Peter Dion

Peter F. Dion, age 81, of Erie, died unexpectedly on Wednesday March 28, 2012 at St. Vincent Health Center.

He was born in Erie, September 18, 1930, a son of the late Peter W. and Olga E. Friedrich Dion.

Peter graduated from Strong Vincent High School, class of 1948.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950-1954 during the Korean War.

He worked at American Hollow Boring from 1957 to 1994 and served as Vice President of Sales from 1978 to 1994.

Mr. Dion was a past board member of Catholic Social Services, and served as an usher at St. Jude Catholic Church for over 28 years.

He was a member of the Erie Club, a former member of the Aviation Club and Lakeview Country Club. He was a member of the YMCA since 1940, and was an outstanding handball player. He competed in numerous local, national and international handball tournaments both in singles and doubles. He won 3rd place in the United States Handball Golden Master Singles in Melbourne, Australia in 1988. He and his partner, Len Tomczak, won the Great Lakes Doubles Handball Tournament nine years in a row, from 1974 – 1983. They also won 3rd in the National Handball Master Doubles and won the Mid America Doubles Tournament, both in 1978.

Mr. Dion had been a generous whole blood donor since 1947, giving as often as allowable, and at the time of his death had donated more than 44 gallons of whole blood.

Survivors include his wife Shirley A. DeLong Dion, Erie, whom he married February 3, 1951; a son, Peter C. Dion and his wife Joyce, Girard; a daughter, Deborah Dion, Erie; six grandchildren: Colleen Shanafelt and her husband Michael, Hollidaysburg, PA; Christopher Dion and his wife Sharon, Richmond, VA; David Schroeck and his wife Rachel; James Fuhrman III, Michael Fuhrman and Annamarie Fuhrman, all of Erie; five great grandchildren: Ethan, Madeline and Andrew Shanafelt, Thomas (Gray) Dion, and August Schroeck; a brother, Alan G. Dion and his wife Anna, Sierra Vista, AZ; a sister Jeanne Regan and her husband Jack, McKean, and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 602 West 10th Street on Sunday from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., and are invited to a prayer service there on Monday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Jude the Apostle Church at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend John Detisch celebrant.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude the Apostle Church, 2801 West 6th Street, Erie PA 16505 or WLD Ranch, 7351 Woolsey Rd., Girard PA 16417.