George Dilling, Nanty Glo historian, passes away

This week’s Sunday Post is dedicated to the memory of George Elby Dilling who passed away at 88 years of age on June 29, 2004, at a Monroeville hospital, near Pittsburgh. He resided in Nanty Glo for 73 years before he relocated to Plum Borough, an eastern Pittsburgh suburb, for the final 15 years of his life. George was a invaluable contributor to the Home Page, recalling the past of long ago when Nanty Glo was an active and thriving coal mining town.

Sincere condolences go out to his wife and family members. George was a 1935 Nanty Glo High School graduate, a long-time mailman, and a retired minister of the Church of the Brethren. His life story can be read at www.nantyglo.com/gdilling.htm. His colorful and vivid stories about former residents and vanished landmarks will always be a treasure trove of Nanty Glo’s history and lore. These tales would have been lost forever had George not taken the time to document them for our benefit. Now these stories are enshrined for viewers to enjoy.

From my earliest years, I remember George when he delivered the US mail to my parents' home beginning in the early 1940’s. He was a practitioner who lived by the mailman’s creed: "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow shall keep the US Post Office from making its appointed rounds." In the brutal winters that the Valley often experiences, there was George trudging through a blizzard to deliver the mail. Recently, I emailed George to assist me in updating a 1933 Nanty Glo High School class listing. I figured if anyone recalled any historical background, George had to be the source. On June 20, he forwarded the following story about Mrs. Dorothy (Cornelius) Davis, a 1933 NGHS graduate, who recently passed away.

I can give you a little bit of information on Dorothy Cornelius. The family lived in the house below Ebandjieff's Clinic. James (Jim) Cornelius was the station-master at the Nanty Glo Railroad Station. Mrs. Cornelius and her two daughters, Helen and Dorothy, attended the Nanty Glo Church of the Brethren for several years. Mrs. Cornelius taught the small children in Sunday School for years. I was in her class as a toddler. Both girls sang in the church choir. When we were in a joint pastorate with the Penn Run Church, our Pastor would take Dorothy and my sister Anna to sing duets for the church. Both Helen and Dorothy graduated from Nanty Glo High School.

Harry Bracken Lived at Mundy's Corner, Deceased
Elizabeth (Betty) Carlisle Lives in Oregon
Georgenia (Davis) Rager (Married Adam Rager Class of 1932), Both Deceased
Jay Leatherman Deceased
Thelma Robinson Deceased
Nora Belle Simmons Deceased
Antha (Teeter) Pearson Deceased

I believe Lloyd Evans was killed in WWll but I am not certain.

George

Upon my checking the Nanty Glo World War II listing of combat deaths, Lloyd John Evans, US Army Sergeant, was killed in France on 08/08/44. Also in looking back at Nanty Glo letter #175, dated May 7, 2000, George discussed Mrs. Davis’ father as follows, “James Cornelius was the Station Master at the Railroad Station and often I saw him roll out the large carts to take baggage, mail, and freight off the train.”

Several pictures of the Nanty Glo Railroad Station from the early 1900’s have been featured recently in the Nanty Glo Journal. Mr. Cornelius was probably somewhere in the pictures.

Mr. Dilling is survived by his wife, Nora, to whom he was married for 66 years, and five daughters and one son; also by 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. His son, Richard, of Ecru, Mississippi, conducted the funeral services. Richard is a minister who is also a valuable contributor to the Nanty Glo web site and email forum. Interment followed in the Twin Valley Memorial Park, Delmont, on July 2.

George wrote many letters for the Nanty Glo home page since its founding for viewers to enjoy. He was a gentle, kindly man with close family ties and strong religious beliefs. He always remained the conscientious mailman, delivering the mail during his twilight years through a new process called email.

Click here for his obituary and links to other articles and letters.

—Frank Charney

Now you know everything!

1. The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for blood plasma.
2. No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven times.
3. Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

— Sent by Mary Ann Losiewicz 

Thought for today on growing older

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

— Sent by Carl Essex  

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