1926
Richard
2010
Richard Diffenbaugh
March 18, 1926 — September 3, 2010
Richard M. Diffenbaugh, 84, who was the former owner and founder of Diffy’s Drive In restaurant in Shippensburg, died Friday, September 3, 2010 at Chambersburg Hospital.
He lived at Scot-Greene Estates, Chambersburg, and formerly resided in Shippensburg.
He was born March 18, 1926 in Huntington, Indiana to the late Louis A. and Julia
Windemuth Diffenbaugh. During World War II he served as a cook in the U.S. Navy.
After the war he received a degree from Huntington University and attended Michigan State University. He later obtained a Masters degree from Shippensburg University.
Before moving to Shippensburg he was a school teacher in Monroe, Michigan.
In 1952 he founded Diffy’s Drive In restaurant which featured carhop style service.
He sold the restaurant in 1972. In retirement he enjoyed visiting beaches in the south, traveling, dancing, and playing bridge with friends. For many years he volunteered at the Red Cross blood bank in Chambersburg.
Mr. Diffenbaugh was a Director Emeritus of Orrstown Bank, and a former president of the Shippensburg Rotary Club, Shippensburg American Field Service Chapter student exchange program, and Chambersburg Mall walkers. He served as a former treasurer of the Shippensburg School Authority.
He was a member of the Grace United Church of Christ in Shippensburg where he was an elder emeriti and former president of the consistory, Cumberland Valley Lodge #315 Free and Accepted Masons, Shippensburg Scottish Rite Club, Harrisburg Consistory, Chambersburg Elks Lodge #600, and Washington Encampment #645 Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. He was a life member of Cumberland Valley Hose Company, Shippensburg and Charles Nitterhouse VFW Post #1599, Chambersburg.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jean Gruver Diffenbaugh, two sons, Nicholas Diffenbaugh and his wife Ruth and daughter Tess of Fairfax Station, Virginia, and Eric Diffenbaugh and his wife Jeri and son Dex of Shippensburg, and a brother, Robert Diffenbaugh of Warren, Indiana. He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Diffenbaugh, and a granddaughter, Caroline Brooke Diffenbaugh
A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 11:00 am in the Grace United Church of Christ, Shippensburg. Visitation will be in the church one hour before the service and after the service in the church Fellowship Hall. A private burial will be held in the Spring Hill Cemetery, Shippensburg. Arrangements are entrusted to the Fogelsanger-
Bricker Funeral Home, Shippensburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cumberland Valley Hose Company, 62 West King Street, Shippensburg, PA 17257, or the Grace United Church of Christ, 121 East Orange Street, Shippensburg, PA. 17257.
He lived at Scot-Greene Estates, Chambersburg, and formerly resided in Shippensburg.
He was born March 18, 1926 in Huntington, Indiana to the late Louis A. and Julia
Windemuth Diffenbaugh. During World War II he served as a cook in the U.S. Navy.
After the war he received a degree from Huntington University and attended Michigan State University. He later obtained a Masters degree from Shippensburg University.
Before moving to Shippensburg he was a school teacher in Monroe, Michigan.
In 1952 he founded Diffy’s Drive In restaurant which featured carhop style service.
He sold the restaurant in 1972. In retirement he enjoyed visiting beaches in the south, traveling, dancing, and playing bridge with friends. For many years he volunteered at the Red Cross blood bank in Chambersburg.
Mr. Diffenbaugh was a Director Emeritus of Orrstown Bank, and a former president of the Shippensburg Rotary Club, Shippensburg American Field Service Chapter student exchange program, and Chambersburg Mall walkers. He served as a former treasurer of the Shippensburg School Authority.
He was a member of the Grace United Church of Christ in Shippensburg where he was an elder emeriti and former president of the consistory, Cumberland Valley Lodge #315 Free and Accepted Masons, Shippensburg Scottish Rite Club, Harrisburg Consistory, Chambersburg Elks Lodge #600, and Washington Encampment #645 Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. He was a life member of Cumberland Valley Hose Company, Shippensburg and Charles Nitterhouse VFW Post #1599, Chambersburg.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jean Gruver Diffenbaugh, two sons, Nicholas Diffenbaugh and his wife Ruth and daughter Tess of Fairfax Station, Virginia, and Eric Diffenbaugh and his wife Jeri and son Dex of Shippensburg, and a brother, Robert Diffenbaugh of Warren, Indiana. He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Diffenbaugh, and a granddaughter, Caroline Brooke Diffenbaugh
A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 11:00 am in the Grace United Church of Christ, Shippensburg. Visitation will be in the church one hour before the service and after the service in the church Fellowship Hall. A private burial will be held in the Spring Hill Cemetery, Shippensburg. Arrangements are entrusted to the Fogelsanger-
Bricker Funeral Home, Shippensburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cumberland Valley Hose Company, 62 West King Street, Shippensburg, PA 17257, or the Grace United Church of Christ, 121 East Orange Street, Shippensburg, PA. 17257.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Diffenbaugh, please visit our flower store.
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