Darryl Makepeace

Darryl Lee Makepeace passed away at age 81 on Tuesday December 27, 2022 in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was born on October 24, 1941 in Pittsburgh, PA to his late parents Nevada Ruth Wagener Makepeace Desin and Thomas Henry Makepeace.

Darryl graduated from Erie Strong Vincent High School in 1958, received his BS in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University in 1969, and graduated summa cum laude from Pepperdine University in Malibu CA with an MBA in 1982. In college, he was associated with AIIE, Tau Beta Pi, and Alpha Pi Mu.

Darryl served in the U.S. Army in 1960, and was recalled to active duty from the Army Reserve in 1962 to serve as an artillery surveyor in fire direction control for the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was stationed at Ft. Sill in Oklahoma.

He graduated from the Erie G.E. Apprentice Machinist program in 1965 and also worked as a tool & die maker at Fryling Mfg. After graduating from Penn State, Darryl began a career in manufacturing management starting with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati as a supervisor and department manager.

Darryl moved to Orange County CA in 1972, and continued his manufacturing career with a variety of companies including being the materials and plant manager at CBS Musical Instruments (Fender), Wolf Range, General Tire & Rubber, and National Production Systems (a Division of National Supply and Armco Steel).

His career shifted into management consulting in 1986 as co-owner and partner with The Cumberland Group in Cincinnati. Also in Cincinnati, he helped form and was a partner with the Phoenix Consulting Group, and served as owner and president of DLMakepeace & Associates, Inc., retiring in 1996.

He worked with the American Iron and Steel Institute for many years as a primary consultant with Ford, Chrysler, General Motors and their ten associated North American steel suppliers. He authored two private books supporting major changes in the auto industry.

As an adjunct and associate professor, Darryl taught management courses for many years with various universities including California State U in Fullerton CA, Wright State U in Dayton OH, and Miami U in Oxford OH.

Darryl enjoyed visiting with his high school classmates and friends over the years, co-chairing annual reunions since 2003, and serving as Classreport site administrator for every Strong Vincent class from 1931 thru 2017. As a Strong Vincent archivist, he kept track of over 20,000 graduates. He was an Erie Ambassador and for years he enjoyed volunteering at the Presque Isle Lighthouse.

Darryl was preceded in death by his father Thomas Henry Makepeace in 1948, his mother Nevada Wagener Makepeace Desin in 1993, his grandmother, Ruth Smith Wagener Heidt; and his grandfathers Charles Otto Wagener and Peter Makepeace; his aunt Virginia Wagener Armstrong; his uncles William Makepeace and Charles Wagener; and his half-brothers James Makepeace and John Sweitzer.

He is survived by his brother, Gregg T. Makepeace (Bonnie) in Temecula, CA; his sister, Ruth Ann Wenger (Mark) in State College, PA, his half-sister Jean Brown Boshoven (Jim), in Grand Rapids, MI; and his three CA nephews, Darryl Rodney Makepeace (Kathy), Brian Gill Makepeace (Pam), and Gregg Thomas Makepeace (Michele).

He lost his special friend Bonnie Tansey in 2019. He is survived by special friends Bruce and Nancy Marsack of CA and Judy Wehrle Pettinato of Erie.

Friends and family are welcome to attend a visitation on Saturday Dec. 31st from 9am until the time of the service at 10am at Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services Inc. West Ridge, 3801 West 26th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16506. Burial will be private at Laurel Hill Cemetery.