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Kenneth Richard Getz, of Lock Haven, 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. Later they moved to the farm in Swissdale. He graduated from 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 ensure the design, parts and tests were certified to FAA regulations. During Piper's Lock Haven demise he refused employment in Florida, needing to leave the new home he built on the farm and to be able to help his elderly parents. He then went to work for Champion Parts. While at Champion, he answered a help wanted add and interviewed 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 40 years. He enjoyed writing, 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 and Ryan (Amanda) Murphy; four great-granddaughters, Cora, Delaney, Teagan and Maren; and two great-grandsons, Ethan and Callan; a good friend and companion, Ellen Campbell; along with 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, at 11 a.m., with Pastor Karl Runser officiating. Family and friends will be received at the church one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Swissdale Cemetery with full Military Honors. A luncheon will 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 W. Main St., Lock Haven.
Online thoughts and memories can be made at www.GedonFuneralHomes.com or the Gedon Funeral Homes Facebook page.