Five
Generations of Service
Henry Wimberg
founded the Wimberg Funeral Home in 1881 in Egg Harbor City, Atlantic
County, N.J. A fifth generation Wimberg, George III, joined the business
which now boasts family funeral homes in Ventnor City,
founded in 1935, Linwood, founded in 1979, and Galloway, founded in 2002,
as well as the original in Egg Harbor City.
George III has
joined a long tradition of funeral service that began with a humble sign,
"H. Wimberg - Undertaker," placed on the front porch roof of Henry Sr.'s
home. A German immigrant, Henry Sr. was a contractor and builder who also
manufactured cigar boxes, cabinets, and coffins.
By 1895, Henry
Jr. was helping in the business and took over when his father died in 1912.
Henry Jr. also owned a furniture store next door to the original funeral
parlor. In 1927, Henry Jr. tore down the furniture store
and built a modern funeral home which the family lost during the depression.
In 1935, they reestablished the business at its present site in Egg Harbor
City. By that time George H. Wimberg had joined the family business.
Credit for the
proclivity of Wimbergs for the funeral profession should be given to Henry
Jr., who had 10 children, seven of whom were or are closely connected to the
family calling. Lawrence G. continued his father's business until his death
in 1972. George H. opened the Ventnor City mortuary in 1935, and Chester J.
founded an Ocean City business which operated until a few years ago. Joseph
Wimberg was a sales representative for Dodge Chemical Company. Henry was
employed by the Egg Harbor Vault Company, which was founded by Lawrence G.
Several of
Henry Jr.'s grandsons are also
involved with the industry. Lloyd, son of Lawrence A., presently owns and
operates the Egg Harbor City and Galloway facilities. Lloyd's brother,
Lawrence K. owned the former Egg Harbor Vault Company and works with his
brother Lloyd. Chester's son, Thomas, operates Palermo Memorials in Cape May
County. George H. Jr. operates the Ventnor and Linwood funeral homes.
The Wimbergs
have another family tradition - politics. Henry J. and later his grandson
Lloyd were both Atlantic County Freeholders. George Sr. was county coroner.
Charles was mayor of Egg Harbor City and Chester was mayor of Ocean City.
Larry was a Mullica Township Committeeman. The man who started it all, Henry
Sr., was chief of the Egg Harbor City Volunteer Fire Company for 16 years
prior to his death in 1912.
Truly the
funeral profession is a tradition in the Wimberg family. For over 120 years
they have served the people of Atlantic and Cape May Counties as funeral
directors as well as community volunteers and elected public servants.
Theirs is a proud tradition and a proud family with a long history of
accomplishment
