James E. "Ernie" Gatten, 90, of Scenery Hill, died Saturday, March 9, 2013, in his home.
He was born May 7, 1922, in Washington, a son of Bert T. and Lucy Liming Gatten.
Mr. Gatten was a member of North Ten Mile Baptist Church and American Legion Post 897.
In 1984, he retired from Brockway 7 after 31 years as a machine operator. He also operated the family sheep farm in North Bethlehem Township for more than 40 years.
During World War II, he served in the major campaigns in Europe. On April 25, 1945, he was serving as a member of a 21-man cavalry escort detachment, a unit which provided escort security for two U.S. Army field generals, U.S. V Corps, 69th Infantry Division and a group of news reporters. They traveled across several miles of central Germany to the city of Torgau, where the ceremony that marked the official historic linkup of the U.S. and Soviet armies was held. On July 9, 2004, in Sainteny, France, he was awarded the 60th Anniversary Medal of Liberation from the government of Normandy. That same week, he revisited Torgau to view the large monument that marks the spot where the two allied armies met in 1945. He was awarded an Honorary Masters of Military Science from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tenn., in 2012.
He celebrated more than 60 years of marriage with his wife, Betty Grace Fulton Gatten, who died November 30, 2006.
Surviving are daughter Phyllis (Ed) Corgiat of Tennessee; son Ralph (Rhonda) Gatten of Scenery Hill; three grandsons, Edwin Corgiat, Lukas and Noah Gatten; sister Lucille Hillberry of California; brother Chester Gatten of Washington; and several nieces and nephews.
Deceased are three brothers, John W., Elbert, Norman Gatten, and a granddaughter, Corey Ann Gatten.
Family and friends will be received from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in Nichol Funeral Home, 1873 East Maiden Street, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, with the Rev. Gary Schneider officiating. Interment will follow in North Ten Mile Cemetery, Amwell Township. Full military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 744 of Marianna. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideon's International or a charity of one's choice. A guest book may be signed at www.nicholfuneralhome.com.
Family Members
Spouse
Betty Grace Fulton Gatten*
1925–2006
