James Sheen Obituary
GETTYSBURG Dr. James Dillenbeck Sheen, 80, of Gettysburg, died peacefully at home on September 21, 2013. Born in Philadelphia on March 15, 1933, he was the son of the late Dorothy Dillenbeck Sheen and Robert Tilton Sheen. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Eleanor (Ellie) Bankert Sheen; two sons, Geoffrey W. Sheen and his wife Mary, Augusta, Ga, and James D. Sheen, Jr. and his wife Virginia, Boca Raton, Fla.; two grandchildren, Matthew W. Sheen and Elizabeth Stratton; two great-granddaughters, Isabelle and Hilary Stratton; two sisters, Roberta S. Peterson, West Chester, and Regina Ridgway Bundy, Williamsburg, Va.; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Jim graduated from Germantown Academy in 1951, received a B.S. from Ursinus College in 1955, and a D.D.S. from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1959. Jim, Ellie and the boys came to Gettysburg in 1959, where he established his general practice of dentistry. In 2004, Jim retired from his active practice after 45 years. His professional memberships included the Hanover/Gettysburg Dental Society, the 5th District Dental Society of Pa., Life membership in the American Dental Association and the Pa. Dental Association. He was awarded Fellowships in the Academy of General Dentistry, the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. Jim had many interests, but his three greatest loves were his family, his dental practice and patients, and aviation. After receiving his private pilot's license in 1952, he went on to earn numerous other ratings which included instrument, flight instructor, ground instructor, glider and multi-engine. Jim shared his passion for aviation by teaching both his sons and many other young people to fly. For many years, he was advisor to BSA Troop 73 and also the BSA Air Explorer Post 605, for which he received the BSA District Award of Merit. Jim and Ellie enjoyed flying on dental mission trips to Central America and the many flying trips they took as a family. He most recently spent 11 years building an airplane and greatly valued the many friends who advised and participated with him during the construction of the plane. Jim's aviation memberships were American Bonanza Society, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn., Experimental Aircraft Assn (EAA); Gettysburg Barnstormers, EAA Chapter 1041, and Flying Dentists Assn. In the culmination of his many years of flying, Jim received the prestigious Wright Brothers "Master Pilot" Award from the FAA in recognition of his contribution to more than 50 years of safe flying. Jim loved Gettysburg. Active in the Gettysburg Rotary Club since 1961, he served as past president and helped co-found the high school Interact Club, which still functions today. In addition, he was past president of the Gettysburg-Adams Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Adams County Community Foundation Board, and the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, where he had served as Elder, Trustee and Sunday school teacher. He was also a member of the various Masonic organizations. For the past 9 years, Jim and Ellie co-coordinated the annual Salvation Army Kettle Campaign. Jim also was an accomplished woodworker, building numerous pieces of furniture and crafts throughout the years. His workshop was a special place for him. A celebration of Jim's life will be held at the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church on Friday, September 27, at 11 a.m. The family will receive friends at Monahan's Funeral Home on Thursday, September 26, at 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Jim's memory to the Adams County Community Foundation, The Sheen Fund, P.O. Box 4565, Gettysburg, PA 17325.
Published by Evening Sun on Sep. 24, 2013.