H. Dale Sopher
H. Dale Sopher, 88, of Harrisville passed away at 5:44 a.m. Monday in Orchard Manor, Grove City.
Known to family and friends as “Dale,” he was born in the village of Raymilton, Venango County, to the late Ralph and Melissa Gadsby Sopher on Dec. 6, 1926.
Dale married Doris J. Shipton June 24, 1949. Together they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past year.
He was a graduate of Wesley High School, Class of 1943, and Grove City High School, Class of 1944. Following high school, Dale enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan until October of 1947.
After returning home, he became employed as a carpenter/apprentice with the former Book Davis Co., Grove City. Dale worked there for three years, then went to work for Montgomery Truss and Panel, Grove City, where he started as a carpenter and retired in 1992 after 42 years at Montgomery's as an estimator in the office.
Dale was a 60-year member of the Harmony Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Harrisville, where he served as elder and trustee, and was a member of the Men's Bible Class.
He served on borough council in Harrisville and was the secretary for many years. Also, he served on the Pine Harrisville Authority Board since its inception. Dale formerly worked and served as secretary of the board of Mount Irwin Cemetery.
Dale was a 50-plus-year member of the F & AM Lodge 603, Grove City, and the New Castle Consistory. He was a member of the Romeo's bike club for many years.
He was an old-time carpenter who still used a hammer and, over the years, he built several houses in the Harrisville area.
He was a loving father, husband, grandfather and uncle, and he was a friend to many. Together with his wife, they enjoyed traveling and visiting with friends.
Dale is survived by his wife, Doris, at home; his daughter, Deborah L. Baker of Portland, Ore.; his son, Dennis Sopher and his wife, Rebecca, of Harrisville; four grandchildren, Samuel Sopher and his wife, Alison, of Midland, Melissa Williams and her husband, Joshua, of La Plata, Md., Megan Sopher of Durham, N.C., and Micah Sopher and his fiancee, Keleigh, of Pittsburgh; four great-grandsons, Grant, Lincoln, Will and Gibson; and his brother, Kenneth M. Sopher and his wife, Mary, of Dover, Ohio.
In addition to his parents, Dale was preceded in death by his sister, Marian Hovis, and his four brothers, Le Roy, Isaac, Lester, and Raeman Sopher.
Sopher — Visitation hours for H. Dale Sopher, who passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Cunningham Funeral Home, 306 Bessemer Ave., Grove City.Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Jeffery Jones, pastor of the Harmony Church, assisted by the Rev. Willard Morse, visitation pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Cemetery, Harrisville.Memorials in Dale's memory may be made to Harmony Church, P.O. Box 406, Harrisville, PA 16038.
