Gerald Frederick Diddle was born in Fairchance, Pa. on February 27, 1925 to Frederick Thomas and Eunice Eleanor Diddle. He was the 8th born of 12 children.

His father was a minister in the Free Methodist Church which caused them to move many times during Gerald’s school years. During his junior year in high school, his father was moved to the Free Methodist Church in Vandergrift, Pa. It was there that he met his future bride, a high school sophomore named Lucille Barr.

Immediately following his graduation from high school in June of 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was assigned to a Destroyer in the North Atlantic Fleet, the USS 635 Earle in N.Y. City.

On December 22, 1944, on a 72-hour pass, Gerald married his high school sweetheart, Lucille Barr. They were married in the church parsonage by his father, honeymooned in Pittsburg, Pa. and off the next day to New York City back to his ship.

After his military service he attended the University of Pittsburg on the GI Bill and graduated in 1949 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. It was during this time that he was attending the University that their first son, Jerry was born in 1947.

After graduation in 1949 he accepted a position with the Department of Agriculture in the Rural Electrification Administration in Washington, D.C. Gerald and Lucille moved to Rockville, Md. where their daughter Barbara was born in 1952 and their son Brian was born in 1958. They lived in Rockville until 1973.

In 1973 they moved to Springfield, Mo. where Gerald became the General Manager of Associated Electric Cooperative. During his time there he received many honors and awards for his accomplishments.

Upon retirement from Associated Electric in 1992, he and Lucille moved to Overland Park, Ks. where he resided until his death on May 24, 2019.

Everywhere Gerald lived he was very involved in his church. His faith in God, church involvement, and family life were very important to him. The depth of his love and commitment to the Lord will be his legacy that he leaves to his family and all those that knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Lucille, and their three children and their spouses; Jerry Diddle (Pam) of Overland Park, KS., Barbara Diddle Thompson (Dick) of Tulsa, OK., Brian Diddle (Elizabeth) of Olathe, KS. and Also surviving are 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.



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