Fred W. Diefenbacher, age 85, of Canton, died at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday January 13, 2009 at Arbors of Canton.
He was born November 21, 1923 in Canton, Ohio to German immigrants William and Elizabeth (Lederer) Diefenbacher when they lived at the Timken Gatehouse.
A 1941 graduate of Timken Vocational High School, Fred, was a graduate of United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York and did post graduate studies at Ohio State University. A World War II Veteran he served in the United States Merchant Marine in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific areas. He was a Korean War Veteran serving in the United States Navy on the USS Catamount in the amphibious fleet and served 11 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was a professional engineer and a licensed stationary steam engineer and retired from the Aircraft Braking Systems (former Goodyear and Aerospace) as staff engineer with 27 years service.
Fred was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, charter member of the U.S. Merchant Marines and U.S. Navy Armed Guard, Veterans of World War II, life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #693, North Canton Eagles Aerie #2223, Canton Elks #68, AARP Parkway Chapter #5190.
Fred's hobbies were gardening, fishing and exercising. In his youth he was an amateur boxer.
Survivors include his wife and caregiver Garneth Elisha "Lish" (Zelinskas) Diefenbacher whom he married June 18, 1966; nieces and nephews, Charlotte (Leonard) Bossart, Thomas (Trina) Dornhecker, Susan (Steve) Criswell, all of North Canton, Kurt Weber, Sharrell Weber Shell and Roland Shell all of Topeka, Kansas, and Dr. Timothy (Kathy) Weber of Shelton, Washington and numerous great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Eleanor Dornhecker.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Canton with Monsignor John Finnigan officiating. Friends may call from 3-7 p.m. Monday, January 19, 2009 at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home. Interment will be at North Lawn Cemetery in Canton.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave. Alliance, Ohio 44601.
He was born November 21, 1923 in Canton, Ohio to German immigrants William and Elizabeth (Lederer) Diefenbacher when they lived at the Timken Gatehouse.
A 1941 graduate of Timken Vocational High School, Fred, was a graduate of United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York and did post graduate studies at Ohio State University. A World War II Veteran he served in the United States Merchant Marine in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific areas. He was a Korean War Veteran serving in the United States Navy on the USS Catamount in the amphibious fleet and served 11 years in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He was a professional engineer and a licensed stationary steam engineer and retired from the Aircraft Braking Systems (former Goodyear and Aerospace) as staff engineer with 27 years service.
Fred was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, charter member of the U.S. Merchant Marines and U.S. Navy Armed Guard, Veterans of World War II, life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #693, North Canton Eagles Aerie #2223, Canton Elks #68, AARP Parkway Chapter #5190.
Fred's hobbies were gardening, fishing and exercising. In his youth he was an amateur boxer.
Survivors include his wife and caregiver Garneth Elisha "Lish" (Zelinskas) Diefenbacher whom he married June 18, 1966; nieces and nephews, Charlotte (Leonard) Bossart, Thomas (Trina) Dornhecker, Susan (Steve) Criswell, all of North Canton, Kurt Weber, Sharrell Weber Shell and Roland Shell all of Topeka, Kansas, and Dr. Timothy (Kathy) Weber of Shelton, Washington and numerous great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Eleanor Dornhecker.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Canton with Monsignor John Finnigan officiating. Friends may call from 3-7 p.m. Monday, January 19, 2009 at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home. Interment will be at North Lawn Cemetery in Canton.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave. Alliance, Ohio 44601.
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