Henry J. Dorn

Henry J. Dorn , 89, of Frackville passed away Thursday morning at Ridgeview Healthcare and Rehab Center, Shenandoah Heights. Born on December 11, 1923 in Baltimore, Maryland he was the son of Henry Joseph & Mary (Hammelman) Dorn.

On March 2, 1943, Henry enlisted in the United States Army. He was sent to Camp Sibert, Alabama, where he underwent Basic Training. He served in the 191st Chemical Depot Co. After a few moves to Arizona, (with a Chemical Warfare Division in the Mojave Desert), Texas, and Mississippi, he arrived in England. At the time of the "Battle of the Bulge," Christmas 1945, he was transferred to the infantry in France. He served as an infantryman in France, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg. He was honorably discharged on April 21, 1946.

Henry did not attend high school, however he studied and subsequently received a Maryland Certificate of High School Equivalence on July 21, 1947. With this certificate he was able to enter the University of Maryland at College Park in September of 1949.

Henry J. Dorn married Camille J. Shaffer at the Memorial Chapel of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on December 21, 1949. They initially resided in the Veterans Families Unit on the University of Maryland Campus, in College Park, where Henry and Camille attended classes.

In April 1952, Henry was inducted as a member of the honorary fraternity, Alpha Zeta. In June 1953, he graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture.

In the spring of 1952, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve through the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps. He served as an active Air Force Reserve Officer until his discharge from active reserve duty on October 27, 1967. He retired with the rank of Captain in the Air Force Reserve.

After graduation from the University of Maryland, he was employed by the Continental Can Company in Chicago, Illinois. He was hired by Zapata Industries as the Manager of Research and Development (R&D). He holds a number of patents associated with the bottling and canning industry.

Henry later became the Vice President of Research and Development for Zapata Industries, a position he held until his retirement on December 31, 1988, in Frackville, PA. Upon his retirement, he continued to work as a national and international consultant in the bottling and canning industries.

Active in many local organizations, Henry was a member of the Frackville Elks #1533, Friendship Fire Company Englewood, American Legion Post #398, and the Knights of Columbus, Father James A. Hogan Council #2580.

Henry was a generous philanthropist. His contributions included the Dorn Lab for Nutrition and Food Science Students at the University of Maryland and the largest donation in the history of North Schuylkill School District, The Camille J. and Henry J. Dorn Scholarship Fund.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Camille (Shaffer) Dorn, his four brothers, and four sisters. Henry is survived by nephews, nieces, and cousins. He is also survived by a friend, Joanne Lazusky.

Services will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Frackville. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Frackville. Interment will be held at Fort Indiantown Gap on Wednesday at 1 p.m. A viewing will be held on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, 501 Washington Street, Frackville. The family prefers contributions, in Henry's name, can be made to the St. Joseph's Church Memorial Fund, 7 S Broad Mountain Ave, Frackville, PA 17931