Dennis S. Mertz

Dennis Stanley Mertz peacefully flew west just after sunset on February 24, 2021. A loving husband, caring father, and attentive son, Dennis always instinctually put others before himself.

Born to Edna (nee Steigerwalt) and Stanley Mertz, Dennis grew up on Bridge Street in Lehighton with his sister Lillie Ann. During his youth, Dennis often enjoyed assisting his grandparents as well as his Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill Rudelitsch on their farms. Hard work and family devotion were both notable innate qualities in Dennis.

Dennis married Ann Louise (nee Sander) of Palmerton in 1973, after a 6 year courtship. Over the next 47 years, their devotion to one another only deepened. Moving to Palmerton in 1984, Dennis and Ann bore a son, Sander, in 1984.

Dennis enjoyed travel near and far - particularly trips to France, Great Britain, Italy, and Germany - but equally content walking in Palmerton, skiing at Blue Mountain, or reading the New York Times on the back porch at home.

His true passion was aviation. Becoming a simulator technician in the United States Air Force whet his appetite for flying. Soon after, Dennis was on his way to becoming a professional pilot. Jake Arner, one of the pioneers and early advocates of aviation in Lehighton and Carbon County offered him wisdom and mentorship. During his decades-long career, Dennis flew for Monmouth Airlines, Henson Airlines, Bethlehem Steel, and was finally hired at Allegheny Airlines in

1978. Soon after, Allegheny became USAir then US Airways. During his 34-year career with the airline, he flew the Boeing 727, British Aircraft Corporation BAC 1-11, Douglas DC-9, Boeing 737, Boeing 757 and 767, and Airbus A330. He loved flying airplanes of all sizes and training new pilots, whether at US Airways, as a Check Airman, or new private pilots, as a Certified Flight Instructor. He was particularly grateful to have the opportunity to teach Sander to fly. Some of his most fond memories were flying a J-3 Cub and Twin Comanche around the Mahoning Valley and farther afield with Sander.

Survivors: Dennis is survived by Ann and Sander, as well as his mother-in-law, Helen Sander. Dennis is preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister, as well as his father-in-law, Paul Sander.

Services: Due to Coronavirus, services will be private. Online Condolences may be left for the family at: www. schislerfuneralhomes.com.