Irvin H. Herman

Irvin Henry Herman, just “Herm” to all who knew him, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis at the age of 94. Already fighting viral pneumonia, he was among the first Indiana victims of COVID-19.

Herm lived a long, full, and challenging life and he had a wealth of stories to share. He was born Jan. 11, 1926, in Sacramento, Pa., the first of five children of Irvin Henry Herman Sr. and Ellen Mae (Bowman) Herman. His coalminer father died of “black lung” when Herm was 11, leaving the family without a breadwinner deep in the Great Depression. After graduating from Porter Township High School in May 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17. Like other members of The Greatest Generation, the direction of his life was forever changed by World War II.

That November, while assigned to the Naval Training Radio School at the Naval Armory in Indianapolis, he met a cute 16-year-old Shortridge High School sophomore named Dolores La Verne Baker on a blind date at Rollerland. They became pen pals when he left for the South Pacific.

Herm was a proud member of the 4^th JASCO (Fourth Joint Assault Signal Company) that provided communications support for the First Marine Division and he was part of the eighth wave in their assault on Peleliu Island in September 1944. His service also took him to Pavuvu, Okinawa, Tientsin in North China, and Manila in the Philippines. For the last two decades of his life, he kept in touch with his JASCO teammates through an annual letter to the remaining survivors, a list of hundreds that has dwindled to fewer than 20.

The Herm/Dolores pen pal relationship flourished through the war and when he was discharged in April 1946, he returned to Indianapolis. They were married there on Aug. 31, 1946.

Courtesy of the G.I. Bill, Herm earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University in 1950 and joined Indianapolis Power & Light. After 38 years in Substation Design Engineering, he retired in 1988. He also served as an electrical engineering consultant for a number of construction firms until he gave up his license several years go.

Herm and Dolores had three children he was immensely proud of and he was active as a Little League umpire and coach when the two boys were young. He served as president of the IPL Men’s Club and was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Loyal Order of the Moose, and the First Marine Division Association. He was a pillar of Ellenberger United Church of Christ for decades. He was a huge fan of NFL, NBA, and NCAA football and basketball and enjoyed more than 40 years of friendly wagering with a former co-worker.

Herm knew how to have a good time and how to share the fun with others. The swinging doors were always open at “Herm’s Bar” in the basement of the family home on the Indianapolis east side, where he entertained family, friends, and acquaintances from as far away as Scotland and South Korea. He was still presiding over the bar at is 94^th birthday party in January. He jokingly attributed his longevity to the Manhattan he enjoyed every day at “cocktail time.”

He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Dolores Herman; children Linda (Ken) Ferries of Kokomo, Ken (Deb) Herman of Clemson, S.C., and Don Herman of Houston, Texas; daughter-in-law Pam Herman of Bellevue, Wash.; grandchildren Elizabeth (J.D.) Ferries-Rowe of Indianapolis, Laura (Matt Kleemann) Ferries of Greenwood, Ian (Kaitlin) Ferries of Zionsville, Andrea Herman and Jessica Herman of Atlanta, Ga., Clayton Herman of Decatur, Ga., Max Herman of Houston, and Second Lt. Elliott Herman of St. Robert, Mo.; great-grandchildren Sophia, Eilidh, and Eva Ferries-Rowe; Mary Beth and Cameron Ferries; and Ciaran and Isla Kleemann; sisters Joyce (Dave) Evans of Camp Hill, Pa., and Joan Wolfe of Lykens, Pa., and brother George (Alice) Herman of York, Pa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Nancy Stong.

Pastor Alan Blakeburn of Ellenberger United Church of Christ officiated a family service at the chapel at Memorial Park Cemetery in Indianapolis where Herm was buried.

A celebration of Herm’s life is scheduled for Saturday, July 10 at 11 AM with a gathering 10 AM until the time of service with military honors following at Flanner Buchanan – Memorial Park, 9350 E. Washington St, Indianapolis. If you are unable to attend the service you can join by clicking here.

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Herm’s legacy of generosity, memorial contributions may be made to Ellenberger United Church of Christ, 5520 E. 10^th St., Indianapolis 46219, or the charity of the donor’s choice.

For Herm, it was always 5 o’clock somewhere. Now it’s always 5 o’clock in heaven.