Dexter L. Sturgis

   Another name for Dexter was Dex.

  General Notes:

Lancaster OnLine
Posted: Wednesday, January 5, 2005
Dexter L. "Dex" Sturgis, 78, of State St., East Petersburg, died Monday afternoon at the Essa Flory Hospice Center following a three year illness with cancer.
Born in Lexington, he was the son of the late Morris Kline and Lillian Mae Miller Sturgis. Dex was the husband of Mary Lou Metzger Sturgis, celebrating their marriage of 38 years on Sept. 10th of 2004.
He attended Lititz High School and later received his GED from Reading High School and attended Franklin & Marshall College. He served his country as a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, as a Tech 5th grade with the 781st Ordnance Light Maint. Co. in the Pacific Theater of Operations, during the Army Occupation of Japan.
He worked for RCA for 37 years, first as a machinist/tool and dye maker and later as manager of various depts. until retirement in 1988. A member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Landisville, he had a driving desire to learn new things. He was a certified welder, enjoyed restoring old cars and rebuilding car engines. He also rebuilt computers, developed computer software, and mapped blueprints.
Dexter's greatest passion was traveling with his wife and friends on innumerable motorcycle adventures, which included every state in the continental United States, as well as Canada and Mexico. They also enjoyed trips to Hawaii, South America, Switzerland, and Australia. He enjoyed snowmobiling through New York, Rhode Island, Maine, Michigan, Wisconsin and Canada. He was an avid gun and bow hunter, enjoying skeet shooting and reloading his own shells.
He was a Life Member of the American Legion Garden Spot Post #56, Lititz, the Eastern PA Retread Motorcycle Club, the American Gold Wing Assoc. Motorcycle Club, Mid-Atlantic Fiero Car Club, Lanco MG Club, and the MG Assoc. Register of North America. Dex served for fifteen years as the Eastern PA Representative of the Retread Motorcycle Club, organizing many rallies and tours of the area.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Sharon L., wife of Jon R. Whittle of New Cumberland, Linette E., wife of Michael D. Crockford of East Petersburg and Elizabeth, wife of Edward Doutre of Cary, NC; four grandchildren, Blaine C. Rineer, Christopher M. Crockford, Pamela D., wife of Andrew Malene and Kimberly D. Whittle, and his sister Virginia Hyle of Lititz.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his Life Celebration from Trinity United Church of Christ, 2340 State St., East Petersburg, PA, on Saturday at 10:30 AM with the Rev. Harry G. Royer O.C.C. officiating. Interment will be held in Riverview Burial Park. There will be no viewing. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 9:30 AM until the time of service. Please omit flowers. The family kindly requests that memorials be sent in Dez's memory to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Dr., P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125 or to the Four Diamond Fund, Office of Gifts and Endowments, Hershey Medical Center, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, PA 17033. Fred F. Groff Inc. A Life Celebration Funeral Home.

Dexter married Mary Lou Metzger, daughter of Leon W. Metzger and Beatrice E. Dougherty, on 10 Sep 1966 in Lancaster City, Lancaster Co., PA. (Mary Lou Metzger was born on 11 Jul 1930 in Lancaster City, Lancaster Co., PA and died after 2005 in Lancaster City, Lancaster Co., PA.)