Harry Poole Obituary

We are sad to announce that on September 30, 2018, at the age of 99, Harry Poole (Landenberg, Pennsylvania) passed away. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Harry Poole to pay them a last tribute.

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be." Harry Weiler Poole was born to Ross and Mary Jane Poole on November 28, 1918 in Plainfield, NJ. As a young man, Harry gave his heart and life to the Lord, and became a soldier of The Salvation Army. He answered his Call to Officership in 1938, and entered the School for Officers' Training as a Dauntless Evangelist, and was commissioned on June 12, 1939. In 1942, Harry enlisted in the US Navy and served his country for four years during World War II. It was during his time in the military that he met the love of his life, Captain Luella Boyle, and the sweethearts were united in marriage on October 12, 1943. In 1945, Harry returned to full time ministry in The Salvation Army, with his supportive wife at his side. In 1952, the Pooles were appointed as Superintendent of the Nursery & Foster Home Service in Brooklyn, NY and then were transferred in 1953 to the Western Pennsylvania Division in Pittsburgh, where Harry became Social Welfare and Correctional Services Secretary. In 1958, Harry Poole, then a Major, received his MSW in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, and in 1960, received a Master of Letters degree in Sociology from the same institution. Always striving for more knowledge so he could better serve others, he continued with his education and earned an Advanced Certificate in Social Work Administration in 1962. At the request of the Governor of Pennsylvania, The Salvation Army agreed to release Major Poole from full time duty in 1968 so that he could serve as a member of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. In 1971, Harry Poole returned to active Salvation Army service and was appointed Social Services and Correctional Services Secretary for the Eastern Territory, and then served the Eastern Territory for two years as Secretary of Personnel before being appointed as National Secretary for Armed Forces and Correctional Services, and United Nations Representative at National Headquarters. In conjunction with his work at the United Nations, Lt. Colonel Poole represented The Salvation Army in Costa Rica, Venezuela, Curacao and Austria. In 1979, Lt Colonel Poole received the American Correctional Association's E.R. Cass Award for excellence in correctional services and a life membership in the organization. The Pooles retired from active ministry on November 30, 1983 to Deltona, FL, soldiering at the Orlando Corps, until their move to Hershey, PA in 1996. During retirement, Lt. Colonel and his wife worked at Camp Wonderland and also volunteered at the Harrisburg ARC. Lt. Colonel Harry Poole possessed a great love for people and compassionate concern for suffering humanity, which propelled him to attain great heights in education, influential positions in the field of Social Work and steadfast service in The Salvation Army. Please uplift in prayer Lt. Harry Poole's devoted family: son, Bruce (Linda) Poole of Landenberg, PA, daughter, Ruth Webb (Bucky Rogers) of Northborough, MA and grandson Rev. Sandy Webb (Jessica), of Memphis, TN as well as his dear friends who are mourning the loss of a kind and lovely man. PATHWAY OF DUTY: 1939 - 1941 Corps Appointment Lynn (Citadel), MA 1941 - 1941 Officer Wonderland Conference Center/Camp - Sharon, MA 1941 - 1941 Welfare Department Assistant DHQ - Boston, MA 1942 - 1945 Military Service Furlough United States Navy 1945 - 1948 Corps Appointment Medford, MA 1948 - 1948 Officer Wonderland Conference Center/Camp - Sharon, MA 1948 - 1952 Corps Appointment Medford, MA; Meriden, CT 1952 - 1953 Superintendent Women's Social Department Nursery & Foster Home Service - Brooklyn, NY 1953 - 1968 Social Welfare Secretary DHQ - WPA - Pittsburgh, PA 1968 - 1975 Special Service Assignment; Assistant Secretary Social Welfare & Correctional Services Department; Secretary Territorial Social Welfare & Corrections Services Department; Territorial Secretary of Personnel THQ - NY 1975 - 1983 National Consultant for Correctional Services, Armed Forces and United Nations Representative NHQ - VA SERVICES: Viewing: 10/3/18 at Hoover Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 6011 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg 17112 from 5 to 7 pm 10/4/18 The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, 3650 Vartan Way, Harrisburg PA 17110 from 10 to 10:45 am Celebration of Life: 10/4/18 The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, 3650 Vartan Way, Harrisburg PA 17110 at 11 am Burial: 10/5/18 at the Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions be made to the Salvation Army A.R.C., P.O. Box 60095, Harrisburg PA 17106.