Harry Bernard Classon, Jr.

On January 27, 2020, Harry Bernard Classon, Jr., retired Liberty Mutual Executive Sales Rep. and US Navy veteran, died at home of stomach cancer. He was preceded in death in 2013 by his loving wife of 61 years, Georgia Lee Classon (nee Powitz) and little infant son, Joseph in 1954.

He left high school at the end of his junior year and enlisted in the Navy where he served aboard a destroyer as a radar man during the Cold War and the Korean War years from 1949 until 1953. He completed his high school education while in the Navy and later graduated Cum Laude from the University of Baltimore. Bernie, as he was known to family and friends, enjoyed golf and music. He played trumpet in his high school band and soprano bugle in local junior and senior drum and bugle corps in Baltimore, before moving to Bel Air, and in the Navy drum and bugle corps at Great Lakes NTS.

Bernie served as Post Commander of Towson American Legion Post #22 and on many committees there. He was also very active in the Knights of Columbus, Bel Air Council #4714, where he served on and chaired many committees. He also served on several K of C state activities and was Grand Knight of his Council, District Deputy, and Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree. He was an active member of St. Margaret Catholic Church in Bel Air where he was honored to serve on various committees and as a reader of the Liturgical word, and Minister of the Holy Eucharist since 1974.

He is survived by his children, Thomas Classon and wife Nancy, Deborah Shoul and husband Jerome, Robert Classon and wife Sharon, Robin Mascari and husband Joseph III, and Kathleen Wantz and husband Jeffrey, eleven  grandchildren and 19  great-grandchildren, a brother, Frank Classon and wife Clair of Orlando, Fla. and a sister, Mary Lou Spaulding of Milan, Illinois and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and celebrate Bernie’s life at the Evans Life Celebration Home– Bel Air, 3 Newport Drive (Rt. 23 & Rt. 24), Forest Hill on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM.  A Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be conducted at St. Margaret Catholic Church on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 10 AM. Interment will be at Bel Air Memorial Gardens.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to St. Margaret’s Church for the Children Faith Formation- 141 Hickory Ave., Bel Air MD 21014. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at www.evansfuneralchapel.com.

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