Dean Alfred Stover, 79, of Coburn, departed from this life Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Dean, a son of the late Park Stover and Lucille Fiedler Stover, was born Nov. 17, 1929, in Penn Township.
Dean was a 1949 graduate of East Penns Valley High School. On Sept. 7, 1949, he married Betty Ruth Smith at the Aaronsburg parsonage. Mrs. Stover survives at home. Dean had many professions in his lifetime. He was a milkman since the age of 15. He was a carpenter, miner and he farmed for over 60 years, but perhaps the job Dean loved best was being a son, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and will be sadly missed by all. Dean was a member of Salem United Church of Christ, where he had been on the council since the age of 15. He was the treasurer for the Salem Cemetery Association and was also a member of the PFA, Nittany Antique Association and the Good Sam's Club group, the Nittany Agitators. Dean and Betty loved to camp with family and friends and traveled a lot since they retired.
In addition to his wife, Dean is survived by one brother, Robert Stover and his wife, Dora Mae; and two sisters, Myra Buck and Susan Foster and her husband, Albert. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Jason Swartz and his wife, Carrie, Erin Davis and her husband, Greg, Janette Jackson and her husband, Rob, Melissa Lamey, Brian Stover and his wife, Jackie, Michele Houtz and her husband, Terry, Travis Stover and his wife, Nicole, Diah Dolan and her husband, James, Tyler Stover and his wife, Nicole, Natasha Stover, Vanessa Stover, Heather Ross, Adam Ross, Tamara Ross and Joshua Stover; his great-grandchildren, Christina Lamey Stover, Kirk Stover, Brianna Stover, Jessica Stover, Emily Boob, Jordin Houtz, Ty Houtz, Curtis Sones, Wyatt Swartz, Lane Swartz, Haylee Davis, Kayla Stover, Keyton Gurner, Kaden Gurner and Clayton Stover; and his great-great-grandchildren, Nolen Stover, Aliza Stover and Morgan Neese. Dean was preceded in death by a son, Jaime Stover; a sister, Doris Winters; a brother-in-law, Norman Buck; and a son-in-law, Richard Ross.
Family and friends will be received from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, at the Steven R. Neff Funeral Home in Millheim. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, at Salem United Church of Christ, Spring Mills, with the Rev. Leigh Pick officiating. Interment will be in the Salem UCC Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in Dean's memory may be given to Salem United Church of Christ or to the Salem Cemetery Association.