John Dale

John R. Dale, 86, of the Frederick Mennonite Community, and formerly of Pennsburg and Willow Grove, died December 2, 2007 at Frederick. He was the husband of Virginia M. (Taylor) Dale. The couple was married 63 years this past July. Born in Germantown, he was a son of the late George and Edith (Dewis) Dale. He received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Drexel University. He was also valedictorian of his OCS Class in the Army. He served in the Army in Germany during WWII, where he was responsible for building thirteen 3 story apartment houses for use by GI families. He also served in the Army stateside during the Korean Conflict. He was a mechanical engineer, first for Honeywell; and then for General Electric where he was instrumental in developing the “ARC” which simulated re-entry of spaceships through the atmosphere; and last for Johnsville Naval Air Station, Sonar division. He retired in 1980. After retirement, he carved wood stories and made tables. He also worked with hammered aluminum, plastics and semiprecious gems which he cut, polished and set in 14K gold & sterling silver. He was written up in Pennsylvania Magazine and Chips & Chat Magazine & locally in the Morning Call, Mercury, and Hearthstone newspapers. He also was invited to appear on TV Channel 39 in 2002. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Red Hill. He was a former 32nd Degree Mason; and a member of the Schwenkfelder Library and the Goshenhoppen Historians. In 1999, he established the Museum of Pennsylvania German Culture, having researched the background of German culture and creatively carved 140 wooden stories and wrote a text on each. He lectured and hosted tours of the museum for historical & other groups from September 1999 when it opened until October 2005. Surviving with his wife, is a daughter, Joy, wife of William Luff, of Red Hill; and grandchildren: John, Jennifer, and Taylor. He was pre-deceased by a son, Robert; and a sister, Dorothy Stahl. Memorial Services will be at 11 AM on Friday, December 14th, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Red Hill. The Falk Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pennsburg is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 47, Red Hill, PA, 18076 OR to the charity of one’s choice.