Arthur W. Dietrich, Jr., 88, of Landisville, PA and formerly of Norwich, NY and Cooperstown, NY, died peacefully at his home at Oak Leaf Manor North assisted living facility on Friday, March 10, 2017.
He was born October 5, 1928, to Arthur and Elizabeth (Young) Dietrich in Buffalo, NY. The oldest child of seven, the family moved to Norwich when Arthur was ten years old, but he always considered himself a native of Norwich. He and his wife Florence retired to Cooperstown in 1989 where they enjoyed the lake and sailing.
After serving in the United States Army Signal Corps (Operation Sandstone, Joint Task Force Seven) and college, Arthur was associated with Norwich Mills, Inc., and became the executive responsible for office administration, including their management information system. Following the company’s merger with Champion Products, he subsequently took his expertise to benefit the Norwich Pharmaceutical Company, and retired from Procter & Gamble.
Arthur was a member of Christ Lutheran Church. He served as General Chairman of the church’s mortgage reduction drive, and also served as Treasurer and Church Council member. From 1966-67, he served as Exalted Ruler of the Norwich Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #1222.
On November 27, 1954, Florence M. Scanlon became his bride and subsequently gave Arthur six children of whom they were always proud. These six gave them six more by marriage, which added to the richness of their family life, and those unions were blessed with 18 grandchildren. Survivors include Lynda and her husband, Michael McCumber, and their children, James, Kenneth and Kathryn, of Chelmsford, MA; William and his wife, Linda, and their children, Ryan and Ross, of Nacogdoches, TX; Daniel and his wife, Mary Jo, and their children, Stephen, Martin and Jason, of Marietta, PA; Karen and her husband, William DiGilio, and their children, Kelsey and Brianna, of Lancaster, PA; Edward and his wife, Jean, and their children, Amanda and Lauren, of Elizabethtown, PA; and John and his wife, Dawn, and their children, Jonathan and Shaye, of Harrisburg, PA. He also leaves behind three sisters and their husbands: Catherine Kinney, of Oviedo, FL; Donna and Eugene Stratton, of Camas, WA; Diane and John Wicks, of Greene, NY; and two brothers and their wives, Donald and Lynn, of New Smyrna Beach, FL; and David and Donna, of Norwich, NY. Many cousins, nieces, and nephews also survive. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 43 years, Florence M. Dietrich, who died in 1996, and also by a granddaughter Renee Dietrich in 1990, grandson Thomas McCumber in 2001, grandson William DiGilio in 2017, brother Eugene in 1966, sister-in-law Veronica, and brother-in-law Donald Kinney.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Wilson Funeral Home, 68 South Broad St., Norwich, NY. Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home prior to the service for visitation from 9:00-10:30 am. Burial will immediately follow the service at Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Contributions in memory of Arthur may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 94 N. Broad St., Norwich, NY 13815, or Friends of Bassett, Bassett Medical Center, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
To leave the family a message of condolence, please visit the funeral home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.