Dietrich (Dee) Fredric Wahlers, Jr., 81, of Cranbury, New Jersey, passed away on February 20, 2018 after a long stay at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Born in Maplewood, New Jersey in 1936, he was the son of Dietrich Fredric Wahlers and Anna C. Wendel Wahlers. He graduated from Columbia Highschool in 1955 and Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1959.
Dee was married to Barbara Sue Wahlers on October 16, 1959 in Chicago, Il. After three years of service in the United States Army (Fort Benning, Fort Meade, and The Pentagon) Dee moved to Short Hills, NJ. His professional career began with Ciba Geigy and he took evening classes to earn his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He spent the next forty years employed at Johnson & Johnson and Becton Dickinson.
Dee was very involved with his son’s activities which included Boy Scouts (being an Eagle Scout himself), sports, and helping his sons on their paper routes. Due to the size of the Sunday Trenton Times, Dee would drive his son’s around Cranbury to insure prompt delivery!
One of Dee’s many passions was the preservation of the Village of Cranbury. He contributed to this effort with his many hours of service while on the township committee, planning board, and environmental commission. Dee always considered Cranbury a special place and a town worth preserving for future generations.
Dee was affectionately referred to by his grandsons and granddaughter as Grand D. He enjoyed relaying stories about his childhood, college days, and life on an army base! Always a life learner, Grand D intertwined personal anecdotes along with “real world” pearls of wisdom to his grandchildren.
Dee is survived by his two sons and a daughter-in-law; Robert and wife Linda Harrigan Wahlers, grandson Declan; and son Peter and grandsons Ryan, Mason, and granddaughter Lauren, along with his sister Stephanie W. Krom of Holland, Michigan and many nieces and nephews.
Interment service will be private for the family at Dietrich’s request. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dietrich F. Wahlers’ memory to:
The Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society Endowment Fund (CHPS Endowment Fund) History Center, 6 South Main Street, Cranbury, NJ 08512, or to a charity of your choice.
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday March 3rd at The Cranbury Inn, 6-8pm.
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