OBITUARY: Donald Howard "Blink" Ennis, 82, of Towanda RR 4, Pa. passed away Wednesday morning April 7, 2004 at Memorial Hospital, Towanda, Pa.
Born January 1, 1922 in Standing Stone, Pa. he was a son of the late Burt G. Ennis and Charlotte Cole Ennis. Donald was a graduate of Towanda High School Class of 1940. He was a two-sport athlete in high school competing in football and baseball. Donald also played many years of local organized baseball and softball. He was employed by the Ingersoll-Rand in Athens in early years, and later worked at GTE Sylvania in Towanda for 35 years until his retirement in 1985.
A World War II veteran, Donald joined the U.S. Army in October of 1942. SSG Ennis flew 35 bombing missions over Europe between February 1944 and February 1945. He served with the "Flying Eight Balls" of the U.S. 8th Army Air Force, 2nd Air Division, 44th Bomb Group, 68th Squadron, as a tail gunner/nose gunner. All missions were aboard B-24 Liberators. Once, his crew's aircraft was shot down and crewmen were forced to bail out. Ennis and his crew were awarded "Caterpillar Club" pins for having to parachute to save their lives. On another bombing mission, Ennis crew was forced to crash land. The crew was able to escape injury, but their aircraft ironically named "Heaven Can Wait" caught fire and exploded after impact. Mr. Ennis received his honorable discharge from military service in August 1945. He was the recipient of The Air medal with four oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WW II. Victory Medal, and Honorable Service lapel button.
Donald was a loving husband and father and he enjoyed his grandchildren very much. He was a member of Towanda American Legion Post No. 42 and Beirne-Webster VFW Post No. 1568 Towanda. Donald enjoyed fishing.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Catharine Billingsley Ennis at home. Donald and Catharine were married on April 29, 1945 in Elmira, N.Y. His daughter and son-in-law, Victoria Eleanor Bennett and David Bennett of Macungie, Pa.; his son and daughter-in-law, William Billingsley Ennis and Lois Ennis of Towanda; four granddaughters, Tammy L. Heidecker and her husband Joe Heidecker, Tara L. Bryant and her husband Craig Bryant, Kristina L. Ennis, Renee M. Sparrow and her husband Ian Sparrow; a grandson, Sean P. Ennis; great-grandchildren, Sarah C. Heidecker, Grace E. Heidecker, Ethan M. Sparrow and Ali Sparrow; a brother, Leo Ennis and his wife Connie Ennis of Selinsgrove, Pa.; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald James Ennis; four brothers, Lawrence, Frederick, Burton and Raymond Ennis, three sisters, Helen Powers, Lillian M. Decker, and Marion G. Brown.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home 217 York Ave. Towanda, Pa. The funeral service will be held Saturday April 10, 2004 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Bradford County Memorial Park, Luthers Mills, Pa. with Towanda American Legion Post No. 42 according military honors. The family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680 North Canton, Ohio 44720 in Donald H. Ennis's memory. [Source: CQ Services (cqservices.com), Thursday, 08 Apr 2004]
Born January 1, 1922 in Standing Stone, Pa. he was a son of the late Burt G. Ennis and Charlotte Cole Ennis. Donald was a graduate of Towanda High School Class of 1940. He was a two-sport athlete in high school competing in football and baseball. Donald also played many years of local organized baseball and softball. He was employed by the Ingersoll-Rand in Athens in early years, and later worked at GTE Sylvania in Towanda for 35 years until his retirement in 1985.
A World War II veteran, Donald joined the U.S. Army in October of 1942. SSG Ennis flew 35 bombing missions over Europe between February 1944 and February 1945. He served with the "Flying Eight Balls" of the U.S. 8th Army Air Force, 2nd Air Division, 44th Bomb Group, 68th Squadron, as a tail gunner/nose gunner. All missions were aboard B-24 Liberators. Once, his crew's aircraft was shot down and crewmen were forced to bail out. Ennis and his crew were awarded "Caterpillar Club" pins for having to parachute to save their lives. On another bombing mission, Ennis crew was forced to crash land. The crew was able to escape injury, but their aircraft ironically named "Heaven Can Wait" caught fire and exploded after impact. Mr. Ennis received his honorable discharge from military service in August 1945. He was the recipient of The Air medal with four oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WW II. Victory Medal, and Honorable Service lapel button.
