Frederic S. Dewalt

Frederic S. Dewalt March 30, 1926 ~ October 9, 2011 Frederic S, DeWalt left this earth as he lived on it, marching (o a different drummer. Ina manner more typical of New Orleans than Shermansville, he made his final trip from the family home to Southside Cemetery in a cast drawn by a team of mules, lying in a cedar casket that he had built for himself, followed on foot by family, friends and a modest brass band of two trombones and a snare drum. Fred was born in Zelienople, Pa on March 30, 1926. When his family lost their home in the depression, they relocated for a time on an uncle's farm in West Freedom PA where Fred discovered his true passion for understanding and working farm animals. In 1943, he lied about his age, joined the Navy, and served in the Pacific theater for the duration of World Wat II, receiving bronze stars for his contributions to the war effort. Upon return, he finished his high school education and worked for a year cutting timber with a ovo man crosscut sav. On September 5, 1946, he married Dana Ann Mellvaine. They resided in Conneaut Lake and Linesville before moving permanently 0 Shermanswille. In 1947 he joined his father, Frederick L. DeWalt in Espyville, where the two of them became experts at the restoration of antique furniture. Eventually he opened his own shop in Shermanswille gaining his reputation as a master craftsman, building scores of pieces of fine fusnituse that are now scattered widely thoughout the region and country. For 39 years, he was the President of the Southside Cemetery Association, He was an active member of the Linesville Historical Society. He belonged to the Conneaut Lake American Legion Post until his disenchantment with militarism led him to withdraw his membership. Fred was insteumental in getting the Legion to sponsor the founding of the Margaret Shon Memorial Library in Conneaut Lake, which has grown to now occupy the entire space of the old Post 587 Legion Hall. He was a dedicated member of the French Creek Valley Conservancy, and spent many days in his canoe, whether camping along Susquchanna River, or pulling debris out of French Creek at the annual spring clean-up. Although ‘ature was his favorite church, he was a very popular Sunday School teacher for teenagers at the First Presbyterian Chusch in Conneaut Lake. During his final years, he renewed his faith in God and found peace in the reading of scriptures. Fred's connection to animals assured a continuing residency of horses, a Brahma bull, goats, chickens and, perhaps most famously, his mule Don Quixote. He teained horses for friends and neighbors and often had an extra horse on the premises as he made them manageable for their owners. He worked his own animals to plow and cultivate the garden, haul firewood, skid logs and plow snow: Mr. Quixote did all these tasks as well as being Fred's companion and pack animal for four trips to the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming. Fred was pre-deceased by his younger brother David, and his older sister, Jean Burke. He is survived by his wife, his son Jeff and his wife Barbara, son Mack and his wife Karen and son Dan and his sweetheart Marcia. He is also susvived by six grandchildren: Beth, Leah and her husband, Steve Moore, Kara, Clayton and his wife, Casey, Julia and Rosie, as well as four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held today, Tuesday, Oct 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on Fifth Street in Conneaut Lake with Jonathan Helmreich officiating and Rev. Mark Fraley, Pastor of the church, assisting. In lieu of flowers, Mr. DeWalt had asked that donations in his name be made to the French Creek Valley Conservancy, P.O. Box 434, Meadville, Pa 16335. Arrangements are under the direction of Royal-Coleman Funeral Home, 6028 U.S. Highway 6, Linesville.