Ray P Eshenour Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Ray P. Eshenour, 89, of Chapel Pointe in Carlisle, PA, and formerly of New Bloomfield, PA, passed away on Friday, June 17. He was born on his parents’ farm in Lower Paxton Township as the only child of the late Paul Eshenour and Mary Piefer Eshenour. He is a graduate of the former Lower Paxton High School class of 1951 where he played football and baseball. Ray was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America and then served in the US Navy as a member of the Construction Battalion known as the Seabee's from 1951-55 where he participated in the building of naval bases. He enjoyed traveling with his family and visited all 50 states. In addition, he also participated in outreach to Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Navajo Nation in New Mexico helping to construct a building at each location for school and worship usage. Ray was a shipping dispatcher at IBM for 25 years, following a nearly 17-year career as a carpenter for three area builders. He built two of the three homes where he and his late wife, Erma raised their three children. He also enjoyed gardening, camping and farming. He is a former member of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Lower Paxton Township where he served on the church council. After relocating to Perry County, he was an active member of Newport Assembly of God Church where he served as a deacon. He also designed and built furniture, closets and other items to help meet the needs of those around him. Ray is predeceased by his late wife, Erma, to whom he was married for over 50 years. He is survived by three children, Kathleen Manbeck (Robert) of Dillsburg, PA; Jonathan Eshenour (Michele) of Elliottsburg, PA; Jeanette VanderKwaak (Joel) of Mountain View, CA and five grandchildren, Timothy Eshenour (Lauren); Mark Manbeck (Mikaela); Jeff Eshenour (Brianna); Stephen Manbeck (Kaitlin); Amanda LaLone (Dean) as well as seven great-granddaughters and four great-grandsons. He was a kind and patient man. His acts of generosity included using his finish carpentry skills to help family members, friends, neighbors and others. He could hang a door with precision and had a knack for creating solutions to problems that got in the way of finishing the job. Ray fulfilled scripture found in James 1. He was quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. As a result, his input and wisdom were sought by family members, friends and colleagues. A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, June 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Abundant Harvest Church, 510 New Bloomfield Road, Duncannon, PA, preceded by visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. Burial with full military honors will follow in New Bloomfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or The Benevolence Fund of Chapel Pointe, 770 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA 17013.

Ray P Eshenour

October 12, 1932 - June 17, 2022