Monsignor Hugh A. Overbaugh, 93, entered into God’s eternal rest on October 27, 2026, at St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia, PA, where he had been a resident for the past four years.
Born March 22, 1933, he was the eighth of fifteen children of the late J. Clarence and Helen C. (Topper) Overbaugh. He grew up in McSherrystown, PA, where he graduated from Annunciation Grade School and Delone Catholic High School. During that time, he served as an Altar Boy, delivered the local newspaper, earning the princely sum of 2 cents per customer per day, and was active in scouting, achieving the Eagle Scout ranking. After high school, he entered St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. Upon completion, he was ordained by Bishop George Leech on May 20, 1961.
After his Ordination, Msgr. Overbaugh served in many assignments throughout his priesthood: several parishes and schools in Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and York areas; he served in the Chancery under four bishops as Assistant Chancelor, Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, Vicar General and General Secretary; while working in the chancery he continued to serve at several parishes in the greater Harrisburg area as well as Spiritual Moderator of Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. In 1996 he was named Pastor of St. Catherine Laboure Parish, Harrisburg from where he retired in 2008. In retirement he served as a canonical consultant for the Tribunal. Pope John Paul II named him an Honorary Prelate in 1979 and a Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary in 1989.
He is survived by three sisters, Marie A. Smith and Joyce C. Groft of McSherrystown and Sheila M. Hennessy of Shepherdstown, W. Va, and a brother Joseph C. Overbaugh and his wife Deborah of Lancaster, along with fifty-two nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four brothers Jerome E., Bernard F., Philip J., and Msgr. Lawrence R. and six sisters Mary Clare Weaver, Elaine M. Pace, Regina T. Heidler, Constance A. Keffer, Rosemary E. Cook, and Charlotte “Patty” Overbaugh.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026, at Annunciation B.V.M. Catholic Church, 26 N. Third St., McSherrystown, PA 17344 with The Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, as celebrant. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Friends and relatives will be received on Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Murphy-Beck Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Inc., 501 Ridge Ave., McSherrystown with recitation of the rosary at 6:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Father Hugh may be made to Annunciation B.V.M. Catholic Church, 26 N. Third St., McSherrystown, PA 17344 or to Delone Catholic High School, 140 S. Oxford Ave. McSherrystown, PA 17344.
The family would like to extend their deep appreciation to the staff of the Skilled Care Unit at St. Anne’s and particularly to Father Norm Hohenwater for their extraordinary physical and spiritual care.
Murphy-Beck Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Inc., of McSherrystown is entrusted with arrangements and condolences may be shared at www.beckfunerals.com
Source: Funeral home notice