Obituary of Joseph Dean

Joseph A. Dean Joseph Agustine Dean, age 90, of Edinboro, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at the Erie Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. He was born in Natrona, PA on May 14, 1919 the son of the late, Joseph and Kathryn Mary Dean. He was a summer resident of Edinboro for fifteen years. During WW II Staff Sergeant Joseph Dean of the 1268 Combat Engineers, Company "A", served in the European and Pacific Theater. He was a true hero of the "greatest generation" who took the call, went the distance, and came home to raise a family. He was an employee of Allegheny Ludlum Steel for 42 years and was a leader of the Junior Achievement program, sponsored by the company. During his 90 years, Joe had many interests. He was a lifelong Pirate and Steelers fan and an avid supporter of youth and high school sports in his younger days and an Edinboro "Fighting Scot" football follower in his later years. He loved collecting and driving automobiles. He and his daughter drove Allegheny Ludlum's 1936 Stainless Steel Ford to the Hershey Automobile Show in the 1960s. Other interests included woodworking, painting, upholstering, listening to and playing music, traveling, sailing, reading, and his love of just talking to interesting people that he met. His wife, Vera, preceded him in death in 1992. His sister, May Jane Dean, of Novi, MI, his daughter, Mary Kathryn Anderson, and her husband, George, of Shepherdstown, WV, his sons; Paul Edward and his wife, Janet, of Edinboro, Patrick Joseph and his wife, Janice, of Erie, survive him. "Pappa D" was a proud and loving grandfather of eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. handled arrangements. A memorial service will be held at the United Methodist Church in Edinboro, PA on June 27 at 2:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Erie County Library Foundation, Edinboro Branch, 160 East Front St., Erie, PA 16507. Enhance your memorial with a slideshow and video