Robert Calvin Dibert

YORK, PA – Robert C. Dibert, 92, passed away on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at his home. He was married to Jean Dibert, 90, who still lives at home. A celebration of life tribute service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York with The Rev. William McEllroy, Jr. officiating. A visitation will be held from 1-2:00 PM at the Funeral Chapel. Burial will be held in Holy Saviour Cemetery with full military rites provided by York County Veterans Honor Guard. Born October 27, 1919 in Renovo, Pennsylvania; he is one of three sons of the late Mary E. (Horner)and Charles Dibert who was a WWI veteran and had a career as a Pennsylvania railroad engineer. Robert, or “Bob” as he was called, grew up in northern Pennsylvania and enjoyed hunting, fishing and hiking the nearby mountains. Bob graduated from Renovo High School in 1937 and during this time earned the distinction of becoming an Eagle Scout. After High School he became interested in aircraft design and graduated from a Cornell Aircraft engineering course and then started building aircraft for Curtiss-Wright Aircraft in Buffalo NY. After WWII began for the United States in December 1941 he continued working in Buffalo for Curtiss-Wright, but instead building Naval fighter aircraft that were vital for the war effort. While in Buffalo, he met his wife Jean McAndrew of Hornell, NY while she was there training at Meyer Memorial Hospital to become a nurse. Bob and Jean were married in March 1943. Then in 1944 Bob joined the US Navy and he was sent west to Santa Rosa, California to lead Naval aircraft repair teams for the Pacific Theater’s war-torn aircraft. He was honorably discharged from the Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd Class in July 1946 and returned to Buffalo NY to rejoin Jean and infant daughter Karen. After discharge from the Navy in 1947, Bob started a long career working as a leader for Weis Markets Inc. in many Central Pennsylvanian and Northern Maryland stores while raising his family. He started his career for Weis, with his brother Dave, by working in Jersey Shore, PA as a meat clerk and manager and moved his family in 1956 to York for a manager’s job. In three years, he was promoted to the York and Maryland district meat supervisor in 1959 and worked in this job until he retired in 1987. He was a devoted husband of 69 years, an extraordinary provider for his family he loved so much and finally, a loyal, dedicated and respected leader at Weis Markets for 40 years. Bob Dibert is survived by his wife Jean of 69 years of marriage raising three children in York; Karen Garcia of Mt Laurel NJ; and identical twin sons, John living in Peachtree City, GA and James who lives in York. Robert and Jean have four grandchildren; granddaughter, Laura Pendergrast of Seattle Washington and grandson, Glenn Garcia of Boonton NJ, children of daughter Karen and husband Joe Garcia, also grandsons Ben of Marlton, NJ and Matthew who lives in Atlanta, GA, sons of John and Phyllis Dibert. Bob and Jean have four great-grandchildren; great-grandchildren twins Nolan and Jillian, children of grandson Glenn and his wife Jennifer Garcia and Ellie and Jack Dibert, children of Ben and wife Amy Dibert. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bob’s name may be sent to the charity of your choice.