David Poe

David George Poe, died peacefully at his home in Media, PA on January 17, 2017. He was 91 years old.



David was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn and his daughter Elizabeth. He is survived by his children Catherine Poe of Oakland, CA, Patricia Poe of Ardmore, PA, Eileen Poe-Yamagata (Hisashi Yamagata) of Olney, MD, his stepson John Logue of Malvern, PA and by four grandchildren Mia Fine, David Fine, Emma Poe-Yamagata and Ian Poe-Yamagata.



Dave was born on April 29, 1925 in Bryn Mawr, PA to David Leslie and Marie (Roehm) Poe, the oldest of three children. He was a student at Lower Merion High School until 1943 when he was old enough to enlist in the Navy in World War II. He served as a gunner's mate on a Destroyer Escort, the USS Finch in the Atlantic.



After the war, he quickly got his high school degree at a Philadelphia high school set up for returning GIs. He then enrolled in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Dave joined the MU Chapter of the Delta Sigma Pi fraternity where he made some lifelong friends. This period of his life later provided him with many funny anecdotes about life with his fraternity brothers. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in business administration.



In 1952, he married Rosemary Freiseis and they settled in Washington where their first child was born. In 1953, Dave was offered a job as an arborist at Bartlett Tree Experts in Bala Cynwyd, PA. The family moved to the Philadelphia area eventually settling in Newtown Square where they raised their family of four daughters. Dave worked at Bartlett for the rest of his working life, becoming an expert on all aspects of tree knowledge and care. He became somewhat known in the area as a local expert and was occasionally invited to give opinions on television and once in a court case.



Dave married Evelyn Logue in 1976 and they moved to Devon. He was an early member of the International Society of Aboriculture holding positions of treasurer and chapter president. He remained an active member for decades where he had some close arborist friends. Dave was always a great hobbyist. He experimented making wine and raising tropical fish. In the 1980s, he became a model railroad buff and built a large HO trainset in his basement with backgrounds painted for him by his wife. He joined the St. Alban's Railroad Club and participated in their monthly meetings and annual open house. He eventually gave away his model trains but never lost interest in real trains.



He and Evelyn traveled around the United States where he attended ISA meetings. Dave was proud of his wartime service to his country and joined organizations of Destroyer Escort veterans and contributed donations to the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum in New York. Dave always liked working with his hands and became an accomplished framer, framing artwork for his family, including his wife's paintings. He continued gardening and tending his beautiful trees almost up until the end of his life. In 2016, Dave and Evelyn moved to Rose Tree Assisted Living in Media, PA. She died in September.



Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Tuesday, January 24, 2017 10:00-10:50 AM St. Monica Church, 635 First Avenue, Berwyn, PA and to his Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, PA.



Contributions in David's memory may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 225 City Avenue, Suite 104, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.

Visitation

Tuesday, January 24, 2017 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
St Monica Church
635 First Ave Berwyn 19312, United States