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Ernest Dean "Dean" Vitatoe
Ernest Dean "Dean" Vitatoe
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He liked motorcycles, skiing, trips to the beach, Penn State Football, and spending time with friends and family.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM in Habecker Mennonite Cemetery, 451 Habecker Church Road, Lancaster, PA 17603.
Ernest D. Vitatoe, 70, of Lancaster passed away peacefully on Friday, September 19, 2025 at Hospice and Community Care, Mount Joy. He was the son of the late Ernest T. and Betty (Reese) Vitatoe and was the husband of Suzanne (Blumenschein) Vitatoe, with whom he shared 38 years of marriage.
Dean graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School and Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
He was a member of the Gentlemen M.C. Sportsmen Club and the Lancaster Ski Club. He liked motorcycles, skiing, trips to the beach, Penn State Football, and spending time with friends and family.
In addition to his wife, Dean is survived by three children, John Ruth (Joelle), Ericka Vitatoe (Brian), and Zachary Vitatoe; two grandsons, Roman and Draven Ruth; step mother, Mary Vitatoe; two step sisters, Deb Witmer (Dale) and Carol Bastendorf (Mike); and brother-in-law, Brian Blumenschein.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Brenda Burkholder.
Graveside services will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM in Habecker Mennonite Cemetery, 451 Habecker Church Road, Lancaster, PA 17603.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601 or Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute. 2102 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
5 Entries
Teddy Boone
September 26, 2025
Condolences to friends & family.Next door neighbor until 1971.Quaker Hills.
Libby Thode
September 26, 2025
So sorry to hear of Dean's passing. I was good to have been reunited with him and meet his family even tho it was thru difficult circumstances this past year. He was a great guy. Keeping you in my prayers,Libby Thode
Kurt Moser
September 26, 2025
So sad to hear of Dean's passing. My condolences to the family. I was a neighbor and good friend of his back in the Quaker Hills days.
Daniel E Boone
September 26, 2025
I'm so very sorry for your loss. Dean was one of the nicest kids in our neighborhood growing up. The last time we spoke was when his son was born and the joy I saw in his eyes was unmistakable. Dean touched my life more than he realized and I expressed that to him the last time we spoke. He was a blessing and a good man that will be missed.
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Joan Schwebel
September 25, 2025
So sorry to hear of Dean's passing. Thoughts and prayers for you, Sue and your family.
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519 Walnut St, Columbia, PA 17512
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