Henry Lamar Hartman, 96

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Henry Lamar Hartman, 96, of Irving, died Monday, July 8, 2019, at 8 a.m. at Montgomery Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Taylor Springs.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 13, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Nick Geisert of Owensville Christian Church in Owensville, MO, officiating. Burial will be held in Irving Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded by VFW Post 1306 and American Legion Post 425.

A descendant of early Irving settler John Lawrence Franklin, Mr. Hartman was born July 7, 1923, in Irving to the late Henry T. and Ida (Franklin) Hartman. He married Hester Ann Morehead on April 15, 1946, in Mayfield, KY, and she preceded him in death on May 16, 2005.

A 1940 graduate of Irving High School, he lived in Indiana, Texas, Alabama and Irving for most of his life. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, shortly after graduation. He arrived at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 6, 1941, the day before the Japanese attack, and served as a radioman striker on the USS Selfridge, a destroyer.  During his naval service, he was also in the Guadalcanal Invasion and was at Tinian when the war ended. He was discharged in 1946.  After retiring from Phillips Petroleum, he authored a book about his World War II experiences.

He established and maintained the Irving Museum, and was involved in the restoration of McCord Cemetery. In 2002, he was honored with the Illinois Humanities Council Studs Terkel Humanitarian Service Award. He also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Hillsboro  Educational Foundation.

A chairman of the Irving Area Historical Board of Directors in Irving, he was a member of the Christian Church of Witt, the American Legion Post 425 in Irving, the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and the recipient of Irving Lodge 455, A.F. and A.M. Community Builders Award.

He is survived by his children, Marianne Owens of Irving, Jeff (wife Theresa) Hartman of Colleyville, TX, and Barry (wife Kathy) Hartman of Moweaqua; family friend Rhonda Rhodes and daughter, Josie of Irving; seven grandchildren, Mikel Hartman, Laura (husband John) Gregory, Philip (wife Nikki) Hartman, Randy Hartman, Christy (husband Chris) Kriletich, James (wife Jennifer) Owens and Angela (husband Mike) Ball; 14 great-grandchildren, Taylor, Zackary, Brody, Katie, Andrew, EJ, Kaylynn, Elisa, Henry, Grace, Corbin, Caitlyn, Jacob and Ella; two great-great-grandchildren, Gabby and Riley; and sister, Pat Roberson of Henderson, NV.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one son, Steven Hartman on March 10, 1999; granddaughter, Lisa; and siblings, Thomas Hartman, Sylvia Lyerla, James Hartman, Russell Hartman and Melvina Kessler.

Memorials may be made to Land of Lincoln Honor Flight and Christian Homemakers of the Christian Church of Witt. Online condolences may be left at www.basspattondeanfh.com.