Obituary of Kenneth L. Dille

Dr. Kenneth L. Dille, a 65 year resident of Wappingers Falls, died peacefully on Sunday, January 13, 2019. He was 93. Prior to living in Wappingers Falls, he was born and raised in Caldwell, Idaho. He was the son of the late Gordon R. and Fern McCormack Dille.

He graduated from Caldwell High School in 1943 and went on to serve in the US Army as a Technical Sergeant. He received his BA (Magna Cum Laude) from the College of Idaho in 1950, his MA in 1952 and his PhD in 1954 from Oregon State College. He was a two year letterman in high school basketball and a three year letterman in college track.

He married the former Kathryn Kerrick on August 24, 1952 at the Community Church in Parma, Idaho. Mrs. Dille preceded him in death on July 12, 2010.

He worked for Texaco for 37 years as a research chemist, project manager in charge of classified work on jet fuels for the US Air Force, supervision of fuels in charge of worldwide research and development of new fuels, and later as manager of environmental regulatory compliance and training. In 1991, he won the individual contributor award for establishing an environmental audit program. On retirement, he consulted for General Electric, Texaco and several other consulting firms on environmental compliance. He was the holder of 30 US patents in the field of gasoline, jet fuels and antifreeze as well as several foreign patents and publications.

Dr. Dille was a member of the American Chemical Society, Scientific Research Society, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Phi Sigma, Phi Lambda Upsilon, and the American Petroleum Institute. He was listed in nine Who’s Who, was named distinguished College of Idaho alumni in 1986 and in 1990 named prominent Idaho Citizen.

He was a volunteer for the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, and the First Presbyterian Church of Wappingers Falls where he was an elder, secretary of the Board of Trustees, house and church renovation group, president of the Adult Club and coordinator of the food bank. He was also a coach of winning CYO basketball team and served as a science fair judge for many local and state science fairs.

He is the father of three daughters and one son, Patricia Delgado and her husband, Michael of Coppell, TX, Pamela Rosenberger and her husband, Joseph Howard of Wappingers Falls, Nancy Hildenbrand and her husband, Francis of Wappingers Falls, NY and Kenneth Joel Dille and his wife, Yadira of Aiken, SC. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Julie, Lisa, Nicole, Eric, Bradley, Byron, Joanna and Jodi; as well as his four great-grandchildren, Adriana, Kylie, Maddox and Mason.

In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his brother, Roger and great-grandson, Noah.

Family will receive friends on Thursday, January 17, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Straub, Catalano and Halvey Funeral Home, 55 Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 18, at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 2568 South Avenue in Wappingers Falls. Entombment will follow in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, South Avenue in Poughkeepsie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Meals on Wheels, c/o First Presbyterian Church, 2568 South Avenue, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 or First Presbyterian Church, 2568 South Avenue, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590.   

For directions or to send a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.