Solon J. Fenner Sr., 74, a resident of West Wyoming, passed into eternal life on Sunday morning, March 12, 2023, at his home.

Born on October 17, 1948, in Wilkes-Barre, Solon was the son of the late Solon I. Fenner and Kathleen (Gruver) Fenner Basher.

A United States Army veteran, Solon honorably served his country for one years during the Vietnam War.

For 30 years, Solon was employed as the textile cutting room manager for the former Fit-Rite Headwear, Wilkes-Barre. Moving to Alaska in 1992, he worked for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, and also served as a volunteer firefighter in Palmer, Alaska, for over 15 years. He returned to the Wyoming Valley in 2008.

A man of faith, Solon was a member of Meade Street Baptist Church, Wilkes-Barre. During his years in Alaska, he was actively involved in prison ministry, and he was a firm believer in the idiom “idle hands are the Devil’s playground”, so Solon always made sure he was busy doing something.

Solon was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Wyoming Valley Lodge #36, Hanover Township.

In addition to his parents, Solon Fenner and Kathleen Basher, Solon was preceded in death by his brothers, Randolph Fenner; Eugene, Bernard, and Joseph Basher; his sisters, Dorothy Fenner, Violet Coopey, and Barbara Barron.

Solon is survived by his loving wife, the former Shirley O’Donnell; his five sons, John (Denise) Fenner, Luzerne; Brian (Leah) Fenner, Hunlock Creek; Sean Fenner, Plymouth; Solon Fenner Jr., South Carolina; and Malachi Fenner, Edwardsville; his 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; his sister, Kathleen Skrzypkowski, Nanticoke; as well as his many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Solon’s memorial service which will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 11:00 AM in Meade Street Baptist Church, 50 South Meade Street, Wilkes-Barre, with the Reverend Chester Dudick Jr., Pastor, officiating.

Interment with full Military Honors will be held privately in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort.

To send Solon’s family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home’s website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com, or Facebook page.

The family kindly requested that flowers be omitted. Memorial contributions may be made in Solon’s memory to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

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