Hilbert Douglas Dahl

On October 17, 2023, Hilbert Douglas Dahl, 81, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away at home with his family at his side after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer.

Doug is survived by his loving wife Joanne Hallman Dahl of 58 years; his children James Douglas Dahl (Denise Cook), Melynda Kristine Dahl, and Hilbert Gregory Dahl; his brother Richard (Janet) Dahl, and sisters Carol Dahl Smith and Doris Dahl. He will be forever cherished by his grandchildren, Jacob, Emma, Grace, and Lauren. He will also be missed by his nieces and nephews.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents Hilbert Greiner and Melissa Jones Dahl, his sister Melissa and his son, Michael Hallman Dahl.

Doug was born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania and graduated from Plum Borough High School in 1960. He received his Ph.D. in mining engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1969. After graduation, Doug began his career as a research scientist with Conoco in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Throughout his career, Doug held executive positions in several coal companies, including Consolidation Coal Company, Drummond Coal, and Peabody Coal Company. He has authored more than 30 published papers and has eleven patents. Doug received many awards and distinctions throughout his career, including the Distinguished Alumni Fellowship Award from Penn State and his recent induction into the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame.

Doug and Joanne met at Penn State and married in 1965. They started their life together in State College and spent the next twenty-five years raising their four children in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wheeling, West Virginia and Birmingham, Alabama.

In 1998, Doug and Joanne retired to the Moss Creek community in Hilton Head, South Carolina where they built wonderful friendships and family memories. Doug and Joanne traveled extensively in their retirement years, including trips to Iceland, Africa, and Russia. His family enjoyed annual 4th of July reunions where Doug often took center stage on the dance floor. He loved boating on the marsh with friends and family and fishing with his favorite grandchildren. His sons enjoyed hiking with their dad on the Appalachian Trail.

One of Doug’s greatest life-long passions was building and flying light aircraft. He built four airplanes over his lifetime, and he enjoyed flying in formation over Moss Creek with his friend Roger. Doug was a huge Penn State football fan and enjoyed many football weekends with his college roommate and friend Jim. For over 50 years, Doug played competitive chess games with his brother Rich. Doug was an active member of Bluffton United Methodist Church where he loved listening to the choir and served as an usher and past chairman of church council.

Services will be held at Bluffton United Methodist Church on October 28th at 11 am. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the Bostwick Pavilion in Moss Creek from 1 to 3 pm.

Doug’s family wishes to thank South Carolina Cancer Specialists and the Hospice Care of the Low Country for their care and dedication. Memorial donations may be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in Doug’s honor.

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