Herbert E. May. 79, Brookston, died Wednesday. May 3, 2000 at his residence. He had been in failing health for the past six months.

He was born on Oct. 24, 1920, in Lafayette to Elmer and Mamie Smith May. His first marriage was to Opal Ritenour on Dec. 25, 1940. She died in December 1989. He then married Lorraine Dorton Garrott on June 26, 1993 in Brookston. She survives.

He was a 1939 graduate of Brookston High School. He moved back to Brookston from Swayzee in 1993.
 
He served in the U.S. Army from December 1943 until November 1945. He was a Corporal in the 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division, in Normandy and Northern France.  He was held as a prisoner of war for eight months.

He was a former member of the Monticello City Council and board of directors of the Salvation Army in Marion.

He had been in the banking business since 1945. He retired from Grant County State Bank in Swayzee in 1985, having worked there since 1967. He had been a bank director at Grant County State Bank since 1963.

He was a member of Brookston United Methodist Church.

He was a 50-year member of Libanus Masonic Lodge No. 154 of Monticello, a member of the Indianapolis
Scottish Rite and Murat Shrine, and a 50-year member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge.

Surviving with his wife are two sons, Bruce (Debby) May of Indianapolis and Ronald (Susie) May of Bloomington; a daughter, Judy (Lyle) Skaros of Zim, Minn., his stepmother, Katherine May of Brookston, a sister, Barbara (Donald) Purkhiser of Monticello; two stepdaughters, Chris (Leslie) Krok of Indianapolis and Janet (Michael) Grella of Seattle; a stepson, Doug (Barbara) Garrott of Troy, Idaho; six grandchildren; and six stepgrandchildren.

Two brothers are deceased.

Funeral service was May 6, 2000 at Hartzler Funeral Home, Brookston; the Rev. Jan Dimick officiated.

Burial was in Gardens of Memory Cemetery.

Memorials may be. made to Brookston United Methodist Church.