Berlin – Henry C. Tanner, Jr. 84, died suddenly Monday, October 10, 2016 at Samaritan Hospital in Troy after being stricken at his home.[private] Born in Philadelphia, PA on August 16, 1932, he was the son of the late Henry C. and Bertha Moses Tanner, Sr. He was raised and educated in Upper Darby, PA and spent his summers in Center Berlin on the family farm. He attended the University of Vermont and RPI in Troy and was a veteran of the US Army.
He worked with his brother, Nelson, at Tanner’s Garage in Center Berlin for four years. He then was employed by the Allstate Insurance Company in Latham for 32 years as a claims adjuster before retiring 22 years ago. He also served as the Justice of the Peace for the Town of Berlin for 10 years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Berlin for over 61 years and served as a deacon.
Henry was a race car mechanic and with his exceptional mechanist skills was known as “The Motor Man” at Lebanon Valley Speedway. He also worked on stock cars but found the greatest pleasure in working on race cars for his son Henry and his grandson Matthew. At one time, he owned his own plane and had a pilot’s license. He loved to travel and made trips to Alaska and Cuba. And when the weather was nice, you could find Henry and Maggie cruising around in the yellow Oldsmobile convertible on their way to an antique car show.
He was the beloved husband of 57 years of Margaret “Maggie” Goodermote Tanner whom he married on June 21, 1959 in Berlin; devoted father of Henry C. (Jan) Tanner, III of Center Berlin, Sandra J. (Kevin) Billert of Grafton and Julie T. (Shane) Riccardi of Berlin; proud grandfather of Matthew Henry Tanner, Tanner James Billert and Kasey Dylan Billert. He was predeceased by his siblings, Nelson and Donald Tanner and Carolyn Bain. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be Saturday, October 15 at 11 am at the First Baptist Church of Berlin, 15 North Main Street, Berlin with Pastor Peter Seide officiating. Interment will follow in the Berlin Community Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the First Baptist Church of Berlin on Friday from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Berlin, 15 North Main Street, Berlin, NY 12022 or to the Berlin Rescue Squad, PO Box 269, Berlin, NY 12022.
Arrangements are by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown. Condolence book at www.ParkerBrosMemorial.com.[/private]