Col. Herbert Frank Hartzell (AUS Ret.), 98, of Brandywine at Sycamore Assisted Living, Shrewsbury, N.J., and formerly of Eatontown, N.J., passed away Wednesday at Brandywine of Sycamore Assisted Living at 10:22 p.m.

He was born in Slippery Rock Township on Sept. 12, 1914, to Herbert Arthur Hartzell and Rotha Mae Kelly Hartzell. He married Eleanor Ruth Cottrell on Nov. 28, 1940. They had been married more than 71 years.

Born at Meadow Grove Farm on Branchton Road, he attended the one-room Miller School on Branchton Road. He graduated from Slippery Rock State Teachers College in 1935 (now Slippery Rock University). He taught junior high school in Freedom until 1941, when he enlisted in the 28th Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard in Grove City.

After receiving his commission from the Officers Candidate School at Ft. Monmouth, N.J., he served as division radio officer, Ninth U.S. Army Headquarters, during the “Battle of the Bulge” in Europe during World War II.

After his discharge from active duty in January 1946, he taught high school at Har-Brack Union High School in Natrona Heights. He then earned a master of education degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1950.

He was recalled to active military service in June 1951 and taught ROTC at the University of Virginia. In 1954, he was reassigned to Korea, and subsequently to Yokohama, Japan. He also served with the U.S. Army Signal School, Ft. Monmouth, N.J., and as executive officer, 1st Signal Brigade, Heidelberg, Germany. His final assignment was at the Satellite Communications Agency at Ft. Monmouth, N.J., where he retired in the Army Reserve as a colonel in July 1967.

His military awards include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and other medals of distinction.

After military retirement, he worked in civil service at Ft. Monmouth until 1989. He then volunteered with the Army Community Service at Ft. Monmouth for many years. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and reading.

Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Hartzell of Shrewsbury, N.J.; one son, Col. Donald E. and his wife, Mary W. Hartzell, (USAR Ret.) of Boalsburg, Pa.; one daughter, Maj. Gen. Trudy H. Clark (USAF Ret.) of Alexandria, Va.; one brother, Duane W. and his wife, Leah S. Hartzell, of Slippery Rock; three grandchildren, Leslie Hartzell, David Hartzell and his wife, Jooyoung Hartzell, and Bryant Hartzell; and two great-grandsons, Landon Hartzell and Austin Hartzell.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Helen Jones.

HARTZELL — Funeral services for Col. Herbert Frank Hartzell, who died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, will be at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock on Thursday at 11 a.m. Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. The Rev. William Mumaw II, pastor of the Center Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock, will preside.Interment will be in Slippery Rock Cemetery. Military honors will be observed at the cemetery.Memorial contributions may be given to Slippery Rock University.