Franz Singer, after a very courageous battle with glioblastoma, passed away peacefully at Mount Joy Hospice and moved into his eternal home on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Born March 7, 1936 in Chester, Pennsylvania, he was 86 years old. He was the beloved husband of Doris E. Alger Singer and they were married for 62 years. He was the son of the late John and Claire Singer.
He is survived by his sons: John A. Singer of Alaska, David E. Singer and his wife Susan of Florida, and his daughter Mary E. Hostetter and her husband Jack, of Mount Joy, PA. He is loved by his grandchildren: Michael and Joshua Sechman; Clara, Adele and Marc Singer. He is survived by three brothers: Jon (Jack) Singer of Lancaster, PA; Donald Singer from Lebanon, PA; and Terry Singer of Lusby, Maryland.
Franz attended South Lebanon School, Henry Houck Jr. High, and Lebanon High School. He received his GED in the US Army. He also attended Lebanon Valley College for self-improvement courses in business management and English composition. He entered the military in June 1995 and served at Fort Knox, Ky., and Buedingen, Germany, and upon his return to the United States, Indiantown Gap serving 4 years and 11 months, achieving the rank of 5th Specialist class. While at Fort Knox, Franz attended Fort Knox Armor School, studying small arms repair. In Germany he was Sergeant-at-Arms and later served as assistant chaplain.
While in Germany, he visited his paternal grandmother and aunt from Nuremberg, Germany.
After attending Harrisburg Barber School and in 1961, Franz apprenticed as a barber with John Binner, at his barber shop at 8th and Lehman St. Lebanon, PA.
In 1963 Franz opened Singer’s Barber Shop and in 1966 moved to Main Street to open Four-Chair Shop, which later became known as The Hair Shack where the building also contained a few apartments.
Later, Franz got a certificate for completing an accounting course. He also took additional courses in women’s haircut, color and perms as well as men’s and women’s hairpieces and wigs, acquiring a large following.
Franz continued to show a fondness for buying and managing rental properties in Hershey and Lebanon County and was instrumental in forming the Lebanon County Rental Landlords Association (RPOA) as as administrator and treasurer.
Franz then opened his second boutique in the Palmyra Mall, and then a third on Cumberland Street in Lebanon, where he also operated a gift shop, Singer News and Gifts, and a restaurant, Lebanon Family Restaurant.
Franz also belonged to Hair International, an association of barbers and cosmetologists since 1962 and held many leadership positions in the Lebanon Chapter as well as in the State and then National Organization with offices in Charlotte, North Carolina., After serving as Vice President and then as National President for 8 years.
He served on the Legislative Council of Organized Barbers, which worked for better legislation for the profession. Franz was instrumental in organizing a movement in the 1980s to get lawmakers to pass a bill allowing barbers and cosmetologists to work together in the same store, first having to have a wall between them during they were working, but later the walls were knocked down.
Franz was also a member of the Palmyra Area Recreation Association and oversaw the refreshment stand at the Palmyra Community Pool. He also volunteered at the former Youth for Christ center in Palmyra. He oversaw the bowling alley and the ice cream stand.
Franz enjoyed woodworking, collecting antiques, and camping. Since the children were very young, Franz and his wife, Doris, spent a lot of time camping, having been on the West Coast, in Canada and Mexico. Owning a Bounder motorhome since 1998, Franz was active in associated motorhome clubs; FMCA and Bounders of America, and association with Motor Homes across America where he was National President for that group for 4 years, then Regional Vice President and more recently Executive Vice President.
Semi-retired at age 62 in 1998, Franz began closing all of his businesses except the Hair Shack in Palmyra and rental properties. He completely retired from the hairdressing business in 2015 and continued to manage real estate.
Franz enjoyed Southern Gospel music, attending concerts in Florida and Gatlinburg, TN., while camping there. He enjoyed attending Gather Homecomings and later watching the Homecoming series on television.
His two sisters; Barbara Springborn and Sharon Speakman plus one grandson; Tyler M. Sechman predeceased him.
A funeral service was held on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at Campbelltown United Methodist Church, 2760 Horseshoe Pike, Palmyra, PA 17078, with Pastor Bill McNeal officiating. A viewing time took place until the start of the performance. Burial with full military honors will take place at Gravel Hill Cemetery, Palmyra at a later date at the family’s convenience.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Campbelltown UMC, PO Box 21 Campbelltown, PA 17010 or to Brain Tumor Research at Penn State Health, Checks payable to: The Pennsylvania State University, In memo : Brain Tumor Research -Dr. Aregawi, Glantz or Zacharia. Address, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, ZIP Code HS20, 1249 Cocoa Ave Suite 115 PO Box 852 Hershey, PA 17033-0852.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Rothermel Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 25 W. Pine St., Palmyra, PA 17078. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.FinkenbinderFamily.com
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