February 19th, 1930 – February 12th, 1997
Herb Entwistle
On February 12th, 1997, after a very short battle with kidney cancer, the founding President of the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society, Herb Entwistle, slipped away from us and “crossed the bar”.
Many of us only knew about Herb’s love of lighthouses and of his life as our President. It was only after his memorial service in the Vienna Presbyterian Church on Saturday, February 15th, 1997, that any of us could really come to fully appreciate all that he has done for his nation,church, and family.
Herb was born and raised in Westfield, New Jersey. He received a bachelors degree in mathematics and a masters degree in education from Colgate University. He then served his country in the U.S. Air Force for20 years from which he retired in 1974 as a Lieutenant Colonel. After his retirement he taught remedial mathematics at Vienna’s Marshall High School and was a wise counselor for those many young people with whom he made contact. Herb was very active in his church, serving as an elder and chairing several major committees, including its building committee. He was also very active in the community’s Committee for Helping Others.
Most of us came to know Herb in 1989 at the organizational meeting of the Chesapeake Chapter (then known as the Virginia Chapter) of the U.S.Lighthouse Society (USLHS). It became apparent at this meeting that Herb was our “man of the hour”. It was obvious that he was the one to get us organized and to lead the way to what the Head Keeper of the USLHS has called one of the society’s preeminent chapters. So effective was he in this role that he served continuously as its only President. He was indeed the driving force behind the Chapter, and we shall all miss his expertise, his humor, and wise counsel.
All who knew Herb and were privileged to work with him marveled at his knowledge, his organizational skills, his keen wit, and his love of life. He was not one to give an example. He set an example in all that he did. “His passing leaves a lonesome place against our sky.”
-The Board of Directors: Chesapeake Chapter, U.S. Lighthouse Society –