Michael Matthews Dryden

West Lebanon, PA—Michael (“Mike”) Matthews Dryden, age 74, died peacefully at home on Palm Sunday, March 25, under the care of Compassionate Care Hospice. He fought a courageous five-year battle with neuroendocrine cancer, sarcoma, and peripheral neuropathy, all related genetically to his primary disease, neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1), which he bore with grace and dignity. Born in Troy, NY on May 30, 1943, he was the son of the late Lester Siver Dryden and Elizabeth Matthews Dryden. He is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Phylis Campbell Dryden, as well as two stepchildren, Kirk Campbell and wife Joanne of Hanover, PA, and Craig Campbell and wife Ingrid of Catawissa, PA. He was known as “Grandfather” to Craig’s children: Steven, Maurice, Micah, Isabella, Judah, Isla Rose, and Israel. He is also survived by his brother, Lee Dryden and wife Peggy of Amherst, NY, and sister, Suzanne Kelly, of East Nassau, NY. Mike was predeceased by brother-in-law V. Montgomery Kelly, as well as dear friends Ricky Sauer, Bob Laird, and Larry McSwain. Mike graduated in 1962 from Shaker High School in Newtonville, NY. He was a nearly 20-year veteran of the Verdoy Fire Department in Latham, NY. He spent three years with the Defreestville Fire Department in North Greenbush, NY. Mike worked in the printing industry for Williams Press, Albany, NY for approximately 10 years. He then worked in the small-package delivery industry in the Albany area and in south-central PA until his retirement in 2006, having been employed by Purolator Courier Corp., Emery Worldwide, Courier Unlimited, and US Cargo and Courier Corp. In 1988, he worked briefly as an engineer for Conrail. After retirement, he drove a school van for D. B. Fisher Company in Lebanon, PA and was a porter for Klick-Lewis in Palmyra. Mike was very active in his Church, St. Mark Lutheran in Annville, having taught the Augsburg Adult Sunday School Class for over 15 years. He also served on Church Council and on several committees. He especially liked working on the church’s annual Advent Train Garden, which led to a personal hobby of model train railroading. A viewing and visitation will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 200 E. Main Street in Annville, on Saturday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a service and committal in Mt. Annville Cemetery. Please omit flowers. Contributions may be made to his church at the above address or to the Dryden Relief Fund at Fulton Bank, 433 West Penn Avenue, Cleona, PA 17042.

Michael Matthews Dryden

May 30, 1943 - March 25, 2018