F. Dean Truax
1936-2024
F. Dean Truax, 88, of Big Cove Tannery, Pa., departed West on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, surrounded by his family at Commonwealth Senior Living, Hagerstown, Md.
Dean was born in Chambersburg, Pa. on June 4, 1936, a son of the late Edna A. (Mellott) and Rev. Floyd A. Truax. His father preceded him in death in June of 1996, his mother died as a result of an auto accident in December of 1981 and his step-mother, Marian Divelbliss, who preceded him in death in January of 2012.
He was the husband of Phyllis A. (Spade) Truax, who he married on June 6, 1959.
At a young age, Dean became interested in aviation. He served in the 167th Air National Guard in Martinsburg, W.Va. He was a private pilot and certified Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. This led him to design and build his own airplane, the Papoose, restore a Cessna 140, and build an experimental Europa airplane.
He was a member of EAA Chapter 400 and 36, AOPA and the Ebenezer Christian Church in Needmore, Pa.
He worked in aviation in his early career, then became a self-employed home improvement contractor until retirement. There was just about nothing Dean would not build, from kitchen cabinets to a restored farmhouse. He enjoyed making old things new like his John Deere Model H and a family horse drawn sleigh. In the evenings, Dean could be seen and heard working in his Christmas tree field preparing those perfect shaped trees for his customers’ holiday celebrations.
Dean loved music and carried that love into his woodworking hobbies like building Martin guitars.
In addition to his wife, Dean is survived by his daughters Deanna L. (wife of Dale) Glading, of Vero Beach, Fla., Jill A. (wife of Carl) Volgarino, of Vero Beach, Fla., brothers Roger D. (husband of Carolyn) Truax, of Chambersburg, Pa., R. Dale (husband of Marion) Truax, of Berkeley Springs, W.Va. and Gary E. (husband of Wildena) Truax, of Crystal Springs, Pa. He is also survived by five grandchildren Bethany, Matthew, Christopher, Avery, Arlen, six great-grandchildren; Brady, Sadie, Levi, Dylan, Bella and Charlotte.
In addition to his parents and step-mother he was preceded in death by a sister Kay Charlene Truax.
Funeral services will be held at Ebenezer Christian Church, Needmore, Pa., at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2024 with Pastor Erik Sollenberger and Pastor Russell Hoffman officiating. There will be a visitation held on Saturday one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment at Ebenezer Cemetery Needmore, Pa.
Donations in memory of Dean may be made to the Alzheimer’s Asscociation at https://act.alz.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=donate.
Arrangements were made by Howard L. Sipes Funeral Home, Inc., McConnellsburg, PA.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.howardlsipes.com.
