Resident of the Month
Lebanon, PA
11/19/2020 04:31 PM
“When you reach your senior years, you have earned the privilege of living safely and independently in your own apartment, with access to resident services and a community of your peers,” observes CEO Charlie Rush, “Our residents each have interesting life stories that brought with them. So, we have created an outlet to share these brief biographies on a regular basis. They deserve our recognition.”
Starting this month, Community Homes added a new feature to our website, www.communityhomespa.org , called Resident of the Month.
We pleased to start this series with our first honoree, Harold Trostle, age 95, resident of Oak Terrace in Lebanon, and a WWII US Navy veteran. He has lived here for the last ten years in his own comfortable one-bedroom apartment. He enjoys being around his fellow residents (pre-pandemic of course) because “they all get along and there are no arguments.” Until recently, Harold enjoyed weekly travel on the City bus to a local McDonald’s, where he “hung out” with a group of regular friends.
After 71 years of marriage, Harold recently lost his wife Nancy, who spent her last few years being cared for at Cedar Haven, after living at Oak Terrace with her beloved husband. The Trostles had two children, Donnie, a retired schoolteacher, and Jill, who works and resides at the Jersey shore.
Harold still has vivid pride-filled memories form his life from 1942 to 1945, where he served his country with the US Navy. He served aboard the U.S.S. Currrituck, which distinguished itself, according to an “unofficial history” as one of the “combatant ships of our Navy that played a vital role in sweeping the Japanese Navy and Japanese shipping from the seas.” Trostle earned ribbons for Pacific Asiatic service; Philippine Liberation; and Good conduct. When asked about his role in relation to the medals, Harold said, modestly, “they were all too big for me.”
He finished high school after WWII. His career path included working at RCA in Lancaster. He worked his way up the ladder to become Foreman of the Plating Department.
In his youth, Harold distinguished himself as an athlete, He won a Cross Country championship in 1940. He was also an avid and competitive tennis player for many years.
“I am happy to be a Community Homes resident,” Harold concludes, “My son Donnie helped me find this place ten years ago. It was a wonderful day.”
