Al Diedrich

Services are scheduled at 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 28, 2008, at Centre Avenue Baptist Church for Al Diedrich, 5401 W. Richardson Ave., Artesia, New Mexico. PMr. Diedrich, 80, died Monday, March 24, 2008 at his home with family surrounding him. PDr. Rev. K.C. Heck will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Richie Crockett, Frank Waters, Keaton Waters, Jeff Bratcher, Mike Bratcher, Paul Sloan, and Kevin King. PVisitation will be at Terpening amp; Son Mortuary beginning at 11 am. Thursday. PFor friends and family in the east, a memorial service is tentatively scheduled for June 14, at the ancestral family plot in the Carnige Chartiers Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA. For more information please call Joanne Lukas at 404-771-1531 or email foofusdotcom.aol.com PMr. Diedrich was born December 2, 1927 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the son of Charles Fiddler Diedrich and Mary Waggoner Diedrich. PHe came to Artesia in 1983 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. POn Nov. 26, 1984 he was married to Jeanette Markham Crouch in Las Vegas, Nevada. She preceded him in death Nov. 20, 2007. PHe served in the U.S. Army during World War II and Korea. PHe was a bank pilot, and owner of Desert Aircraft Salvage. He was a member of Shriners, Masons, Moose Lodge, Elks Lodge, AOPA Pilots Association, V.F.W. , American Legion and had logged over 20,000 hours as a pilot. PHe was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and 2 brothers.
Survivors include companion Dorothy Frazee; son William C. Diedrich of Morgan Town, W. Virginia; daughters JoAnne Lukas and husband George of Peach Tree City, Georgia, Cheryl Bratcher and husband Ronnie of Artesia, Teresa George of San Diego, California, and Jacque Waters and husband Frank of Artesia; 7 grandchildren Dawn Marie Eibe and husband Eric, Kimberly Riese Brownie and husband Hamish, Lauren Lukas, Jeff Bratcher and wife Michele, Jason Bratcher, Keaton Waters, and Stephen George and wife Mandy; 5 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to any Childrens Hospital or charity of choice.