John C. Dyson

John C. Dyson Jr. of Hawley, Pa., died Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, at Bethany Village, where he had been a resident for the past six months. He was 98.

Born Feb, 3, 1923, as the only child of Myrtle Williams Dyson and John C. Dyson of Arcola, Montgomery County, Pa., John was a veteran who served his country proudly in the Army during World War II, both in Europe and in the Pacific theater, as well as during the Korean conflict.

He is survived by his only son, James D. Dyson and his daughter-in-law, Barbara (Kika) S. Dyson of Hawley; grandsons, Trevor A. Dyson of Lakeville, Pa., and William T. Dyson of Voorhees, N.J.; as well as Will’s wife, Kenzie (D’Angelo) Dyson and four-month-old great-granddaughter, Brynn Rey Dyson of Voorhees.

John’s former wife (the couple divorced in 1976), Diane L. Dyson of Hawley/Honesdale, San Francisco, and Corning, N.Y., predeceased him in 2006.

Following his military service, John attended Hastings (NE) College and the University of Nebraska on the GI Bill and earned a degree in journalism. Eventually John’s pursuit of journalism led him to Wayne and Pike Counties, where he purchased the Citizen Times (Honesdale) and the Pike-Wayne Eagle (Hawley), establishing the News Eagle and serving as the editor. With help from son Jim and many dedicated local employees who became friends, John helped create what became Wayne and Pike Counties’ leading news organization and newspaper during more than 40 years of serving the Lake Region community. The Dysons sold The News Eagle in 1999.

Visitation was held Dec. 29, at Teeters’ Funeral Chapel, Hawley, followed by funeral services and burial at Pine Grove Cemetery, Paupack, Pa.

The family wishes to acknowledge the caring professionals at Bethany Village, who cared for John in his final months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing to do so consider supporting both the Hawley Library, 103 Main Avenue, Hawley, PA 18428; and the Wayne County Library, 1406 Main Avenue, Honesdale, PA 18431.