David Dere, Sr.

Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania

David Daniel Dere, Sr., age 89, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2021, at his home in Warfordsburg, Pa.

Born July 1, 1931, in Grand Junction, Colo., he was the son of the late Christopher and Ida (Milner) Dere.

As a teenager, he spent his summers herding cattle and sheep in the mountains. In the fall, he enjoyed hunting mule deer from horseback and also assisting his uncle in guiding mule deer hunters.

After graduating from high school, David joined the U. S. Air Force on November 1, 1950. He proudly served during both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was an aircraft maintenance superintendent and a crew member on several types of air rescue helicopters, as well as the C-47 cargo aircraft. During his career, he served overseas in Germany, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, and Okinawa, Japan; in addition to being stationed in Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah. He retired on July 1, 1973 and settled down in Warfordsburg.

After retiring from the Air Force, he worked as a foreman for Commercial Shearing, in Berkeley Springs, W.Va. for eight years; and later worked for the U. S. Postal Service in Hagerstown, Md., retiring in 1994 after eleven years.

David was proficient as a mechanic, carpenter, and mason. He enjoyed working in his woodshop, turning out a variety of furniture pieces for family members. He also enjoyed prospecting for gold, and spent four summers in Nome, Alaska panning for gold for The Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association. He also made several trips to N. Car. to do the same.

He was a member of the Gold Prospectors Association of America; the Non-Commissioned Officers Association; and the Hancock American Legion Post #26.

David is survived by his wife, Mildred D. Dere; two daughters, Tina Smartt and her husband, Chris, and Susan Trainor and her husband, Rick, both of Needmore, Pa.; a son, Steven Dere, at home; eight grandchildren, Christina McDermott, of Crown Point, Ind., Dianna Courtney, of Needmore, Pa., David Dere, lll, and Randy Stahle, of Warfordsburg, Courtney Trainor, of Needmore, Ty Trainor of Milton, Fla., and Christopher and Nicolas Dere, of Hancock, Md.; seven great-grandchildren, Jenna, Cameron, Mason, Jordan, Liam, Connor, and Octavia; and a cousin, Stanford Dere, of Grand Junction, Colo.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, David Dere, Jr.; a sister, Kathryn Dere; five brothers, Gerald Dere, Donald Dere, Charles Dere, Francis Dere, and Christopher Dere, ll; a half-brother, Walter Rauman; and a half-sister, Dorothy Parsons.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, January 29, 2021 in the Tonolaway Primitive  Baptist Cemetery, in Warfordsburg, with Rev. Richard Bernhard officiating.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Grove Funeral Home, in Hancock, Md. Online condolences will be accepted at www.grovefh.com