Individual Details

Dr. James Edgar Skillington Jr. of (Jacks Corner) Hopewell, Pa, died Jan. 13, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 95.

He was born in Hazelton, PA, in 1918, the son of the Rev. Dr. James Edgar and Louetta (Hartzell) Skillington. In 1943 he married his college sweetheart, Evelyn Fansler Skillington, to whom he was married for 70 years.

In 1974 he received the Department of Commerce Gold Medal award for distinguished service, the highest award presented by the United States Secretary of Commerce.

An avid horseman, outdoorsman and musician, he was a member and honorary staff member of the Goshen (Md) Foxhunt, a Boy Scout leader, archer, canoeist, and fisherman. He sang in several different church choirs and while growing up in Altoona, PA, played the French Horn for the Altoona Symphony Orchestra.

He graduated from Dickinson Seminary (now Lycoming College) in Williamsport, PA, in 1936 and Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, in 1940 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He earned his Master of Arts degree in government and history from Buffalo (NY) University in 1941 and his Doctor of Philosophy in public administration from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1951 where he taught public administration and served as the Assistant to the Dean and Admissions Officer.

After leaving American University he was the Supervisory Budget Administrator for the Bureau of Aeronautics of the Department of the Navy in Washington, and in 1960 became a budget officer for the Department of Commerce where he later became the Chief Budget Officer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, MD, before retiring in 1980.

Following his retirement he and his wife moved to the family farm in Jacks Corner where they raise Morgan horses. He was active in the choir at Everett United Methodist Church and was a member of the Cove Lions Club in Loysburg, PA.

A veteran of the Army Signal Corps in World War II, he rose from the rank of Private to that of Major before his retirement from the Army Reserves in 1978. He originally enlisted in the horse cavalry and was transferred to the Signal Corps when the cavalry was disbanded in 1942. He was stationed in England for more than two years, earning six battle stars, American Defense Ribbon, American Campaign Ribbon, World War II Victory Ribbon and a Distinguished Unit Badge. During his work in the European Theater of Operation he supervised the operation of signal message center and encyphering and decyphering of secret communications.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children, the Rev. James Edgar Skillington III of Ellicott City, MD, and Evelyn Mae Skillington of Hopewell, PA, two grandchildren, Joshua Harden Skillington and Elizabeth Lea Skillington and one great grandchild, Zoe Elizabeth. He was preceded in death by his sister, Susan Virginia Priebe and a granddaughter, Amelia Lynn Skillington.

A private graveside service will be held at the Everett Cemetery at the convenience of the family. The Rev. Jay Saxe will officiate. Full military honors will be conducted by the Everett Area Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bedford Forge United Methodist Church, 384 Jacks Corner Rd, Hopewell, PA 16650.

Arrangements by Akers Funeral Home, 299 Raystown Road, Everett, PA 15537.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.akersfuneralhome.com

Birth	1919	Pennsylvania, United States
Residence	1920	Carlisle Ward 3, Cumberland, Pennsylvania, United States
Residence	1935	Same Place
Residence	1940	Bloomsburg Town, Bloomsburg, Ward 2, Columbia, Pennsylvania
Death	13 Jan 2014	Hopewell Township, Cumberland, Pennsylvania, United States

Father	James Edgar Skillington (1878 - 1965)
Mother	Louetta Hartzell (1884 - 1965)
Sibling	Susan V. Skillington (1909 - )