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H. C. Deakyne

Paper dated 1/8/1947

H. C. DEAKYNE, CIVIC LEADER, DIES SUDDENLY
CANDY MANUFACTURER WAS CANDIDATE FOR CHESTER MAYOR IN '35

H. C. Deakyne, widely-known Chester candy manufacturer and civic leader, died suddenly of a heart attack at his home, 137 West Mowry street, at 4 p.m., Tuesday. (1/7/1947)He was 50.

Mr. Deakyne was to have been installed as vice president of the Chester Kiwanis Club at the annual installation meeting tonight.

According to his family, Mr Deakyne, who was proprietor of Deakyne Brothers Wholesale Confectioners, Third and Parker streets, had come home about noon suffering with a sharp hear pain. He suffered a second attack at 4 p.m. and died.

Friends and co-workers were stunned this morning by the sudden death of this man who was called by many the most honest business man they had known. He had gathered his host of friends through his participation in civic, fraternal and social groups of the county.

Mr. Deakyne was born in Chester, the son of the late David W. and Hannah Booth Deakyne. The family home then was on Parker street above Third. He had lived in his present home for 21 years.

He was graduated from Chester High School in the class of 1915 and attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Immediately following that he entered business with his father.

On Assistance Board
Mr. Deakyne in December was appointed a member of the Public Assistance Board by Governor Edward Martin. He was to succeed Miss Theresa A. Kelly, whose second term expired Jan. 1. His name was placed in nomination before the State Senate on Tuesday. He also was president of the Delaware County Salesmanagers Association and supervised the courtesy campaign run by the Chester stores last year.

He was vice-president of the Delaware county Building and Loan Association. A Mason, he was treasurer of the Chester Lodge. He also was a member of Chester Commandery and the LuLu Temple.

Mr. Deakyne served in the Navy during World War I and was a member of Sgt. Stevenson Post 190, American Legion. He also belonged to the Eagles and Elks, was a Boy Scout committeeman and a member of Springhaven Country Club.

Ran for Mayor
The candy manufacturer took an active part in local politics and was Democratic Candidate for Mayor in 1935. In that year, Deakyne also was active in the state senatorial election.

C. Fenno Hoffman, of Wayne, had won the 1935 Democratic nomination for state senator when State Senator John J. Mc Clure defeated Weldon B. Heyburn in the Republican primary. Hoffman withdrew and Heyburn was named coalition and defeated McClure at the general election. Deakyne, then Chester Democratic leader, was said to be responsible for naming Heyburn on the Democratic ticket and let the fight for Heyburn.

This morning Mr. Deakyne's business associates, greatly shocked by his sudden passing, recalled that yesterday morning he had arrived at work in his usual fine spirits. They felt that it was his generosity in doing things for others that had overtaxed his strength.

Active in Kiwanis
A friendly person, Mr. Deakyne was very punctual in arriving at work every day and rarely was away from his business. Wednesday afternoons he did take time out to attend Kiwanis meetings and during good weather would take an occasional afternoon off for golf. However, he devoted the major portion of his time and energies to his business and civic activities. He also was active in associations connected with his business as the confectionery Manufacturers Association.

One of his chief interests was his home, and he had been making preparations for building another home on Providence Road (currently the sight of Strathaven High School), where he had bought some land.

In the summer, Mr. Deakyne spent much time working in his garden, which was very successful. He chiefly raised vegetables, although he had some flowers. Very fond of nature, he loved to drive through the countryside.

Business associates recalled how obliging he was with the use of his automobile. When co-workers or members of their families needed transportation, both he and his automobile were available for their use.

He never shirked a duty, was the way they put it, and he never held back when something was for the good of someone else.

Twelve persons usually are employed by his firm which engaged in wholesale manufacturing and jobbing. Greatly loved and esteemed by these workers, Mr. Deakyne will be remembered by them for his good advice. Always interested in their welfare, he joined with them in all occasions. Whether it was a wedding or a funeral, they counted on the boss to be there.

Deakyne Brothers was probably most famous for its Deakyne Easter egg, which was first bade by Mr. Deakyne's father when the business started in 1884. The eggs had not been made for five years due to the scarcity of materials for making a good product. Mr. Deakyne always told his customers that he would not deal in the black market and would not make a second-rate product.

His father's motto had been, "Don't make to sell anything you wouldn't give your own children to eat," and Mr. Deakyne followed it closely. He had inherited both his father's formulas and his good nature.

The firm's slogan on its trucks is "A good house to deal with".

Mr. Deakyne is survived by his widow, the former Ethel Clare; two children, Clare, a homemaking teacher at Chester High, and David, a junior at Chester High; two sisters, Mrs. Ethel Colbert and Mrs. Bertha Morris, both of Drexel Hill.

Rev. Peter VanderHiel, rector of St. Paul's, will conduct the funeral services at 2 p.m. Friday at the Ray F. Imschweiler Funeral Parlors, 1600 Edgmont Avenue. Friends may call Thursday evening from 7 to 9. Masonic services will be conducted at Chester Rural Cemetery.

Thanks to Sadiebkjr@aol.com for sharing her grandfather's obituary.

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