“In 1944 Polly enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps where she was one of only two women in the United States trained to repair the governors of P47 Fighter Planes used to escort B17 Bombers in action.”
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VERNA PAULINE “POLLY” TOBIAS – Almost a Centenarian
HALIFAX – V. Pauline “Polly” [Hackenberger] Tobias, 99, of Halifax, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2022, at her home. Born December 30, 1922, in Center, Juniata County she was the daughter of the late Walter Hackenberger and Verna Hackenberger. She was proceeded in death by her husband James Raymond “Toby” Tobias, founder of Lake Tobias Wildlife Park.
Polly is survived by her sister Venie Graybill of Thompsontown; children Jo Etta Miller (husband David Miller), Jay Tobias (wife Cindy Tobias), Roz Ogden, Jan Tobias-Kieffer (husband Glenn Kieffer), Ern Tobias (wife Jenny Tobias) and Pam Jury (husband Michael Jury); 14 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; 3 step-great grandchildren; and 2 great great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was proceeded in death by daughter Dee Hoffman, son-in-law Roy Ogden, and grandson Marc Miller; brothers Robert Hackenberger, John Hackenberger, Ernest Hackenberger, Joseph Hackenberger, and Carl Hackenberger, and sisters Mildred Brown, Hazel Hackenberger, Helen Yocum, and Lena Heinbaugh.
In 1944 Polly enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps where she was one of only two women in the United States trained to repair the governors of P47 Fighter Planes used to escort B17 Bombers in action. She was also employed as a Nurses Aid at the Polyclinic Hospital, Harrisburg, for many years.
Polly was known for her frequent visits to elderly neighbors and friends, her quiet, pleasant personality, always listening to others and offering her advice (even sometimes when it was not requested), her hope to see the first female president elected to office, and her strong sense of what she called “true patriotism”. Her belief in freedom and equal justice for all was evident in 1941 during WWII when she gave her commencement speech entitled “The Democratic Way of Living”. She enjoyed traveling across the U. S. with her husband and friends, family gatherings, reading, putting puzzles together, playing games, and eating chocolate. She was an active member of Messiah Lutheran Church. In her mid-years she played on a softball team and enjoyed outings and vacations with her children; in later years she liked to watch TV, especially reruns of the Golden Girls and Friends. Polly loved peacocks and had an extensive collection of anything with a peacock on it.
A visitation from 3:00-4:00 p. m. was held on June 12th at Messiah Lutheran Church in Fisherville, a memorial service began at 4:00 pm and included military honors.
Hoover-Boyer Funeral Home, Ltd., a Minnich Funeral location handled the arrangements.
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From the Harrisburg Patriot-News, April 22, 2022:
Lake Tobias Wildlife Park reported this week that the family matriarch, Pauline “Polly” Tobias, passed away April 15 at the age of 99.
The park said on its Facebook page, “At 99 years of age, she was the wife of our park founder, the late J. R. Tobias, and the shining matriarch of our 70+ member family.
Mrs. Tobias was often spoken of by the tour guides during their speeches and, on many days, she could be seen touring the park grounds in her peacock-detailed golf cart or watching a reptile show from her favorite seat. She enjoyed conversing with park visitors and was grateful when they shared their appreciation of ‘her park.’
Her family said she loved peacocks and “had an extensive collection of anything with a peacock on it.”
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Portrait and obituary from Minnich Funeral. Patriot-News story by Deb Kiner, from PennLive.
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