D. Dale Kleppinger | Visitation:
Friday, November 14, 2008
2:00 PM until 4:00 PM
7:00 PM until 9:00 PM
Ready Funeral and Cremation Service
South Chapel
261 Shelburne Road
Burlington, VT
Service:
Sunday, November 16, 2008
2:00 PM
Ira Allen Chapel
26 University Place
Burlington, VT
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 VIEW/SEND CONDOLENCES
| | | The light that the world knew as D. Dale Kleppinger, 69, went out Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, after a valiant six-week battle with lung complications following cardiac surgery.
Dale, born Valentine’s Day 1939 to the late Elmer S. and Margaret R. (Helen) Kleppinger, in Easton, Pa., was an accomplished academic and electrical engineer, civic leader, family man, friend and neighbor. Valedictorian of his high school class, he graduated from Lafayette University with a BS Electrical Engineering; from Lehigh University with an MS Electrical Engineering; from the University of Florida with a Ph.D. Electrical Engineering; and later, from the University of Vermont with a BA Economics. He worked from 1970 to 1991 at IBM’s Essex Junction facility as an engineer on test structure design and chip layout. Dale also spent 1975-1976 in El Paso, Tex., on IBM’s faculty loan program.
Periodically during his time with IBM, and especially after his retirement, he gave back to his profession by indulging in his true avocation, teaching. This included service as an adjunct professor at Champlain and Trinity Colleges, and later the University of Vermont, where he taught at the time of his death.
Dale was a South Burlington resident since 1970. He was elected to the South Burlington School Board in the early 1970s; he served as Finance Chair for Ascension Lutheran Church in that period, and was a longstanding member of the city’s Charter Committee. He also volunteered regularly with the Vermont Mozart Festival and enjoyed visiting Shelburne Farms.
Dale enjoyed travel, accomplishing a cross-country train trip and another through the Canadian Rockies, and visits to Ireland, Great Britain, Scandinavia, Aruba, Germany, and the Soviet Union. He also completed paddlewheel riverboat cruises along the Mississippi, Columbia, St. Lawrence, and Ohio Rivers with his wife, Patty. He enjoyed witty writers such as Douglas Adams and Donald Westlake; piano jazz; watching his Florida Gators play football; sneaking York Peppermint Patties in trade for Butterfingers with his daughter; and especially, hearing the accomplishments of his grandchildren.
His wife of 17 years, Patricia Jo Kleppinger; his children, Eric, of Fairfax Station, Va., and Deborah Bodette, of Franklin Co., Vt., with their spouses Mary and Lee, and his step-children, Mark Duy of South Burlington, and Susan Tedrow and her partner Greg Jackson of Windridge, Pa., all lovingly reflect the light he shone. His beloved grandchildren, Courtney Palmer of Franklin Co., Vt., David and Sarah Kleppinger of Fairfax Station, Va., Paul, Philip, and Gage Tedrow of Waynesburg, Pa., Olivia and Tristen Duy of Milton, Stacy Bodette of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Cory and his wife Kelly Bodette of Vergennes, and his great-grandchildren, Shalyn and Callie Bodette, of Vergennes, all send their Papa and Pappap hugs and kisses. His in-laws, Jack and Bonnie Toole of Liberal, Kan.,and brother-in-law, Dr. David Tucker, of Wichita Falls, Tex.; his first wife, Sandra Stoddert of South Burlington; two great-aunts, Amy Rinker of Bethlehem, Pa., and Doris Raisbeck of Easton, Pa.; and many cousins also survive, and many friends and coworkers remember him with love.
A memorial celebration will be held at the Ira Allen Chapel, 26 University Place, Burlington, on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 2:00 p.m., at which time all are invited to share stories of Dale’s life. Public viewing hours will be held on Friday, Nov. 14, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., at Ready Funeral Home, South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Shelburne Farms, 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne, Vt., 05482; the Vermont Mozart Festival, 3 Main Street, Suite 217, Burlington, Vt., 05401; the American Lung Association, 371 Hurricane Lane, Suite 101, Williston, Vt., 05495; and the American Cancer Society, 121 Connor Way, Williston, Vt. Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. For directions or to send online condolences, please visit www.readyfuneral.com.
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