t was not uncommon decades ago for large families to exist in the Panther Valley region, where service to our country and communities was prevalent. “It’s what made this area great,” said Stanley Zuber of Summit Hill, a 90-year-old veteran with a history of making contributions to society.

A veteran of the Cold War, Zuber served four years in the U.S. Air Force, including three-plus-years as a ground radio operator/cryptographer with the 604th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. He became a teacher and guidance counselor while being active in American Legion Post 316, Summit Hill, and a number of town, school district and county initiatives.

To this day, the nonagenarian continues to play a service role, that ethic, he says, being something he and his siblings inherited from their parents.

“You have to take care of your town,” Zuber stressed. “If you have the time and talent, I think you should use it the right way. And you can do it in very very quiet ways.”

Almost without anyone knowing it, Zuber takes care of some of the grounds around the Post 316 headquarters on Lehigh Street in the community, particularly focusing on making sure the monuments that bear former soldiers’ names are in tip-top shape, planting flowers there and making it one of the most attractive memorials around. In his earlier years, he served as financial officer for 10 years at the post, where he was also the “chief cook and bottle washer” for events held there.

He described the post as, “a real solid organization that quietly goes about its business, doing what we can for the community.”

The post members, he said, “do a good job of providing a place in the community for people who otherwise don’t have anyone else; maybe they live by themselves, but they can go there to see a friend, feel welcome and stay mentally healthy.”

He encourages veterans to join the post. Those who are not veterans have the option of joining as a social member, Son of the American Legion or auxiliary member.

“People come from other towns, Lansford, Jim Thorpe and elsewhere, because it’s a friendly place and you’re going to be welcome here.”

Family of veterans

Zuber’s longstanding commitment to our country is due in part to his parents, the late Walter, an immigrant from Poland, and Catherine (Porambo) Zuber.

He was joined in the military by four brothers, Joseph, a current Summit Hill resident who retired as a captain from the Pennsylvania State Police and who had served during the Korean War; Frank of California, a retired lieutenant in the Air Force; the late Mitchell, an Army veteran of World War II; and the late Walter, a former paratrooper. They were joined at home by a brother, John of Summit Hill, a retired educator; and two sisters, Stanley’s twin, Mary Adams, of Perkasie, and the late Natalie Mace.

“It was not uncommon for there to be large families in the community, nor for two to three and sometimes four to five members of them to enter the military,” Zuber recalled. “You look at the names on the monument at the Legion, and there are lots of two to three brothers, or more, who went on to serve our country.”

The Zubers grew up knowing the value of family, church and community. “It was the way our mom and dad were,” he said. “Mom never raised her voice; always had sometime on the table; and our father worked as a miner at the No. 6 Colliery, Lansford, where he walked to work. He could do anything.”

They were always a part of the church (St. Stanislaus Catholic Church), and like so many other families, worked to help is thrive. “Our mother was a volunteer there, and did numerous service work. She would never ask anyone to do something she wouldn’t do herself.”

Zuber recalled in those days youths “had to amuse ourselves,” noting, “A big night for us was when we were given 42 cents to go to Margaret Bonner’s Drug Store for seven ice creams.”

Regarding his and his brothers’ military service, he said, “In all things, there was an expectation that you have to take care of what needs to be done. That’s what we were taught.”

Became educator

Like many who returned home, Zuber benefitted from the G.I. Bill, attending East Stroudsburg State College, graduating in 1961 with a degree in education, concentrating in science. He taught in the Lehighton Area School District for 34 years before retiring in 1996, spending the majority of his working career as a counselor in the junior high school and middle school.

“There were no finances (in the family), so the G.I. Bill was an option,” he said.

He and his wife, the former Louise Whitehead, married in 1958. He said, “Louise gave up everything and said ‘you’re going to school.’ She never asked for anything for herself.”

As the family settled in Summit Hill, Zuber was involved in many community endeavors, including the Summit Hill Little League Association, Panther Valley Knee-Hi Association and clubs at Panther Valley High School, where their children attended school and played athletics.

He was the first president of the Panther Valley High School 12th Man Club, serving for two years, and served Carbon County as an advisory board member for the Office of Children and Youth Services.

Like his parents, he had been active in the former St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Summit Hill. The family currently belongs to its successor, St. Joseph Catholic Church in the community.

The Zubers have four sons: Stanley, and his wife, Leslie, of Berwick; Mark, and his wife, Korry, of Missoula, Montana.; Christopher, and his wife, Sandra, of Schnecksville; and Philip, and his wife, Maureen, of New Columbus. They also have eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Will continue service

As he embarks on another decade, Zuber continues to be proud to live in Summit Hill, which he calls a “very patriotic town.” He said, “Absolutely, it’s a town that takes care of itself but is dependent upon to the effort of people helping each other.

“It’s a super good community; no question about that; and has had especially good government for as long as I can remember.”

As for his community service, Zuber promises, “I’ll be there are long as I can; and I’ll crawl on all fours if I have to.”