the Wyalusing Presbyterian Church, officiated by the late Rev. Norman Robinson and they would enjoy 62 years of happy marriage together before her passing on April 16, 2015.

His large diesel engine experience provided him a career in heavy equipment operation and maintenance. He spent the rest of his working career on road, bridge and other large construction projects. Starting with operation and maintenance of heavy construction equipment, he advanced in roles of increasing responsibility until he worked as Site Project Manager for many years. Wayne retired in May of 1991.

Wayne was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church in Sugar Run and had served as Treasurer for many years. He was an active member and former Past Master of the Wyalusing Masonic Lodge #618 F. &A.M. He was an active member of the Wyalusing American Legion Post #534 and active in the Honor Guard for many years.

Surviving:
Three sons:
Frank (Lynn) Morrow, Williamsport, PA
David (Brenda) Morrow, Schenectady, NY
Dale Morrow, Syracuse, NY

Six Grandchildren:
Erin Gehron, Williamsport, PA
Jamie (David) Connelly, Williamsport, PA
Katharine Morrow, Schenectady, NY
Rebecca Morrow, Schenectady, NY
Sarah Morrow, Syracuse, NY
Alecia (Mike) Zimmerman, Buffalo, NY

Five Great-grandchildren
Isabella Gehron
Lydia Gehron
Cameron Connelly
Lillian Connelly
Leila Jane Zimmerman

Two sisters-in-law:
Cleone Johnson, Phoenix, AZ
Jane Newton, Spring Lake, PA

He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Besides his parents and loving wife he was predeceased by a grandson, Seth Patrick Morrow on October 5, 2006 and a daughter-in-law, Jane Elizabeth Peterson Morrow on January 31, 1997. He was also predeceased by a brother Charles T. Morrow on April 1, 1987, and by three sisters: Blanche M. Kissell on March 10, 2006, Ruth Brown Smith on May 15, 2012, and Edith M. Reed on February 9, 2013.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 17th, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 1 Grovedale Lane Wyalusing, PA, with the Rev. John H. Dabback, his Pastor and longtime family friend and the Rev. Dr. Barry R. Ballard, co-officiating. Interment will follow in the Quicks Bend Cemetery with full Military Honors accorded by the United States Navy Honor Detail and by members of the Wyalusing American Legion Post #534.

Friends and family may call on Friday, December 16th, 2016 at the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 1 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing, PA from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. and on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until the start of the service at 11:00 A.M.

There will be a Masonic Service at 6:45 P.M. by members of the Union Wyalusing Lodge No. 108 F. &A.M. on Friday evening and members of the Wyalusing American Legion Post #534 will pass in review at 7:00 P.M.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sugar Run Presbyterian Church, 68 Franklin Drive, Sugar Run, PA 18846, the Wyalusing Valley Museum Assn., PO Box 301, Wyalusing, PA 18853 or to the Wyalusing Public Library, PO Box 98, Wyalusing, PA 18853 in Loving Memory of Wayne Morrow.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of his great nephew, Austen A. McGee, from the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 1 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing, PA.

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