G. Scott Dietterick III

Scott Dietterick, 74, of Kingston passed away peacefully at home Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. He was in the presence of his loving family, in his favorite chair, tucked under his cozy blanket. He bravely battled cancer with quiet resolve, but in the end, lost the war. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Scotty was born Feb. 10, 1941, son of Gordon S. Dietterick Jr. and Marjorie Honeywell Cummins. He was a proud graduate of Kingston High School, Class of 1958, attended Wilkes College, and then chose a different path, joining the U.S. Navy, serving his country honorably.

Upon completion of Electronics Technician School in San Francisco, Calif., he was assigned to the USS McKean. While aboard ship, steaming with Westpac, Scott's E.T. duties included maintenance of exterior communication, navigation and radar equipment. Never on watch, but always prepared to troubleshoot a system should it fail to operate properly. More recently, he traveled to Massachusetts to re-unite with shipmates aboard the battleship Joseph P. Kennedy, where they volunteered to perform various maintenance operations.

Upon his honorable discharge from the service, he drove across the country in his '61 Corvette back to the Wyoming Valley to work in the family business as a licensed independent agent/adjuster. In 1975, he built his own insurance business from the ground up, named Wyoming Valley Insurance. Always an active member of the community, he decided to run and was elected to Kingston Council, serving nine years. Later, gaining political momentum, he ran for the Pennsylvania State Legislature and served for two consecutive terms in the 120th District. In 1995, he worked for FEMA as a community relations specialist, traveling the United States and Puerto Rico helping victims cope with their losses from Hurricane Georges. In 2000 he accepted a position with PEMA as an emergency management specialist planning hazardous materials exercises. He retired in 2008.

Scott was a past worshipful master of King David Lodge 763, currently serving as treasurer. He was past president of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Jaycees and nominated as a J.C.I. senator. He was also past president of the Wilkes-Barre Independent Insurance Agents. He was a 50-year member of Church of Christ Uniting, serving on the Finance Ministry Team. He joined the Independent Kingston Fire Company No. 1, served as a chaplain and, recently, received recognition for his 50 years of service. He was a charter member of the Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity, a member of the West Side Blood Council and was a proud 12-gallon donor. He belonged to the American Legion Black Diamond Post 395, and most recently, the Kingston Historical Society.

He so enjoyed reading and was a perpetual student. He loved traveling, board games, video games, yard sales, card games with the guys, playing the piano, photography and home improvement projects.

Scotty will be remembered for his quick wit, sense of humor and his uncanny ability to rebuild his life in the face of adversity. He passed on his many "life lessons" to family and friends. He believed in getting involved, speaking up, volunteering, lending a helping hand, taking calculated risks, recycling, repurposing, conserving energy, fixing what's broken, driving defensively, wearing a seatbelt and a helmet, saving money and spending some too, believing one-half of what you read, screening proactively, walking when you can, grilling all year, praying, having faith and, lastly, forgiving.

Scott will be missed each day by his dear and loving wife, Nancy (Learn), with whom he would have celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary on June 5, 2015; his daughters, Jennifer and John Nice, Mountain Top; and Julie and Tom Pajic, Quincy, Ill.; grandchildren, Grace and Thomas Jr. Pajic; sister, Holly DesVignes and Bob, Powhatan, Va.; nephews, Brian and Catherine, Baltimore, Md.; Christopher, Powhatan, Va.; and Jeffrey and Amber, Broadway, N.C.; niece, Megan and fiancé, Christopher, Powhatan, Va.; brother-in-law, Douglas Learn, Hickory, N.C.; and his extended family, including loyal friends, neighbors and former co-workers.

A special thank you to Mary Erwine and the staff of Erwine's Home Health and Hospice for their dedicated and professional services.

A celebration of Scott's life will begin with visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hugh B. Hughes & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. A Masonic service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Church of Christ Uniting, Market Street and Sprague Avenue, Kingston. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church.

Interment will immediately follow at Fern Knoll Cemetery, Dallas. Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Navy.

Memorial donations may be made to Church of Christ Uniting, Market Street and Sprague Avenue, Kingston, PA 18704; the Hoyt Library, 284 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, PA 18704; or Habitat for Humanity.

For more information, or to send the family an online condolence, please visit the funeral home website at hughbhughes.com.