David C. Tickel

David C. Tickel, a resident of Langhorne, PA, got "his wings" on May 26, 2025, at the home of his daughter Ruth & family in Yardley, PA. Ruth and his son David were present when he passed peacefully beside the flowers (2 twisted yellow hibiscus and two warm and colorful hanging baskets) placed by his bedside earlier in the day.
He was born on November 18, 1933, in Middletown, Ohio to Anne Tickel (birth name, Anabel Sloan) and William David Tickel. He graduated from Middletown High School. As a boy, he enjoyed summers on his Aunt Bea and Uncle Bill Noland's farm in Kokomo, Indiana, where he learned the hard work routine of the farmer. In those earlier days, he loved driving tractor and bailing hay, fishing, playing basketball, and family holiday and reunion gatherings in Middletown.
In 1952, Dave enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict and spent 4 years as a radar mechanic in the 95th Fighter/Interceptor Squadron stationed at Andrews Airforce Base in Washington D.C., as part of the Air Defense Command.
In 1960, thanks to the G.I. Bill, Dave graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a Business Degree. He was the first male in his family to graduate from a four year college. On July 2, 1960, he married Nancy O. Boyd of Cannonsville, New York, also a Miami graduate, and they headed east, beginning married life in Salem, New Jersey. In October 2009, Dave and Nancy were named "Distinguished Alumni" by Miami University.
Dave was employed as an industrial engineer by Anchor Hocking Glass, Lenox China, and the Philco Corp. (electronics corp.) before spending 27 years with Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Co. As Chairman of Ethicon's U.S. Savings Bond Campaign, he helped J&J win a national award, which he received in person from the head of the U.S. Treasury Department.
Retiring in 1993, Dave served the Peace Center and the Bucks county Committee for Interracial Harmony as a board member and long-time member. He was very active in his church, United Christian Church, of which he became a member around 1969. He was the church's Youth Coordinator and President of the congregation with many offices held in between. Being a gifted writer and very involved in his community, he enjoyed writing Guest Opinions in the newspaper. He also enjoyed gardening, entering his vegetables in Grange Fair competitions, genealogy research, reading, golf, traveling and continuing adult learning as he attended over 41 Road Scholar Programs (Elderhostel renamed).
Dave especially enjoyed his fishing trips to the Bahamas with Ethicon and friends Captain Sam Evans and First Mate Robert E. Jancar, collecting conk from the ocean bottom and spearing lobster and fish that would be cooked and consumed on deck. He equally enjoyed his trips to the 50 states, especially Florida in February and trips to Europe with his late wife, Nancy, and subsequently, his girlfriend, Helen Marie Linn, an ex-high school classmate from Ohio. An avid golfer, he enjoyed 20 years of golf and the related companionships and merriment at the Yardley Country Club! Dave also enjoyed following his college football and basketball teams, particularly when Ben Roethilsberger, Wally Szcerback, and Ron Harper played for Miami University of Ohio. One of his most prized creations was his red and white Miami Room located on the 2nd level of his home. This room includes a vast variety of Miami memorabilia, including red and white storage lockers, Miami sport's team flags, photos of Miami and bobblehead Miami football players.
In 1992, Dave traveled to El Salvador as part of a Sister Cities group to observe and offer aid after that country's civil war had ended. In 1993, through the local newspaper, Dave gathered together a coup of Bucks Countians to go to Des Moines, Iowa, to help restore that community after the Great Flood of 1993.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Anne Sloan Tickel and William David Tickel, by Nancy B. Tickel, his dear wife of 53 years, by his older sister, Marlayna Lee Couch, and younger brother, Will Earl Tickel), special boyhood friend and regular attendee at the Tickel family's annual reunion, Bob Wells, and many well-loved and spoiled dogs: Duke, Pooch, Bitsy, Bouncer and Shotgun, as well as grand dogs Charlie, Bear, Morgan, Bam Bam, Marvin and Huey. Bouncer was Dave's copilot during his many post-retirement journeys cross country in Dave's new van.
Surviving Dave are his son David L. Tickel of Morrisville, PA; daughter, Ruth Anne Tickel/Logan and son-in-law, David E. Logan of Yardley, PA, and 3 beautiful granddaughters, Briana of Atlanta, Georgia, now pregnant with William Owens Sikora, Dave's first great-great grandchild due to be born in mid-August 2025, and the twins, Angeline Logan and Haily Logan of Yardley, PA; his only surviving sibling, Robert J. Tickel and wife Marysue Combs Tickel of Hamilton, Ohio and sister-in-law Pam Fyler Tickel of Chicago, Illinois, and many beloved nieces and newphews: Mark Couch, Karen Ewen, Kim Couch, Bob (two/Jr.), Will, Steve, James, Geoffrey, Hunter, and Ashley Tickel, Gary Fallsgraff, Patty (Fallsgraff) Lancaster, Susan (Tickel) Bartlett, Terry (Boyd) Brown, and Neil Boyd.
A celebration of life will be held at United Christian Church, 8525 New Falls Rd., Levittown, PA 19054 on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 1:00PM to 4:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Christian church (https://www.ucclevittown.org/) or The Peace center of Bucks County, PA (https://thepeacecenter.org/).
Arrangements are under the care of the FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home 17 S. Delaware Avenue Yardley, PA 19067. Condolences for the family can be left at www.fitzgeraldsommerfuneralhome.com.