Obituary for Kenneth E. Ditzler
Kenneth E. “Ken” Ditzler, age 91, of Chambersburg passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at SpiriTrust Lutheran, The Village at Luther Ridge. Born January 26, 1932 in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, PA, Ken was the son of the late Calvin D. and Viola M. (Kreichbaum) Ditzler.
A 1949 graduate of Pine Grove High School, Ken was an Air Force Veteran having served in Korea during the Korean War with the 3rd Bomb Wing. He was the last member of his immediate family to have spoken Pennsylvania Dutch. He was a member of Solomon’s United Church of Christ and a former member of Zion Reformed Church, UCC.
Ken started his Federal Government employment at Olmstead Air Force Base in Middletown and retired from Letterkenny Army Depot in 1987 following 37 plus years of service. He was Chief of the Missile Maintenance Division (Air Force) and was honored as Letterkenny Army Depot’s supervisor of the year in 1982 and 1986. Following his retirement from the federal government, Ken was employed by Franklin County for 20 years as a court crier.
For over 20 years Ken was active in coaching Little League baseball in Pine Grove and Chambersburg and he served as president of Chambersburg Suburban Youth League in the mid-1970’s. An avid Penn State football, Philadelphia Phillies, and Eagles fan, Ken also enjoyed fly fishing and taking many trips to Pine Creek as well as Lycoming and Tioga County.
Ken was a member of Pine Grove Lodge #409 F&AM and former member of Schuylkill Forest TCL #50. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 1599, a member of American Legion Post 46, NARFE, AARP, and the Chambersburg Mall Walkers.
Ken was preceded in death by his wife R. Jean (Lenherr) Ditzler in December 2022, and is survived by sons Kenneth C. (Cathy) Ditzler and Kyle R. Ditzler of Chambersburg and Kirk A. (Conor) Ditzler of Ocean Park, ME; grandchildren Rachael A. Ditzler of Durham, NC, Brent S. Ditzler of Worcester, MA, and Devin A. Ditzler of Chambersburg; three step-sons Kevin (Donna) Helman of Fayetteville, Rodney (Shawan) Helman of Chambersburg, and Pete Helman of Maryland; four step grandchildren, and five step great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind a sister Joyce Ginder, sister-in-law Janet Ditzler, niece Belinda Shade, all of Pine Grove, a nephew James Ginder of Tremont, and cousins in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Beside his parents and wife, Ken was preceded in death by a brother George, brother-in-law David Ginder, and nephew Timothy Ditzler.
Services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, April 28, 2023 in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA. Interment with military honors conducted by members of the Charles Nitterhouse Post 1599 VFW Honor Guard will follow at Norland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM on Thursday and from 1:00-2:00 PM on Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Charles Nitterhouse Post 1599 VFW, 747 South Fourth Street, Chambersburg, PA 17202 or to SpiriTrust Lutheran, 2998 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202.
A 1949 graduate of Pine Grove High School, Ken was an Air Force Veteran having served in Korea during the Korean War with the 3rd Bomb Wing. He was the last member of his immediate family to have spoken Pennsylvania Dutch. He was a member of Solomon’s United Church of Christ and a former member of Zion Reformed Church, UCC.
Ken started his Federal Government employment at Olmstead Air Force Base in Middletown and retired from Letterkenny Army Depot in 1987 following 37 plus years of service. He was Chief of the Missile Maintenance Division (Air Force) and was honored as Letterkenny Army Depot’s supervisor of the year in 1982 and 1986. Following his retirement from the federal government, Ken was employed by Franklin County for 20 years as a court crier.
For over 20 years Ken was active in coaching Little League baseball in Pine Grove and Chambersburg and he served as president of Chambersburg Suburban Youth League in the mid-1970’s. An avid Penn State football, Philadelphia Phillies, and Eagles fan, Ken also enjoyed fly fishing and taking many trips to Pine Creek as well as Lycoming and Tioga County.
Ken was a member of Pine Grove Lodge #409 F&AM and former member of Schuylkill Forest TCL #50. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 1599, a member of American Legion Post 46, NARFE, AARP, and the Chambersburg Mall Walkers.
Ken was preceded in death by his wife R. Jean (Lenherr) Ditzler in December 2022, and is survived by sons Kenneth C. (Cathy) Ditzler and Kyle R. Ditzler of Chambersburg and Kirk A. (Conor) Ditzler of Ocean Park, ME; grandchildren Rachael A. Ditzler of Durham, NC, Brent S. Ditzler of Worcester, MA, and Devin A. Ditzler of Chambersburg; three step-sons Kevin (Donna) Helman of Fayetteville, Rodney (Shawan) Helman of Chambersburg, and Pete Helman of Maryland; four step grandchildren, and five step great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind a sister Joyce Ginder, sister-in-law Janet Ditzler, niece Belinda Shade, all of Pine Grove, a nephew James Ginder of Tremont, and cousins in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Beside his parents and wife, Ken was preceded in death by a brother George, brother-in-law David Ginder, and nephew Timothy Ditzler.
Services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, April 28, 2023 in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA. Interment with military honors conducted by members of the Charles Nitterhouse Post 1599 VFW Honor Guard will follow at Norland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM on Thursday and from 1:00-2:00 PM on Friday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Charles Nitterhouse Post 1599 VFW, 747 South Fourth Street, Chambersburg, PA 17202 or to SpiriTrust Lutheran, 2998 Luther Drive, Chambersburg, PA 17202.