Edwin H. Messner

Edwin H. Messner, 95, of Coatesville, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at the Coatesville VA Medical Center Hospice Unit.  Born in Frazer, PA, he was the son of the late Edwin Jacob and Sarah Anna Rogers Messner.

Edwin proudly served in the US Army during WWII and was part of the D-Day invasion in Normandy on June 6,1944. As part of US First Army under General Omar Bradley, he drove the first supply truck onto Omaha Beach on D-Day. He was assigned to US 3rd Army under General George Patton and drove supply trucks across Europe with the 3712th Quartermaster Truck Company including at the Battle of The Bulge. During most of this time, he drove the vehicle hauling General Patton’s map trailer. He received the Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, 5 Bronze Campaign Stars, Bronze Service Arrowhead and the World War II Victory Medal and 50 years after D-Day, he was awarded a French D-Day Jubilee Medal for American participants in D-Day through D+10 by the French consulate in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to D-Day, he was fortunate enough to dance with then-Princess (Now Queen) Elizabeth II at an Allied Servicemen’s Club in London, England

After the war he was employed by the Davis Oil Co. of West Chester for 55 years as a truckdriver.  He was a member the American Legion and an Honorary Life member of the Parkesburg VFW.

He is survived by two children; Edwin Messner, Jr of York, PA and Elaine, wife of Thomas Savarese of Texas, two grandchildren, Raychal and Ryan Weis and three siblings; Allen S. Messner of Glenmoore, PA, Nancy K. Mattison and husband, Criss of Coatesville and William H. Messner of Green Lane, PA.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Wilde Funeral Home, 434 Main St. Parkesburg, PA. Family and friends are also invited to attend the viewing from 10:00 AM to the time of the service. Interment will take place the following day, May 31 at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA at 12:30 PM.

Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com