Obituaries
Obituary for Henry A.W. Gruber
Henry A.W. Gruber 78 years of Lowhill Twsp. died Monday October 31, 2011 in his residence. Married in 1992 he was the husband of Beverly (Riddle) Gruber. Born in Lynn Twsp. he was the son of the late Henry A. and Jennie A.B. (Weaver ) Gruber. Henry was a Farmer/Owner/Operator of The Compass Farm of New Tripoli a breeder of Purebred Hampshire and Yorkshire hogs. Previously he was employed by the former A & B packing Co. of Allentown from 1958 until 1984 as head of procurement being in charge of buying 600,000 to 750,000 hogs per year. After graduating from Slatington High School in 1951 Henry attended Penn State University and graduated in the class of 1957 with a B.S. in Animal Husbandry. While in college Henry was a member of the Penn State meat Judging Team and a member of the Penn State Livestock Judging Team. As a student he lived and worked in the college livestock barns working with purebred cattle, hogs and sheep. After graduation he toured with the International Grand Champion Steer, P.S. Troubadour on a nine month tour of the United States and Canada. They traveled 50,000 miles conducting T.V. and radio programs at state universities and civic groups throughout the Midwest, east, south and eastern Canada. Henry was a member of Jacob’s Church of New Tripoli. He was a 32degree mason and a member of the Rajah Shrine Temple of Reading. He was a member of the Lehigh County Farm Bureau, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Siepstown Grange # 1657. He helped organize the Penn State Alumni Animal Association (Stockman’s Club) and was a Penn State University Lifetime Alumni. In the past Henry organized the Eastern Pennsylvania Pork Producers Association and judged in over 400 county, state, national, 4-H and FFA livestock shows. He was former president of the Lehigh County Agriculture Extension Board and was a member and served on the Board of Governors’ of the Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce. Henry received many awards in his lifetime; the FFA Honorary Charter Farmer Award, Pennsylvania Pork Producers Promotion Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi Meritorious service Award, Penn State Department of Animal Science Distinguished Alumnus Award, Pennsylvania Livestock Man of the Year Award, National Agriculture Fraternity-Gamma Sigma Delta Honorary Member Penn State Chapter Award, National 4-H Alumni Award, State 4-H alumni Award, County 4-H Alumni Award, the Pennsylvania Co-op Swine Breeders Association Award and the service to Lehigh County Agriculture Award from the Lehigh County Farm Bureau. Surviving with his wife Beverly are son Seth Henry and his wife Emily Gruber of Greensboro, N.C., brother Harry A.W. Gruber, stepsons Clay A. and his wife Linda Snyder and Brett A. and his wife Jessica Snyder and eight grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11:00am Saturday November 5, 2011 in the Jacob’s Church 8373 Kings Highway New Tripoli, Pa. 18066. Henry’s viewing will be Saturday in the church from 9:30am until 11:00am. Interment will be in Jacksonville Cemetery. The Brubaker Funeral Home, Inc. of Catasauqua is in charge of arrangements.
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