Kenneth Richard Getz of Lock Haven, Pa. passed away Friday, Sept. 29 at his home.
Ken was born Feb. 21, 1926 in Lockport, the son of the late Ernest C. and Alma E. (Reeder) Getz and later they moved to the farm in Swissdale. He graduated from the Lock Haven High School in 1944 and enlisted in the Army Air Force Aviation Cadet Program in Feb. 1944 and served honorably until the war ended.
Ken married Agnes G. Fry of Mill Hall, a devoted wife and mother, on Aug. 27, 1947, spending 63 happy years together until her death on Nov. 2, 2010.
He attended the Williamsport Technical Institute and was hired by Avco Lycoming Engineering Department in 1949 as a detail draftsman. In 1957 he and his family moved to Detroit, Mich., to work for Continental Aviation and Engineering Corp. He was hired as a layout Draftsman, working on Military air-cooled Diesel tank engines. Soon after, for advancement he left Continental for Chevrolet Engineering. He was hired as a design draftsman in the Automotive Engine Design Department in Warren, Mich.
In 1966, to be nearer his elderly Parents and love for the Lock Haven area, with mountains and fresh air, he left Chevrolet for Piper Aircraft Corp. He was hired as a Power-Plant Installation Engineer and designer. He was a delegated in house FAA Representative, to insure the design, parts and tests were certified to FAA regulations. During Pipers Lock Haven demise he refused employment in Florida, needing to leave the new home he built on the farm and to being able to help his elderly Parents. He then went to work for Champion Parts. While at Champion, he answered a help want add and interview for a Project Designer at Penn State University Applied Research Laboratory. A.R.L. was a design and test center, doing major research for the Navy. He was hired at the A.R.L. Water Tunnel Building, requiring a top security clearance. His and colleagues design built projects were installed in the water tunnel test section and subjected to rigorous testing and various water flow speeds for optimum evaluation. He retired from A.R.L. in 1991 at age 65.
Within his life span he witnessed the Industrial Revolution from hand labors and water wheel power to steam, internal combustion, electric, jet and rocket engines. From pencil pushers to calculators, computers, radio, television, smart phones and ingenious machines to alleviate tedious labor for commodities, agriculture, manufacturing, Earth and Space exploration and all travel conveyance devices.
During his retirement he did some farming and spent days of avid trout fishing, turkey, deer and bear hunting. He hunted the mountains of Colorado for Elk and fished the great lakes and Canada for steelheads and salmon. He and wife Agnes traveled the U.S., Canada, Alaska and Mexico, to see the beauty of America.
Ken and Agnes were members of the United Lutheran church and sang in the choir for forty years. He enjoyed writing and wrote many poems and composed several songs, complete with lyrics. He had lots of hobbies and never felt depressed except for the death of loved ones. He loved life, family, friends and cat, Ellie. He was an enthusiastic Penn State and Pittsburgh Steelers football fan. He was a golfer in his younger years.
Surviving is a daughter Joan Y. (Tyson) Murphy and son, Steven L. Getz, Susan Getz, three Grandsons, Jason (Jennifer) Getz, Shawn (Maria) Murphy, Ryan (Amanda) Murphy; four great-grand daughters, Cora, Delaney, Teagan and Maren; and two great-grandsons, Ethan and Callan; a good friend and companion Ellen Campbell, nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Agnes, brother Clair and his wife Clara, father and mother in-laws Edward and Emma Fry, brother and sister in-laws Edward Jr. and Dorothy (Hicks) Fry.
A memorial service will be held at the United Evangelical Lutheran Church at 104 W Church St., Lock Haven on Saturday, Oct. 21 11 a.m. with Pastor Karl Runser officiating. Family and friends will be received at the church 1 hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Swissdale Cemetery with full Military Honors with a luncheon to follow at the church. Any memorial gifts to the Donor’s favorite charity will be thankfully appreciated.
Arrangements are under the direction of Gedon Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, LLC, 121 West Main St. Lock Haven Pa.
Online thoughts and memories can be made at www.GedonFuneralHomes.com or the Gedon Funeral Homes Facebook Page.
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