Donald was a loving husband and father and he enjoyed his grandchildren very much. He was a member of Towanda American Legion Post No. 42 and Beirne-Webster VFW Post No. 1568 Towanda. Donald enjoyed fishing.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Catharine Billingsley Ennis at home. Donald and Catharine were married on April 29, 1945 in Elmira, N.Y. His daughter and son-in-law, Victoria Eleanor Bennett and David Bennett of Macungie, Pa.; his son and daughter-in-law, William Billingsley Ennis and Lois Ennis of Towanda; four granddaughters, Tammy L. Heidecker and her husband Joe Heidecker, Tara L. Bryant and her husband Craig Bryant, Kristina L. Ennis, Renee M. Sparrow and her husband Ian Sparrow; a grandson, Sean P. Ennis; great-grandchildren, Sarah C. Heidecker, Grace E. Heidecker, Ethan M. Sparrow and Ali Sparrow; a brother, Leo Ennis and his wife Connie Ennis of Selinsgrove, Pa.; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald James Ennis; four brothers, Lawrence, Frederick, Burton and Raymond Ennis, three sisters, Helen Powers, Lillian M. Decker, and Marion G. Brown.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home 217 York Ave. Towanda, Pa. The funeral service will be held Saturday April 10, 2004 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Bradford County Memorial Park, Luthers Mills, Pa. with Towanda American Legion Post No. 42 according military honors. The family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680 North Canton, Ohio 44720 in Donald H. Ennis's memory. [Source: CQ Services (cqservices.com), Thursday, 08 Apr 2004]
OBITUARY: Donald Howard "Blink" Ennis, 82, of Towanda RR 4, Pa. passed away Wednesday morning April 7, 2004 at Memorial Hospital, Towanda, Pa.
Born January 1, 1922 in Standing Stone, Pa. he was a son of the late Burt G. Ennis and Charlotte Cole Ennis. Donald was a graduate of Towanda High School Class of 1940. He was a two-sport athlete in high school competing in football and baseball. Donald also played many years of local organized baseball and softball. He was employed by the Ingersoll-Rand in Athens in early years, and later worked at GTE Sylvania in Towanda for 35 years until his retirement in 1985.
A World War II veteran, Donald joined the U.S. Army in October of 1942. SSG Ennis flew 35 bombing missions over Europe between February 1944 and February 1945. He served with the "Flying Eight Balls" of the U.S. 8th Army Air Force, 2nd Air Division, 44th Bomb Group, 68th Squadron, as a tail gunner/nose gunner. All missions were aboard B-24 Liberators. Once, his crew's aircraft was shot down and crewmen were forced to bail out. Ennis and his crew were awarded "Caterpillar Club" pins for having to parachute to save their lives. On another bombing mission, Ennis crew was forced to crash land. The crew was able to escape injury, but their aircraft ironically named "Heaven Can Wait" caught fire and exploded after impact. Mr. Ennis received his honorable discharge from military service in August 1945. He was the recipient of The Air medal with four oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WW II. Victory Medal, and Honorable Service lapel button.
