Dale “Wally” Waldenmyer

A life that began in Northwest Pennsylvania that forever changed the residential landscape of Dover has come to a peaceful earthly end, and has begun anew in a place prepared for him by the Master Developer.

Dale “Wally” Waldenmyer, a well-respected builder, developer, realtor and community visionary, entered his heavenly reward Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at the age of 92 while in the care of the Frances Georgeson Hospice House at Naples, Florida.

Born at Butler, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1924, he was a son of the late John and Evelyn (Eshenbaugh) Waldenmyer of West Sunbury, Pa.

Life in rural Pennsylvania offered Wally the opportunity to dream big. Wally played the French horn at annual gatherings of the state 4-H in the organization’s band show on campus of Penn State. Following graduation from high school with the West Sunbury class of 1941, Wally would return to State College on 4-H scholarships.

Following college, Wally opened his first company, the Waldenmyer Window Sales Co. He followed the residential homebuilding boom west to Houston, Texas before settling in the Tuscarawas valley in early 1953. That same year, Wally formed the Home Engineering Company, and began a long term devotion to community service by joining the Dover Jaycees.

Early in his career, Wally provided business guidance to his cousin and friend, Bill Eshenbaugh. That advice proved to be invaluable to Bill in his later successes.

By the late 1950’s Tuscarawas County was enjoying the steady growth of its economic and residential bases. Wally also recognized a lack of new, affordable housing in Dover and New Philadelphia. Despite opposition from city planners, Wally was also determined to construct multi-family garden apartment style living in the Tuscarawas Valley. “Can’t never did anything” Wally remarked, explaining his inspiration to proceed with developing residential communities.

He built his first home in 1959 on Sterling Avenue, on the edge of what would become his first development, Norma Dale Park. Wally worked side by side with homeowners to excavate the development’s premiere amenity, a neighborhood pool. In the same year home sales in the development reflected the tremendous demand for affordable housing, setting a record that many builders today would be hard-pressed to imagine.

With the completion of Norma Dale Park, Wally announced a residential development north of Dover City Park. It would become Indian Meadows because of its close proximity to the historic signing of the Delaware Indian treaty.

Garden style apartment living was unheard of in the Tuscarawas Valley until the introduction of Heritage Village Apartments, and as part of Indian Meadows, the Candlelight and Parkside Apartments, which Wally envisioned, and constructed and made available to a public that received the developments with great enthusiasm.

From humble beginnings, Wally had established five companies, serving as president of D. Waldenmyer, Inc., Waldenmyer Realty, Inc., D&N Development, Inc., Waldenmyer Supply, Inc., and BNDW,LLC.

Mr. Waldenmyer lent his talent as past president of the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce, the Tuscarawas County Realtors, (an organization that nominated him Ohio Realtor of the Year), and the Tuscarawas County Home Builders.

Additionally, he was a former member of the Dover Community Development Corporation, the County Planning Commission, the Ohio Apartment Council, the Ohio Developers Council, and the Urban Land Institute.

He will also be remembered as a life member of the Elks, as a 32nd Degree Mason and member of the Syria Shrine. Wally was a member of the First Baptist Church of Naples, Florida, and attended New Pointe Community Church at Dover.

Following a career as a successful developer, Wally maintained an active lifestyle, traveling the world and serving as a Gentleman Host aboard ships for Holland American and Norweigan Cruise Lines. Wally took time to return to Penn State, his Alma Mater with family and friends, regularly each autumn, hosting tailgate parties for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Wally leaves behind a living legacy of a family; his wife Sylvia; his son, William B. “Brad” (fiancée, Robin Randolph) Waldenmyer of Dover; his sisters, Jane (Charles) Williams of Butler, PA and Ruth Griffith of Shelby, Ohio; a step-daughter, Cynthia and her husband, and good friend to Wally, Forrest Hester of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Four grandchildren, Jodi (Michael) Grewe, of Michigan, Brett (Lynn) Waldenmyer of Boca Raton,FL, Megan (John) Morton of Land O’ Lakes, FL, and Lee (fiancée, Jackie Jones) Waldenmyer of Mt. Clemens, Michigan; nine great-grandchildren, Johnny, Mikaylyn, Sydney, Mae, Brenden, Sawyer, Liam, Cameron, Addyson, and numerous nieces and nephews complete the family.

In addition to his parents, Wally is preceded in death by his former wife and business partner, Norma Rufner, and a brother, Bill Waldenmyer.

Friends are invited to call Wednesday, June 29, 2016 from 4-7 PM in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover where Pastor Dwight Mason will lead services for Mr. Waldenmyer on Thursday at 11 AM. Entombment will follow in the Waldenmyer Mausoleum at Dover Burial Park. Following the committal service, family and friends will gather for a luncheon in Funeral Center’s Hospitality Room.

Dale “Wally” Waldenmyer will be long remembered for his innovative concepts in building and land development, having constructed more than 400 residences in Tuscarawas County. Through his generosity in scholarship programs, Mr. Waldenmyer has provided for the education of many promising entrepreneurs by the establishment of the Waldenmyer Foundation.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.