Jerry Wayne Fankhouser

JERRY WAYNE FANKHOUSER Jerry Wayne Fankhouser was born in Hays, Kansas, to W.C. "Chet" and Lelia Fankhouser. He graduated from El Dorado High School in El Dorado, Kansas, and went on to attend Butler County Community College before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University, Class of 1961. While at Kansas State, Jerry met the love of his life, Patricia L. Roby, whom he married in 1962. Jerry began his career with Remington Arms Corporation at the Lake City Arsenal in Independence, Missouri (1961-1964), before joining Mobil Oil Corporation in Augusta, Kansas (1964-1976). In 1976, Jerry accepted a position with United Refining Company in Warren, Pennsylvania, where he played a pivotal role in designing and implementing a modernization project that secured the future viability of the refinery, a cornerstone of the local economy. Rising to the role of Assistant Vice President of Technical Services, he served until 1990, when he accepted a position with Indian Refining in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Working for Castle Energy, he contributed to the unprecedented recommissioning of a refinery that had been shuttered for years, the first such effort in the United States. Jerry and Patricia made their home in Vincennes, Indiana, until 2017. He later worked as an engineering consultant for Western Rope in North Pole, Alaska, and QualEx Engineering at the Marathon Refinery in Robinson, Illinois. Over the course of his career, Jerry earned a reputation as a leader in his field and a dedicated mentor to young engineers. Outside of work, Jerry was passionate about tennis, boating, waterskiing, hunting, and observing wildlife. Upon retirement, he and Patricia divided their time between homes in Tega Cay, South Carolina, and Warren, Pennsylvania, both places they cherished, while enjoying time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, W.C. "Chet" and Lelia Fankhouser. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Patricia (Pat) Fankhouser, and their children: Craig Fankhouser of Warren, PA; Steve Fankhouser of Lyons, CO; Amanda Fankhouser of Warren, PA; and Adrienne (Addy) Mandon of Tega Cay, SC. He and Pat are blessed with twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the First Church of the Nazarene, 907 Pennsylvania Avenue East, Warren, PA. Visitation will take place from 10:00-11:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 am with the Rev. J. Maier, pastor, officiating. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com. Those wishing to place memorials may do so through the Kalbfus Club, 2178 Chapman Dam Rd., Clarendon, PA 16313, or Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.org. The Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home Inc. has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.