Deitz, Franklin S., Rev.
Birth
Franklin S. Deitz was born on May 11, 1913 at Berne, Albany, NY. His parents were Frederick N. Deitz (Nov 3, 1887 - Oct 23, 1950) and Theodora N. Haverly (Feb 2, 1889 - Apr 29, 1962). He had two brothers; Harold F. Deitz, and Walter E. Deitz. As a teenager, he played baseball with the Berne Juniors team, was active in the Berne Reformed Church programs and plays, worked for 5 yrs. at the F. P. Hochstrasser Store in Berne, and co-published a Berne newspaper of village news and advertisements.
Education
Franklin S. Deitz was a graduate of Schoharie High School, Hope College in Holland, Mich., and New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, NJ.
Occupation
Rev. Franklin S. Deitz was a minister in the Reformed Church of America. He first served the Reformed Church of Prattsville,Greene Co. NY, beginning in 1938; the Second Reformed Church of Rotterdam, Schenectady Co. NY, beginning in 1944; and the Lawyersville and Sharon Reformed Churches of Schoharie Co. NY, beginning in 1961.He was named paster emeritus when he retired from Lawyersville and Sharon Reformed churches in 1975, and moved to Berne. He was chaplain of the Hilltowns Senior Citizens, and a member of the First Reformed Church of Berne, where he had grown up. He was also a member of the Berne Historical Society and the Schoharie Classis of the Reformed Church in America.
Marriage & Children
Franklin S. Deitz married Gertrude M. Ball (daughter of Clyde L. Ball and Alta M. Sholtes) on October 20, 1938 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Berne, Albany,NY. They moved into the parsonage at Prattsville, Greene Co., NY. after November 2, 1938. They had three children:
- Allan Franklin Deitz -b. November 24, 1940 at Albany, Albany, NY. He married Betty Ann Hesselink on Aug 24, 1962 at Waupun,Dodge, WI. They lived in 2009 in Guilderland, Albany, Albany,NY.
- Arlene G. Deitz -b. Oct 3, 1943 at Albany, Albany, NY. She married Rev. James D. Clark on Jul 16, 1966 at Schenectady, Schenectady, NY. They lived in 2009 in Essex Junction, VT.
- Gerald R. Deitz -b.Oct 4, 1948 at Schenectady, Schenectady,NY. He lived in 2009 in Clifton Park, Saratoga, NY.
Death
Rev. Franklin S. Deitz died on Dec 4, 1996 at St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, Albany, NY, at age 83. He was buried on Dec 7, 1996 at Woodlawn Cemetery, Berne, Albany, NY.
Obituary
Rev. Franklin S. Deitz
BERNE — The Rev. Franklin S. Deitz, 83, of Switzkill Road died Dec. 4 at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany.
Rev. Deitz was born May 11, 1913, in Berne, son of the late Fred N. and Theodora Haverly Deitz. He was a graduate of Schoharie High School, Hope College, in Holland, Mich., and New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, N. J. In 1938, he married Gertrude M. Ball and began service in his first pastorate, the Dutch Reformed Church of Prattsville (Greene Co.). In 1944 he moved to the Second Reformed (Cobblestone) Church of Rotterdam, and then to Schoharie county in 1961. He was named pastor emeritus when he retired from Lawyersville & Sharon Reformed churches in 1975, and moved to Berne.
Rev. Deitz was chaplain of the Hilltown Senior Citizens, and a member of the First Reformed Church of Berne, where he had grown up. He was also a member of the Berne Historical Society and the Schoharie Classis of the Reformed Church of America.
He is survived by his help-meet of 58 years, Gertrude B. Deitz; two sor s, Allan F. Deitz of Guilderland and Gerald R. Deitz of Clifton Park; one daughter, Arlene D. (Mrs. James) Clark of Essex Junction, Vt.; three grandchildren — Jennifer L. (Mrs. Michael) Battaglioli of Manhattan, David L. Clark of Berne, and Karen B. Deitz of Guilderland; one nephew, James Deitz, who came from Atlanta, Ga.; and three nieces — Gail (Mrs. Dale) Whipple, who is caring for her mother, Edythe Deitz, in Wyalusing, Pa., and Jean Wright and Janet Salzer in Berne. Two brothers, Harold and Walter Deitz, are deceased. Memorial service was held Saturday at the First Reformed Church of Berne with the Rev. Robert Hoffman officiating. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Berne.
Memorial contributions may be made to the memorial funds of either the First Reformed Church of Berne, the Lawyersville Reformed Church or the Sharon Reformed Church. Arrangements are by Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont.
—Alberta B. Wright
- Altamont Enterprise - December 12, 1996
Additional Media
HAROLD DEITZ
Harold F. Deitz, whose funeral was from the Berne Reformed Church on Thursday, June 28, was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. He was also brother to the late Walter Deitz, who was buried on the family plot in May, 1970. He was the great-grandfather of Kevin O'Neil and Tara Wurzler of Wyalusing, Penn. and Julia Wurzler of Fargo, N.D.
- Altamont Enterprise - July 11, 1985
Harold Deitz Obituary - Altamont Enterprise - July 11, 1985
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