Harry requested donations be made in his name to peace organizations, some of which are listed as clickable links below.
Harold Henry "Harry" Dehlinger died on November 12, 2016, at age 82, at Mills-Peninsula Medical in Burlingame, from a heart attack due to recent battles against multiple internal health conditions.
Born May 21, 1934 in San Francisco of German parents: Henry Dehlinger and Gertrud (Belge) Dehlinger.
Harry graduated a semester early in 1951-52 from Balboa High School in San Francisco.
Harry grew up on Surrey St. in San Francisco, playing dirt lot baseball with friends. In the 40's and 50's Harry would ride his older brother Walter's fixed-gear racing bicycle around the San Francisco hills.
Another of Harry’s interests was customizing cars with his buddies in the 50's; they once made a dune buggy out of a 40's sedan and had a great time running it in the dirt hills of Diamond Heights.
Then he met Olga-Barbra.
Harry and Olga-Barbra Tollefsen were in their late teens when they began dating, they were married March 15, 1958 in San Francisco and were married 58 years.
Harry served in the US Army reserves from 1956-1958 and 1961-1962.
Harry and Olga-Barbra began married life in an apartment in San Francisco, where they welcomed their first son, Steven (1959). Within a few years they bought their first home, a Doelger house in Daly City, and welcomed their second son, Michael (1962). In October 1964, they purchased a new home in Millbrae where Harry and family lived happily. Harry enjoyed playing with the beloved family dog, a beagle named Saki, which lived from 1966-1979.
His first and only job was Telecommunications Installer for Western Electric Co. which evolved into AT&T, Pacific Bell, Pacific Telecom, SBC, AT&T, and finally Lucent Technologies. Harry continued to evolve along with the companies and finally retired with nearly 50 years of service from Lucent Technologies.
Though he worked long and hard at Western Electric, he also maintained the family Stoneson home. Harry was a "jack of all trades" and could fix most anything! He instilled a fix-it/repair-it/maker-of-things ethic in his sons. Harry built many useful things out of spare lumber and wood scrap, from a shed for the yard to speedy coasters for each son; perfect for the nearby steep hills. Harry enjoyed repairing old radios and TVs with son, Steve, who continues to have a fascination with electric and electronic devices to this day. Steve has great memories of getting his first Aurora slot car set (Harry got one for himself as well !) they spent many hours tinkering with the cars' electric motors.
Harry was as honest as the day is long and fairly frugal. He scrimped and saved so they could always pay cash for each car: a used '56 VW Beetle, a new '66 Beetle, a used '71 bus, a used '92 Mazda, and a new Chevy Sonic.
Although Harry generally followed the rule of "never a borrower or lender be", he would and could wholeheartedly give to those in need, partly due to his scrimping and saving.
Harry and family were originally members of the First Congregational Church of San Francisco, while living in San Francisco and Daly City. After the family moved to Millbrae, they then became members of Congregational Church of San Mateo. Harry and Olga-Barbra were very involved in their Church, especially in Social Action and Peace committee work, including participating in many SF Pride Parades representing CCSM-UCC.
Harry is survived by his wife, Olga-Barbra, and two sons: Steven Mark (wife, Kate Dopheide), and Michael Henry; plus nephews (sons of Hans and Fred) and their families. He is predeceased by his 3 older brothers: Hans, Henry (Walter), and Frederick (Fred), and first-born sister who died shortly after birth.
A memorial is scheduled for Saturday, December 10, at 11:00 AM at Congregational Church of San Mateo, 225 Tilton Ave, San Mateo.
Harry's ashes will be interred at Olivet Memorial Park in Colma.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Harry Dehlinger's name to peace organizations such as:
Amnesty International
Doctors Without Borders
Fellowship for Reconciliation
The Peace Alliance
Peace Action
Congregational Church of San Mateo ...open, progressive, spiritual
This page is supplied by:
Steve and Kate