Mahlon Dennis

Mahlon Denton Dennis, 73, passed away on December 8, 2016 at Kingwood Medical Center in Kingwood, Texas. He was born September 2, 1943 in Hancock, New York, and was the 10th of 12 children born to Horace B. Dennis and Evelyn Rutledge Dennis.

Mahlon grew up in Equinunk, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Hancock High School in 1961. After high school he attended Mansfield State College in Mansfield, PA where he received a B.S. in Chemistry and Physics in 1965, followed by Master and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Ceramics Science from Penn State University in 1969 and 1972. He stayed for one year as a Post Doctoral Fellow to solve beer bottle explosion problems for the glass container industry. In 1973 General Electric hired him to work in the diamond business where he became a leader of a team that developed polycrystalline diamond compacts into a large worldwide business. In 1980 he moved to Houston, Texas and founded Strata Bit Corporation to develop new drilling technology, and in just 4 years sales approached $50,000,000. In 1989 he started Dennis Tool Company with his two sons by his side, and together they built a successful and lucrative business in the industrial diamond manufacturing industry.

Mahlon married Millie Meikle in 1965. They were happily married for 51 years. He was a devoted father to his two sons, Tom and Bob Dennis, and loved beyond measure his three granddaughters, Sydney, Jessica, and Catie Dennis. He was an accomplished scientist and businessman who achieved many successes and accolades during his life. He published several international papers, was awarded dozens of patents in the diamond industry, and was written up with a two-page article in Business Week honoring him as Entrepreneur of the Year in Texas. In 1998 he received the "Distinguished Alumnus of Penn State" award, and in 2007 received the David Ford McFarland Award by the Penn State Chapter of ASM for his distinguished record of achievements in the field of materials science.

Mahlon enjoyed his life to the fullest. He was an avid golfer in his prime and instilled in his boys a love of playing the game. He loved cars and sports, and was a passionate Penn State Nittany Lion football fan, with the Pittsburgh Steelers a close second in his heart. Of course, any activity or sport his granddaughters participated in he became an ardent fan of as well. He had many close friends and family with whom he enjoyed spending his time. They all loved him dearly for his ever present sense of humor, his giving of time and resources to anyone in need, his loving care and dedication to his wife, siblings, family, and dogs, his keen intellect, and his overall zest for life. He was a man of great integrity in his personal and business life, a loyal and generous friend, and a loving husband, father, and grandpa. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, and lovingly remembered in our hearts forever.

Mahlon is survived by his loving wife Millie, his son Tom and wife Chris, his son Bob, his granddaughters, Sydney, Jessica, and Catie, and siblings Eleanor Nolan, Robert Dennis, Clinton Dennis, Roger Dennis, and Barbara Schoonmaker.

A funeral service was held at Kingwood Funeral Home on Friday, December, 16, 2016 at 2 p.m., followed by burial at Rosewood Funeral Home and Cemetery in Humble, Texas. A visitation was held at Kingwood Funeral Home on Thursday, December 15th from 5 to 8 pm.

In Mahlon's honor, the family requests donations be made by check to Equinunk Methodist Church, and mailed to the church secretary at the following address:

Ruth Price, 1821 Pine Mill Road, Equinunk, PA 18417