In Memoriam | March 2019

Dianne Marie Andruch, 68, died Sept. 4, 2018 in Tucson, Ariz. She was a Foreign Service officer, both as an office management specialist and later as a consular officer, serving in Indonesia and Mexico and as consul general in Amsterdam. Andruch also served as the deputy assistant secretary for Overseas Citizens Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. In retirement, Andruch taught Pilates, traveled and knit. She is predeceased by her husband.

Kenneth Holmes Bailey Jr., 86, died Nov. 25, 2018. Bailey served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He received his undergraduate degree from George Washington University and graduate degrees from Georgetown University and George Washington University. He joined the Foreign Service in 1963. His overseas posts included Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, South Africa, Hungary, France and Mauritania. After retiring from the Foreign Service in 1987, Bailey worked for Litton Corporation and EG&G; was a volunteer for the Smithsonian Museum of American History and Friendship Place; and was an active member of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church. He was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth Anne Ellis, and is survived by his two children, Julia Holmes Bailey and Thomas Ellis Bailey, two grandchildren and a sister. 

David William Cox, 79, died Dec. 1, 2018. Cox entered the Foreign Service in 1961 and served for more than 25 years as a Foreign Service officer. His overseas posts included Colombia, Switzerland and Venezuela, as well as Suriname where he served as deputy chief of mission. After retiring from the Foreign Service, Cox served part time in the Freedom of Information Office as a civil service reviewer and senior reviewer for nearly 20 years. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, Oma, and visiting his daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren.

Dante Espejo, 80, died Nov. 10, 2018 in Aldie, Va. He served in the Foreign Service for more than 20 years. His overseas posts included Ecuador, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, the Bahamas, Malaysia, Greece, Suriname and the Philippines. After retiring in 2003, he enjoyed karaoke. Espejo was predeceased by his wife, Charita Geraldiso Espejo. He is survived by his five children, Edwin, Evelyn, Nadia, Eric and Earl; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his sister, Minerva Espejo; and his brother, Ronald Espejo.

Allen C. Hansen, 93, died Sept. 16, 2018. Hansen served in the U.S. Navy, on the USS Alsea, during World War II. He graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. in political science and from the University of Pennsylvania with a master’s in American studies. Hansen was recalled to active Navy duty in 1951, serving as a naval intelligence officer during the Korean War. He joined the Foreign Service in 1954 and served for 32 years, working in nine countries, as well as in Washington, D.C. His overseas posts included Venezuela, Mexico, British Guiana, Spain, Uruguay, Bolivia, Pakistan and Peru—where he was technical advisor on the first-ever United States Information Agency anti-narcotics film called “The Trip.” After retiring, Hansen wrote and also volunteered at the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide bookstore and the annual book fair. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Charmaine; his five children, Robert, Annette, Katherine Freeman, Alicia Hatcher and Mark; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Charles V. North died Feb. 20, 2017. North began his service at Voice of America, where he held several positions. Later, he served as the assistant information officer in Ghana and Colombia and the public affairs officer in Ecuador. After retiring, North acted in local theater productions, was a volunteer docent and painted. North was predeceased by his wife, Helen H. North. 

Betsy Ross Peters, 90, died Nov. 21, 2018. Peters earned a bachelor’s degree from Baylor University, a master’s degree from the University of Maryland and a doctorate from the University of Wyoming. She worked for the Social Security Administration and the National Endowment for the Arts before joining the Foreign Service. As a Foreign Service officer, Peters worked in the Middle East, Europe and Africa and continued to deploy for temporary assignments after retiring. In retirement, Peters enjoyed golf and was an active volunteer. Peters was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, Dr. Oliver Leon Peters. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Peters Bierer (Michael) and Sidney Peters; her son, Robert Mitchell Peters; and five grandchildren. 

David Rowe, 86, died Nov. 10, 2018, in Hendersonville, N.C. Rowe earned a B.A. from the University of North Carolina and an M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He served as a commissioned artillery officer on the USS Missouri in the South Pacific before joining the Foreign Service in 1960. As a Foreign Service officer, Rowe served in Europe and South America, as well as at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. He also served as Director of the U.S. Mission to UNESCO in Paris. After retiring from the Foreign Service, Rowe started an art gallery and a school. He was also director of what is now the Hathaway House at Middlebury College. Rowe read extensively in Buddhist thought, enjoyed gardening and played tennis. He is survived by his brother, Peter.

Questions concerning employee deaths should be directed to the Office of Casualty Assistance at (202) 736-4302. Inquiries concerning deaths of retired employees should be directed to the Office of Retirement at (202) 261-8960. For specific questions on submitting an obituary, please contact Amanda Richard at RichardAJ@state.gov.

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