Enerst Kneale Dockstader

Ernest Kneale Dockstader of West Grove Ernest Kneale Dockstader of Jenner's Pond passed away November 3, 2010 at Chester County Hospital with his four children at his side. He was 97, just one month shy of his 98th birthday. His wife of 73 years, Margaret, had pre-deceased him on November 5, 2008. Mr. Dockstader was born December 4, 1912 in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He grew up there and was educated in the Boston area, earning a B.S. in mechanical engineering (M.E.) from Tufts University and an M.S. in M.E. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). Upon graduating from M.I.T., he and his new bride traveled to the Panama Canal Zone, where he began work as a field engineer at the Canal for the U.S. Government. After two years there, they returned to M.I.T. where he taught engineering courses for a year. He then worked as an engineer for Babcock and Wilcox in New York for four years, followed by his 36-year career with E. I. DuPont de Nemours in Wilmington, Del. For DuPont, he served in various engineering capacities, traveled extensively as a trouble-shooter and problem-solver for the company's wide-ranging chemical production facilities, and attained the position of supervisor of compressor and pump engineering. Along the way, he became a registered professional engineer in New York and Pennsylvania, and held one patent in the technology. After retiring from DuPont, he spent a few years as an independent consultant in compressor and pump engineering, teaching at professional seminars and appearing in several court cases as an expert witness. He and his wife loved to travel, and visited Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East and the Caribbean on either business or pleasure. In 1978, Mr. Dockstader, known to everyone as Kneale, entered public service as Kennett Square's representative to the South Eastern Chester County Refuse Authority (SECCRA), quickly attaining the role as its chairman. He spearheaded and was the driving force behind establishing the Community Landfill in London Grove Township, which now serves the area. After 23 years of leadership with SECCRA, he was honored at another retirement ceremony with the formation of an Educational and Environmental Service Foundation in his name and funded by the Authority. After residing in Kennett Square from 1955 to 1999, Kneale and Margaret moved to Jenner's Pond retirement community in West Grove, where they took advantage of the many activity opportunities and were frequently seen riding around the property in their electric surrey. Kneale and Margaret are survived by their children, Robert Kneale Dockstader, Sr. and his wife Chiquita of Colmar, Dr. Donald Thresher Dockstader and his wife Judith of Exton, Margaret Louise Dockstader Seidel and her husband Gerald of Bowie, Md., James Mallory Dockstader and his wife Jean of Windham, N.H.; 12 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. You are invited to visit with Mr. Dockstader's family and friends from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 13, at the Red Clay Room, 423 Dalmation Street, Kennett Square. A memorial service will follow. Interment will be at Shawsheen Cemetery in Bedford, Massachusetts at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the E. Kneale Dockstader Foundation in care of SECCRA, 219 Street Road, West Grove, PA 19390. To send an online condolence, please visit www.griecocares.com.