Stephen Michael Dirle

Stephen Michael Dirle, PhD, 47, of Camp Hill, PA, formerly of Gloucester, VA, died on Sunday, July 23, 2023 at his home in Camp Hill, PA. He was born on September 22, 1975 in Williamsburg, VA and was the oldest son of Michael Wayne Dirle, of Hayes, VA, and Linda Matson Dirle of Camp Hill, PA. Deceased grandparents were Michael Dirle, Jr. and Mildred Conner Dirle of VA, and Donald Matson and Meredith Facht Matson of CA.

Stephen was a 1993 graduate of Gloucester High School in Gloucester, VA, obtained a Master’s Degree from the Art Institute of Chicago, and a PhD in Creative Arts, Humanities, from University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. He last taught at The Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Lancaster, PA. He was a prolific writer and life-long student of the arts, philosophy and religion.

Stephen was formerly married to Ayumi Koyama and survived by sons, Jeshua and Gefen of Kushimoto, Japan. Stephen’s siblings are Tracy Robyn Beck, of Lancaster, PA, Amy Lynne Dirle-Shull, of Brooklyn, NY, Nicole Marie Shiffler of Naples, FL, and Travis Edwin Dirle, of Walls, MS.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30PM on Friday, July 28, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 800 Pleasant Dr., York Haven, PA 17370. A live-stream of the service can be accessed here. Burial will immediately follow in Rolling Green Cemetery, Camp Hill, PA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the education fund for Stephen’s 2 sons: Jeshua & Gefen Dirle. Checks may be mailed and made out to: Tracy Beck, 65 Corry Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601. Online donations via PayPal will also be accepted; please direct funds to jerryb17011@yahoo.com.