Allen J. Gardenhour's Obituary
Allen (Al) Gardenhour of Rehoboth Beach, peacefully joined God on January 16, 2017. He was born on July 26, 1928 in Waynesboro, PA, son of the late Allen and Marie Gardenhour. Finishing high school in Waynesboro, he enrolled at Penn State University and graduated in 1950 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
His professional career began while working with his father in the family electrical business where they designed and built the University of Maryland football scoreboard for the new stadium in the early 1950's. He was later recruited by the Naval Ordinance Lab designing special weapon test equipment in Silver Spring, MD. His next career step was working with early computing systems with Xerox in Southern California, eventually returning to the Washington area to manage government operations for Xerox. Upon "retirement”, Al started two of his own businesses.
Al was a member of both Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Bethesda and Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Rehoboth Beach. He spent many hours installing electrical wiring and systems during the building programs at both churches. He was a board member for 25 years of ENSCO, in Virginia, an active participant in Kiwanis and always proud of becoming an Eagle Scout with 3 palms at the age of 16. He enjoyed fishing, sailing the Chesapeake Bay, time at the Gettysburg area mountain cabin with extended family and the 24 years he and Doris shared as snowbirds in Mesa, Arizona.
Al is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 68 years, Doris (Latshaw); his son, Kevin of Salisbury, MD; daughter, Susan Beard (David) of Pleasanton, CA; two granddaughters: Sarah Hamilton (Ben) of Hayward, WI, Amy Gerdes (Chris) of Auburn, WA; two great-grandsons: Cade and Weston Hamilton. He is also survived by his sister, Betty Attridge (Bob) of El Paso, TX; brothers, Lowell of Philadelphia, PA and Cletus (Karen) of St. Petersburg, FL; and four nieces and three nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, on Friday, January 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM where friends may visit beginning at 10:00 AM. Following the service a luncheon will be served.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the memorial fund at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, at the address listed above, or to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
Please sign Mr. Gardenhour's online guestbook located on this site.
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE HAVE ALL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS DELIVERED BY 9 AM, FRIDAY JANUARY 27, 2017 TO THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, REHOBOTH BEACH.
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