Herbert C. Archdeacon's Obituary
Herbert C. Archdeacon of Lewes, DE, age 82, passed away Tuesday, August 10, 2010, at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. He was born March 6, 1928 in Philadelphia, PA. He is survived by his wife, the former Louise McComas; by 3 daughters, Valerie Wanner, Alison Archdeacon and Beverly Matz; step-daughter Susan McComas Gresavage; 7 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and 2 step-grandchildren Jennifer and Thomas Gresavage.
He was a graduate of Drexel University in Civil Engineering. His career was in railroad engineering management with the Pennsylvania RR, the Reading RR and with Amtrak. He also practiced extensively as a consulting engineer, and he authored several books on railroad engineering.
After retiring and moving to Lewes in 1995, he became active in the Lewes Historical Society researching and writing articles on local history. He has also been an active writer for the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society. He has taught numerous courses on a variety of historical subjects at the Southern Delaware Academy of Lifelong Learning in Lewes.
In Freemasonry, he was a Past Master of Concordia Lodge No. 67 in Jenkintown, Pa. He was a member of all the York Rite Bodies in Jenkintown, and was a 32nd degree Mason in the Scottish Rite Bodies in Allentown, Pa. He was particularly interested in Masonic research and education. He was a member of several Masonic research organizations. He was an active speaker at many Masonic meetings for many years. Masonic honors that he received include the conferral of the rank of Master Masonic Scholar by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and induction into the Royal Order of Scotland.
The family will receive friends on Friday, August 13, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE. Interment will be private in Pennsylvania.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Herb's memory may be made to the Gift Fund of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware in Lewes, 820-A Savannah Road, Lewes, DE 19958.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Herb's memory may be made to the Clarkson Scholarship Fund of Concordia Lodge #67 F&AM, c/o Concordia Lodge, 443 Old York Road, Jenkintown, PA 19046.
Sign online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com
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