Dr. Dean Ley

SYRACUSE, Ind. - Dr. Dean E. Ley, 88, of Syracuse, formerly of Van Wert, Ohio, died at 8:50 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, at Warsaw Meadows Care Center, Warsaw, Ind.

He was born Feb. 4, 1925, in Middle Point, Ohio, to the late Clara (Johnson) Ley and Philip Ley.

His wife, Doris (Edwards) Ley, survives of Syracuse. They were married June 12, 1949.

Other survivors include a son: Devin K. (Mischele) Ley of Elkhart, Ind.

He was preceded in death by three brothers: Eugene, Gordon and Watson Ley.

He retired in 1985 as director of research for B.F. Goodrich after 30 years of service. He had also worked at the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, Ind. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Van Wert. He had served as deacon, elder and trustee. He was a veteran of the United States Army. As a sergeant, Dr. Ley served in the European theater for two years and received the European Ribbon with 2 Battle Stars: Rhineland & Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge). Dr. Ley attended Harvard Business School, the Sloan School of Management at M.I.T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and received his PhD from The Ohio State University. He was a 50-year member of the American Chemical Society, member of Sigma XI Fraternity and Cleveland Association of Research Directors - he held positions of secretary, treasurer, vice president and president. He was a life member of the Van Wert Men's Garden Club and a past member of the Van Wert Rotary Club.

Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home, Van Wert. The Rev. Hal Shafer will officiate. Burial will be in Ridge Cemetery, Middle Point, where military graveside services will be conducted by combined units of the Van Wert American Legion and V.F.W. posts. Friends may call from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials may be directed towards the Children's Fund at First Presbyterian Church, Van Wert.