Delbert Wayne Hostetler

On July 28, 2019, Delbert Wayne Hostetler, beloved husband of Doris Erma Hostetler (nee Lind), loving father of Lind C. Hostetler and his wife Donna, Lauren H. Cook and her husband Brian, cherished grandfather of Jason R. Cook and his wife Marybeth, Ashley Monn and her husband Derek, Colin G. Cook and his wife Christie, Hilary Lyons and Kevin B. Cook. Also survived by many great grandchildren, relatives and friends. 

Born and raised in Johnstown, PA., the legacy of Delbert Hostetler as a man of deep faith, a man gifted with so many talents, a man who cherished family, a man who was deeply devoted to serving others and his country, and a man driven by a strong work ethic all began with the personal witness and nurturing in his family home. His parents Irene and Ernest were hard-working and active in their Presbyterian Church as was his sister Ruth. His mother loved music and played the piano. His parents made sure Delbert went to Church and Sunday school, and that as he grew older he participated in church Youth Group activities. He had several chores to do, yet found the time to enjoy baseball, climbing trees, swimming and running through the woods with friends where his love of nature and animals flourished. Inclement weather days found him sketching comic book characters and listening to several radio programs. His gift of art, music, and his talent for acting, writing, and broadcasting were born during these times. 

Upon Graduation from High School, Delbert attended Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon) and graduated with a BA in Fine Arts. He enjoyed acting in local theater. Delbert served his country during World War II as an Army Aviation Engineer, building and maintaining runways in Europe. While there, he was also a member of his unit’s dance band, entertaining troops in Riviera. He was proficient in playing the trombone and Hawaiian guitar. Later he continued to serve his country at the ORD. School in Aberdeen and as an audio-visual specialist and production manager at the Pentagon. For several years he enjoyed a career in television broadcasting as a camera man, producer, director, and production manager for stations WPTZ, WRCV, KYW-TV and WQED (Educational Television). He also lectured at Carnegie Mellon on topics related to the field of television broadcasting. For fun, he enjoyed bowling in his early adult life, and then became a serious golfer, hitting the links as often as he could. 

An army buddy introduced Delbert to his beloved wife, Doris, through a picture he received from his girlfriend. Dad was immediately stricken with mom as soon as he saw her standing with a group of other girls in the picture. He began a correspondence with her that lasted throughout the war. We have and treasure their love letters to each other. On September 9, 2019 they would be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. Delbert and Doris together created a very loving, warm and welcoming home for everyone, especially for their children, Lind and Lauren, their 5 grandchildren and their 15 great grandchildren. Brian and I have always been treated as their children rather than as a son-on-law and daughter-in-law. Delbert and Doris had many lifelong friends, most of whom have passed on to eternity. For the past nine months, they have enjoyed a room together at Forest Hill Heights assisted living where they have been loved and treated fondly by the staff. 

Upon retirement, Delbert pursued his passion for art, and began painting nature scenes, animals, portraits, buildings, etc. using a variety of mediums such as oil, acrylic and watercolor. He became a lifelong member of the Harford Artists Association where he is currently the featured artist for the months of July and August. He was presented the Maryland Governor’s Award for Art from Governor William Donald Schafer, and his work has continued to win the admiration of many. Amazingly, he was self-taught. Delbert’s art is pure natural talent. 

Delbert was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bel Air where he served as a member of the Church maintenance team until he was physically unable, and where he also directed plays and sold paintings to fund technology for the hearing impaired at his church. As a long time cancer survivor, and as someone who had impaired hearing and eyesight in his later years, Delbert had compassion for anyone with a physical limitation. Delbert was an inspiration to others, and a generous donor to causes he strongly believed in. There is no doubt in our minds that he was greeted at the heavenly gate with these words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” 

A Portrait of Delbert Wayne Hostetler 
By Donna M. Hostetler 

Family and friends will honor and celebrate Del’s life at the Evans Life Celebration Home-Bel Air, 3 Newport Drive (Rt. 23 &Rt. 24), Forest Hill, Thursday, August 1, 2019 from 2 – 4 & 6 – 8 p.m. with a service beginning at 7 p.m. Interment services are private. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory to the Harford Artists’ Association, Inc. www.artinharford.org.

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