Interviewer: Ava Mullen
Interviewee: David Delancey
Relationship: Grandfather
I interviewed my grandfather on September 20, 2014. His name is David Edward
Delancey. He was born on March 21, 1949 in Harrisburg Hospital. David was the oldest of two.
His younger sister’s name is Darlene.
David went to school at West Perry. He played football in high school for fun. He said
nothing else really happened. His classmates would probably remember him as the class clown
of every class. He said he did enjoy school on his “good days” as he put it. He is still friends
with people from school. They get together sometimes and talk about the good times they
always had. David grew up in Perry County living in New Bloomfield and later Shermans Dale
with his family when he was seventeen. He said Perry County has changed since he was a
young boy. He said there is more traffic, which he hates. There is also less dirt roads, which
makes him sad because he loved the dirt roads.
He said certain people in his town (New Bloomfield) were different. One guy in New
Bloomfield went around town in a horse and buggy because he did not have a car. He thought
that was interesting to see in town.
All of his mother’s family lived in Hanover, PA so he would only get to see them on
special occasions. There were not that many stories, just that they (family in Hanover) were
city folk and did not know country life at all.
The most important person in his life at that time would have to be his dad, my greatgrandfather, Robert Delancey. His dad taught him everything he knows today and was always
being funny. The Sunday before deer season starts, he always goes to church (to pray for the
“Big One”). It is just something he is used to doing with family. It will be passed down he said
as the traditions go on. His nickname in school and around family was always “Big D.” He does
not know how he got the name, he said that maybe because his first and last name start with
the letter D. He said he would like to figure out how he got it, but he never has.
David got married to my grandmother, Connie (Dillman) on August 30, 1969. He said
that was the happiest moment in his life. He said he loves her with all of his heart and he does
not know what he would do without her. They have two children, Tracy Marie (Delancey)
Mullen and Michael Thomas Delancey. Michael lives one mile away from home and Tracy lives
two miles away. He likes that his children are close to home. He has three grandchildren, Kara
Ann, Ava Marie and Walker Thomas. He is excited for another grandchild that is due in January,
2015.