| Notes |
- Grover Barner, a man of value
By Nicole Cloud - Special to the Sun-Gazette POSTED: February 18, 2009
Grover Barner
LOCK HAVEN - Grover Barner is a 92-year-old resident at Susque-View Home, 22 Cree Drive.
When I first met Grover, his assistant told him I was there to interview him about his life.
He quickly giggled and said "Why, what have I've done." With a large smile and friendly handshake, Grover welcomed me into his room.
Like most young boys, Grover enjoyed playing outside and getting dirty. He dreamed that one day he would become an architect. To follow his dream he knew that he must get educated.
As Grover entered his sophomore year of high school, his dream of becoming an architect was put on hold.
Two weeks into the school year, Grover's father was injured and the 14-year-old Grover had to drop out of high school and support his family.
At 14, Grover began working at a farm for 50 cents a day. As time went on, he needed to make more money.
Luckily, the Civilian Conservation Corps were in Boalsburg trying to construct a Girl Scout Camp. However, the ground was in terrible condition, so Grover took on the challenge of how to preserve the topsoil. He worked closely beside an engineer to help mandate soil conservation. After the two-year project was complete, Grover moved back to Lock Haven.
Soon after coming home to Lock Haven, Grover got his trucking license and went into business for himself as an independent driver.
After a while, though, the expenses of the truck were too much compared to the income he was receiving.
Once again, Grover was on the hunt to make a better life for him and his high school sweetheart. Grover was hired by George Porter as the manager of the Clintonian, which quickly became owned by Henry McCormick.
McCormick offered him a $30 a week salary, which at the time was quite a bit.
Grover continued to work for Henry McCormick until he was 26 and enlisted in the Marine Corps.
While in the service, Grover entered the engineering program alongside Paul McCormick, who was Henry's younger brother.
After traveling the world, and completing his term. Grover left the Marines as a first division engineer.
After arriving home, Grover rested for one day before entering back into the workforce. He and Paul went to work for Henry McCormick.
Even though the men were paid a decent salary, they wanted to start up their own business. Henry McCormick gave them money to get the dream on track.
Grover and Paul bought one crane and one bulldozer. The men were ready for their first job, which was Henry McCormick's basement. After completing the first project successfully the men then started getting lager offers.
The next job was the sewer line in Flemington. The task was to clean up the river, and of course, the men completed the job successfully.
For every one job they had completed there were 10 more waiting. The company soon was asked to build a reservoir in the City of Lock Haven.
The goal was to build a reservoir that stored 560 million gallons of water.
Of course, Grover found a way to do it.
As the age of 80 began to approach, Grover finally felt that it was time to retire.
After being in business for 42 years, it was at last his time to rest.
Grover began the business with one crane and one bulldozer and when he left the company, it had more than a million dollars worth of equipment, and work that was seen all over Lock Haven.
Albert Einstein once said "Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value."
I'm pretty sure Einstein himself would be envious of Grover Barner, because he is the prime example of a man who has had great success on top of being a genuinely great man of value.
Cloud is a student at Lock Haven University who is completing an internship at Susque-View.
Subscribe to Williamsport Sun-Gazette
==============================================================
Grover C. Barner
August 10, 2011
The Express
Save |
Grover C. Barner, 94, a resident of the Susque-View Home, Lock Haven, formerly of 125 Mann Ave., Mill Hall, died August 9, 2011 at Susque-View.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Dean K. Wetzler, Jr. Funeral Home, 320 Main St., Mill Hall, Clinton Co, PA. 17751.
www.wetzlerfuneralhome.org
© Copyright 2011 The Express. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Save |
Subscribe to The Express
|
1917 - 2011 (94 years) Has 22 ancestors and 6 descendants in this family tree.
[1] 
