MISHAWAKA, IN – DeFoe Lee Greenawalt, 91, of Mishawaka, IN passed away at home peacefully though unexpectedly on Tuesday October 30, 2018. He was born January 21, 1927 in Goshen, IN to Lee and Saris Ann (Carlin) Greenawalt. On September 24, 1950 at Ridgedale Presbyterian Church in South Bend, IN, he wed the love of his life Mary Jane (Shank), who after 65 years of marriage preceded him in death.
DeFoe is survived by two daughters, Diana (Thomas) Panzica of Granger, IN and Tami Greenawalt of Cary, NC; two grandchildren, Christopher Panzica of Franklin, TN and Catherine Panzica of Chicago, IL; and a sister, Sherrie (Jerry) DeFord of Elkhart, IN. Both parents and his two younger brothers, Donald and James Greenawalt, preceded him in death. A lifelong area resident, DeFoe graduated from Elkhart HS in 1945.
He was a US Army WWII veteran trained as a surgical technician and posted across the country including Ft. Lewis, WA, Ft. Sam Houston, TX, Camp Atterbury, IN and Ft.
Wadsworth, NY. Always having a strong work ethic and high mechanical aptitude, upon honorable discharge in 1947 he entered Tri-State (now Trine) University in Angola, IN earning a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in three years. On graduation in 1950 DeFoe was employed by Bendix Corporation in South Bend as a registered engineer, remaining for twenty years.
There he designed rocket guidance and control systems for the Polaris submarine-launched nuclear-armed ballistic missile, which until well into the 1990’s was a vital pillar of US national defense. In 1970 DeFoe joined brothers Don and Jim in managing Elkhart-based manufactured housing firm C&G Corp. , a/k/a Baron Homes, as chief engineer.
In the 1980s, he semi-retired but remained busy, spending decades as a sought-after independent engineering expert and consultant to the national housing and RV industry. An affable friend to all who knew him, DeFoe was a member of Council Oak Masonic Lodge and BPO Elks. He also enjoyed regular golf and poker outings at Klinger Lake Country Club.
He was a staunch believer in traditional American values and had a strong Christian faith, being for more than a half-century an active member of Mishawaka’s Coalbush United Methodist Church through which he regularly performed community service. DeFoe deeply loved and cherished family, devotedly caring for Mary Jane at home through all the years of her debilitating illness. He especially doted on his grandchildren of whom he was so proud and who brought much joy to his life.
His interests included travels with family all across the USA and Europe, embarking with his wife, at age eighty, on an adventurous three-week journey through Australia and New Zealand. Services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, with visitation starting at 11:00 a.m. Graveside services and burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of DeFoe L. Greenawalt may be made to www.
woundedwarriorproject.org or to Coalbush United Methodist Church, 15977 Jackson Road, Mishawaka, IN 46544. Online condolences may be offered at www. palmerfuneralhomes.com Donations may be made to: Coalbush United Methodist Church 15977 Jackson Road, Mishawaka IN 46544 Tel: 1-574-259-4136 Email: Coalbush@yahoo.com Web: www.
coalbush.org/ Wounded Warrior Project 7020 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville FL 32256 Tel: 1-877-832-6997 Web: www.
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