Henry “Hank” A. Into, age 85, of The Villages, FL, formally Cromwell, CT passed away Sunday, March 6, 2016 under Hospice care after a short illness. He had suffered a stroke 23 years ago.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Frances Harrison and their daughter Karen of Asheville, NC, his first wife Ellen Chambers and their children John (Nancy Price) of Wittman, MD, Pamela of Easton, MD and Stephen (Valerie Russo) of Harvard, MA, as well as grandchildren Nicole and Kyle of Harvard, MA. He is also survived by his brother A. Norman Into, Jr. (Frances Lynn) of Youngstown, OH. He is predeceased by his parents A. Norman Into and Paula T. Siedenburg.
He was born December 1, 1930 in New York, NY and grew up in Greenwich, CT. His Christian baptism was with water from the River Jordan.
Hank served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955 as a photographer in the Criminal Investigation Lab at Camp Gordon during the Korean War. He graduated from Yale with a degree in Industrial Administration. He worked as a firearms designer for Winchester, Sturm Ruger, Colt Firearms and Smith & Wesson. More than 16 U.S. and numerous foreign patents have been granted in his name. He was a member of the NRA and American Legion Post 347, Lady Lake.
He enjoyed shooting, watching Yale & UCONN football games, motorcycle riding, WWII history and traveling, including all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries. He once estimated that he traveled a million miles by land, sea & air. He enjoyed many of these activities even after his stroke and kept an active life while living in The Villages. He was able to enjoy a Flightless Honor Flight last year.
A memorial service will be held at Beyers Funeral Home Chapel, Lady Lake, on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 11 a.m. followed by interment at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL.
Donations may be made in Hank’s memory to: National Firearms Museum, 11250 Waples Mill Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030; Cornerstone Hospice, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL 32162 or Villages Honor Flight, PO Box 490, Lady Lake, FL 32158
