In Memory of
Joel Dilworth
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December 3, 2003 FACULTY Joel John Dilworth (85) Monterey County Herald, CA Thursday, Dec 11, 2003 Retired Army Col. Joel John Dilworth, 85, a former Pacific Grove High School math teacher and a founder of Gateway Center for the Developmentally Disabled, died Dec. 3 of skin cancer at Canterbury Woods in Pacific Grove. He was born Dec. 28, 1917, in Michigan City, Ind., and had lived in Pacific Grove for 40 years. He studied chemistry and engineering at Purdue University, and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1942. He was an Eagle Scout and qualified as an expert marksman with all Army firearms of the time. Col. Dilworth commanded a howitzer battalion in Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army in France, Germany and Austria. After the war he served as U.S. adviser to Japan for creation of the Japanese Military Academy, for which he was honored by the Japanese government. Among other duties at the Pentagon, oversaw rock 'n' roll star Elvis Presley's military service from 1958 to 1959. He retired from the Army in 1963, earned a master's degree in teaching and studied philosophy at Stanford University. He taught mathematics from 1964 to 1983 and headed the math department for the last 15 years of his tenure at Pacific Grove High School. Col. Dilworth was a founder and creator of Gateway Center for the Developmentally Disabled in Pacific Grove and a longtime member of its board. He enjoyed hunting, swimming, tennis, square dancing and spending time with his family and granddaughter. Col. Dilworth is survived by two sons, George Dilworth of Pacific Grove and David Dilworth of Carmel; a daughter, Jane Dilworth of Oakland; and a granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Dilworth. A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Canterbury Woods. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to Gateway Center, 850 Congress Ave., Pacific Grove 93950, or Helping Our Peninsula's Environment, P.O. Box 1495, Carmel 93921. Michigan City News-Dispatch, MI Dec 12, 2003 Joel John Dilworth, 85, Canterbury Woods, Pacific Grove, Calif., died Wednesday (Dec. 3, 2003) at his home in Pacific Grove. The funeral service will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Canterbury Woods, Pacific Grove, Calif., with full military honors including a 21-gun salute. Those attending may bring written memories or photographs to share. Mr. Dilworth was born Dec. 28, 1917, in Michigan City, to Leslie J. and Wilhemina Florentina (Berndt) Dilworth. Survivors include two sons, George Dilworth, Pacific Grove, Calif. and David Dilworth, Carmel, Calif.; one daughter, Jane Dilworth, Oakland, Calif.; one son-in-law, Fabian Banga, Oakland, Calif.; one granddaughter, Arianna Matisse Banga Dilworth, Oakland, Calif.; sister-in-law, Lorraine Dilworth, LaPorte. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Elizabeth Holcomb Dilworth; two sisters, Priscilla and Janis; and two brothers "Red" and James Dilworth. Mr. Dilworth had lived in Pacific Grove since 1964. He grew up in Michigan City from 1917 to 1937 on West Williams Street. He retired as a U.S. Army Colonel in 1963 and was a math professor at Pacific Grove High School from 1964 to 1983. Mr. Dilworth had been a board member of the Gateway Center for the Mentally Handicapped, Pacific Grove since 1964. He was a member of West Point Alumni Association of Graduates, the Stanford Alumni Association and was an advisor of Helping Our Peninsula's Environment since 1998. His education included degrees from Purdue in 1938, majoring in chemistry and engineering; West Point Military Academy, New York, in 1942; Stanford, 1964, MA teaching; Stanford, 1968, philosophy. He was a pilot in the Army Air Corps in 1943. In Patton's 3rd Army, Joel commanded a Howitzer Battalion during World War II in France, Germany and Austria. He personally had thousands of German soldiers surrender to him at World War II's end because his battalion had gone greatest distance from Normandy -- deep into the Austrian Alps. He was appointed as U.S. Advisor to Japan from 1952-54 for creation of the Japanese Military Academy. As assistant to Army Pentagon Chief of Staff, he was charged with oversight of Elvis Presley's service from 1958-59. He was recognized by Japanese Military for his role in shaping their postwar military. Mr. Dilworth was an Eagle Scout, Boy Scout of America and was a qualified expert marksman on every Army firearm. He was one of the founders and creators of Gateway Center for the Developmentally Disabled in Pacific Grove that serves some 44 residents and 60 non-resident clients. He loved hunting with his father and recently enjoyed holding his new granddaughter. He liked swimming, tennis, square-dancing, learning French and Spanish and helping other people, especially the disadvantaged. Memorials may be made to the Gateway Center for the Developmentally Disabled, 850 Congress, Pacific Grove 93950 (Tax deductible ID# 94-2660677) and Helping Our Peninsula's Environment, Box 1495, Carmel, 93921 (Tax deductible ID# 77-0516447). |
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