Obituary of Virginia Lee Dile

Virginia Lee Dile, 91, a 61-year-resident of Titusville, died Monday evening at the Titusville Area Hospital. Mrs. Dile, who lived at Southwoods Assisted Living Community and formerly of East Spruce Street, was born on Nov. 6, 1919, in Wysox, Pa., a daughter of the late Edwin and Grace Lee Lent. She married Jack J. Dile on Aug. 5, 1950 at the Presbyterian Church in Wysox. Mr. Dile, a longtime teacher and principal at Titusville High School, preceded her in death on July 3, 2005. She died on what would have been Jack’s 89th birthday. Virginia was a graduate of Towanda High School and, prior to her marriage, worked as secretary to the president of Sylvania in Towanda. She resigned to serve in the Women’s Army Corps of the United States Army during World War II, rising to the position of staff sergeant. She worked for several generals, including Gen. Mark Clark, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., before being discharged with honor in October 1946. In addition to raising her family, Virginia worked for the Titusville Area School District. She was a former member of the Titusville Garden Club, the Titusville Women’s Club and served on the board of the Titusville YWCA. An accomplished photographer, gardener and seamstress, she made dresses for her daughters Robin and Laurel, from birth through their weddings. She enjoyed reading, cooking and baking, and was well-known for her spectacular oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and hickory nut sticky buns. She enjoyed being a member of the YWCA book club and regularly competed with her good friend Thelma Blood to see who could finish the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle the fastest. She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Titusville and looked forward to attending weekly afternoon Bible Study. Virginia Dile was the true matriarch of her extended family. She is survived by two daughters: Robin Cuneo and her husband Patrick Cuneo of Findley Lake, N.Y., and Laurel King and her husband David King of Shrewsbury, Mass.; a son, Jack J. Dile Jr. and his wife Kim Dile of Hummelstown, Pa.; four grandchildren, Eli J. Dile, Emilie J. Dile, Aaron D. King and Zachary D. King; a sister, Marion Jones of Rome, Pa.; a brother, Carlton Lent of Wysox Pa.; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Lent. Friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home, 303 N. Washington St., Titusville, on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and attend a funeral service Saturday at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 N. Franklin St., Titusville, with Dr. Barry E. Cressman and Mrs. Jacqueline Wagner officiating. Private interment will be on Jack’s Mountain in McVeytown, Pa. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Titusville. FLOWERS