Frederick C. Dieffenbach, Jr., 77, of Manheim, passed away on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the Mt. Joy Hospice Center.  Born in Frackville, PA, he was the son of the late Catherine (Schindler) and Frederick Dieffenbach, Sr.  Fred was the loving husband of Catherine (Yost) Dieffenbach with whom he celebrated 53 years of marriage.

Fred graduated from the Philadelphia School for the Deaf in 1953.  He retired after 25 years of service in line production with Flex Steel Upholstery. Fred was a member of the Board of Deaf Services for 16 years.  He was a Keystone Central Deaf Senior Citizen member and a member of the Lancaster Deaf Club.  He was a member for 55 years at the First Deaf Mennonite Church in Lancaster.  Fred enjoyed making crafts.  He was very artistic and liked to draw.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Catherine, is a son, Frederick Dieffenbach III, husband of Ginny, and a daughter, Jennie Kover, wife of Caleb, both of Manheim; two sisters, Beverly Gimber and MaryAnn Phillips both of Lancaster; and a brother, Robert Dieffenbach of Lititz.  Fred was a proud grandfather of six grandchildren: Brittany and Noah Dieffenbach and Caleb, Stephanie, and Lea Kover, and Ashley Deardorff; and two great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, July 8, 2011 at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543 at 10 AM with Pastor Jeffery Hoffer officiating.  A viewing will be held at the funeral home from 6-8 PM on Thursday, July 7, 2011 and again on Friday from 9-10 AM.  Interment will be at Conestoga Memorial Park.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Fred's memory to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604 or www.hospiceoflancaster.org or First Deaf Mennonite Church, 2270 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602.  To send online condolences, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100