Anna Elizabeth (Hoke) Herr

Anna Elizabeth Hoke Herr, of Middletown, PA died peacefully at Oak Hill Village (formerly Frey Village) on January 17, 2023. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 66 years Lester Boyer Herr who died in 2005.

Born February 9, 1920 in Lebanon, PA, she was the daughter of the late Isaac and Eva (Bender) Hoke, and sister of the late Richard Hoke, USAF Ret.

Anna married Lester on October 13, 1938 at Hill Lutheran Church and moved to Southern California with him in 1940. Together they lived, worked, and raised their family while being founding members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Buena Park, CA. During that time, Anna earned an Associates in Ministry degree in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In the more than 50 years that she served as a Deacon, she held countless roles including church organist, Sunday school teacher, as well as numerous Church, synod, and national positions in the ELCA. She served on several committees for the churchwide merger, the creation of new hymnals, and traveled extensively around the United States working for the Lutheran Church.

Upon retirement, Lester and Anna moved back to Pennsylvania to be near their extended families. Anna continued to remain active in the Lutheran Church, playing piano and organ at chapel services until age 100. As a devoted mother and grandmother, the grandchildren would spend summers with their grandparents. The memories the grandchildren made during those summers are some of their best and brightest. Anna will be remembered by many for her love of ice cream, Scrabble, and “The Sound of Music”.

She is survived by son Richard Hoke Herr, married to Francene; daughter Julane Herr Powell; grandchildren, Guy Christopher Herr, married to Maria; Clayton Boyer Powell married to Mika; and Janeen Powell Cornor, married to Nicholas; and preceded in death by grandson Jeffrey Richard Herr, married to Connie. She is also survived by great-granddaughter, Caroline Elizabeth Cornor.

The family would like to thank the staff at Oak Hill Village for the wonderful care Anna received throughout the years of her residence.

Visitation will begin at 9:30am Friday, January 27, 2023 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Middletown, with the service beginning at 10:30am. A luncheon will be held at the church at 11:30am. The Graveside service will take place at Grand View Memorial Park, Annville at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Gentiva Hospice in honor of Anna Herr, 204 Grandview, Suite 304, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

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