Donald was a loving husband and father and he enjoyed his grandchildren very much. He was a member of Towanda American Legion Post No. 42 and Beirne-Webster VFW Post No. 1568 Towanda. Donald enjoyed fishing.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Catharine Billingsley Ennis at home. Donald and Catharine were married on April 29, 1945 in Elmira, N.Y. His daughter and son-in-law, Victoria Eleanor Bennett and David Bennett of Macungie, Pa.; his son and daughter-in-law, William Billingsley Ennis and Lois Ennis of Towanda; four granddaughters, Tammy L. Heidecker and her husband Joe Heidecker, Tara L. Bryant and her husband Craig Bryant, Kristina L. Ennis, Renee M. Sparrow and her husband Ian Sparrow; a grandson, Sean P. Ennis; great-grandchildren, Sarah C. Heidecker, Grace E. Heidecker, Ethan M. Sparrow and Ali Sparrow; a brother, Leo Ennis and his wife Connie Ennis of Selinsgrove, Pa.; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald James Ennis; four brothers, Lawrence, Frederick, Burton and Raymond Ennis, three sisters, Helen Powers, Lillian M. Decker, and Marion G. Brown.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home 217 York Ave. Towanda, Pa. The funeral service will be held Saturday April 10, 2004 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Bradford County Memorial Park, Luthers Mills, Pa. with Towanda American Legion Post No. 42 according military honors. The family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680 North Canton, Ohio 44720 in Donald H. Ennis's memory. [Source: CQ Services (cqservices.com), Thursday, 08 Apr 2004]
Born January 1, 1922 in Standing Stone, Pa. he was a son of the late Burt G. Ennis and Charlotte Cole Ennis. Donald was a graduate of Towanda High School Class of 1940. He was a two-sport athlete in high school competing in football and baseball. Donald also played many years of local organized baseball and softball. He was employed by the Ingersoll-Rand in Athens in early years, and later worked at GTE Sylvania in Towanda for 35 years until his retirement in 1985.
A World War II veteran, Donald joined the U.S. Army in October of 1942. SSG Ennis flew 35 bombing missions over Europe between February 1944 and February 1945. He served with the "Flying Eight Balls" of the U.S. 8th Army Air Force, 2nd Air Division, 44th Bomb Group, 68th Squadron, as a tail gunner/nose gunner. All missions were aboard B-24 Liberators. Once, his crew's aircraft was shot down and crewmen were forced to bail out. Ennis and his crew were awarded "Caterpillar Club" pins for having to parachute to save their lives. On another bombing mission, Ennis crew was forced to crash land. The crew was able to escape injury, but their aircraft ironically named "Heaven Can Wait" caught fire and exploded after impact. Mr. Ennis received his honorable discharge from military service in August 1945. He was the recipient of The Air medal with four oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WW II. Victory Medal, and Honorable Service lapel button.
Donald was a loving husband and father and he enjoyed his grandchildren very much. He was a member of Towanda American Legion Post No. 42 and Beirne-Webster VFW Post No. 1568 Towanda. Donald enjoyed fishing.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Catharine Billingsley Ennis at home. Donald and Catharine were married on April 29, 1945 in Elmira, N.Y. His daughter and son-in-law, Victoria Eleanor Bennett and David Bennett of Macungie, Pa.; his son and daughter-in-law, William Billingsley Ennis and Lois Ennis of Towanda; four granddaughters, Tammy L. Heidecker and her husband Joe Heidecker, Tara L. Bryant and her husband Craig Bryant, Kristina L. Ennis, Renee M. Sparrow and her husband Ian Sparrow; a grandson, Sean P. Ennis; great-grandchildren, Sarah C. Heidecker, Grace E. Heidecker, Ethan M. Sparrow and Ali Sparrow; a brother, Leo Ennis and his wife Connie Ennis of Selinsgrove, Pa.; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald James Ennis; four brothers, Lawrence, Frederick, Burton and Raymond Ennis, three sisters, Helen Powers, Lillian M. Decker, and Marion G. Brown.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home 217 York Ave. Towanda, Pa. The funeral service will be held Saturday April 10, 2004 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Bradford County Memorial Park, Luthers Mills, Pa. with Towanda American Legion Post No. 42 according military honors. The family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680 North Canton, Ohio 44720 in Donald H. Ennis's memory. [Source: CQ Services (cqservices.com), Thursday, 08 Apr 2004]
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