John Henry "Hank" HERTH

Enid News and Eagle Enid, Garfield Co., OK

08-22-2009

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

The funeral for John "Hank" Herth, of Enid, will be 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church with Pastor Kenneth Wade officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery, Enid. Services are under the direction of Henninger-Hinson Funeral Home.

John Henry "Hank" Herth was born to Jacob and Katrina (Schwab) Herth on Feb. 21, 1920, on a farm east of Enid. He passed away Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at age 89. He went to a country grade school west of Enid and attended high school in Lahoma. In January 1942, he entered the Army Air Force and served in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy during World War II as a crew chief. He was awarded three battle medals and discharged in 1945. After his discharge, he was employed by Banfield Packing Co. for 23 years, then by Armour & Co. for 12 years.

On Jan. 9, 1948, John married Vadah Shelton and had recently celebrated 61 years of marriage. Everyone who knew him agreed that he was the most honest person ever known. He was a member of Moose Lodge 1740 since 1964, serving as trustee, treasurer and prelate. John received the Legion and Fellowship Degree as well as the Fellow of the Year Award in 2000. He also was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jacob Herth and Herman Herth; and sister, Rose Mitten. John is survived by his wife, Vadah; daughter, Susan Edwards of Sand Springs; son, Kenny Herth of Edmond; grandchildren, Stephanie Govich and husband Mat of Norman, James Jeremy Edwards and wife Kristin of Fort Worth, Texas, and John Jeffrey Edwards and wife Laura of Sand Springs; great-grandchildren, Alyx and Ellery Edwards of Sand Springs, Mila Govich of Norman and Jaden Edwards of Fort Worth, Texas.