Vernon W. Messner, 82, of Williamsport, died at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, at the Gatehouse of Divine Providence Hospital. He and his wife, the former Barbara A. Shotts, celebrated 53 years of marriage together on April 11.
Born in Williamsport on Oct. 19, 1934, he was the son of Charles L. and Wanda H. (Bennett) Messner.
Vernon was a 60 year member of the former Memorial Baptist Church and Sunday school. He graduated from Williamsport High School in 1952 and the Williamsport Technical Institute in 1960. Vernon retired from Pullman Power Products, formerly M.W. Kellogg Company in 1986 after 25 years of service in various engineering capacities, the last of which was their Sr. Nuclear Codes Engineer.
Vernon was a U.S. Army Veteran, having served two years in the 504th Combat Military Police Battalion during the time of the Korean War. Vernon belonged to Local VFW Post No. 7863 and the Korean War Veterans of Lycoming County.
He played baseball as a pitcher and short stop for the Lincoln Boys League (Newberry) in the first Little League Baseball series in 1947. The series at that time was the National Series which later became the Little League World Series. Newberry lost in the semi-final to Maynard by 2-1 in 10 innings.
Vernon enjoyed fishing and exercise walking. He also was a regular caller on Ken Sawyer’s Talk Show, which he enjoyed immensely and was a member of Williamsport Mayor Steve Cappelli’s Advisory Committee.
Surviving besides his wife are two sons, Charles W. Messner and Christopher A. Messner with whom he lived; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Vernon was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary A. Compton and Normalee Messner.
A funeral service to honor the life of Vernon will be held 11 a.m. Friday,  September 8, at Sanders Mortuary, 821 Diamond St., Williamsport, with his Pastor, The Rev. Timothy R. Kinney Sr., officiating. Burial will follow in Montoursville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening at Sanders.
Memorial contributions may be made in Vernon’s name to the LeRoy O. Buck V.F.W. Post No. 7863, 150 Shaffer St., Duboistown, PA 17702.