A.E. Stringfellow, ceramics engineer

Allen E. Stringfellow, 86, of Haddonfield, a ceramics engineer who held various patents and was instrumental in the development of high-voltage switch gears, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, after a lengthy illness at CareOne Harmony Village in Moorestown.

During his almost-40-year career with the ITE Circuit Breaker Co. in Philadelphia, Mr. Stringfellow developed arc plates and other clay parts that were used in power-circuit interrupters, said his wife, Mary.

Mr. Stringfellow rose through the ranks and became manager of the electrical-insulation department. He retired in 1986, when his department moved to South Carolina, his wife said.

Mr. Stringfellow enjoyed the hands-on work of an engineer, and after retirement, he kept busy building model-train engines from scratch.

Mr. Stringfellow sold several of his model trains to area hobby stores, but also kept many in his home.

"The kids from the neighborhood loved coming over during Christmas to see all the trains," his wife said.

Mr. Stringfellow was born in Camden and raised in Audubon. While at a ballroom-dancing class for high school students, he met his future wife, Mary Willson. The couple married in 1949.

After graduating from Audubon High School in 1942, he attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, but his studies were interrupted by World War II.

Mr. Stringfellow was stationed in the Philippines while serving in the Army from 1943 to the end of the war.

He graduated from Rutgers in 1948 with a degree in ceramics engineering. He went straight to work for ITE Circuit Breaker Co.

Mr. Stringfellow and his family lived in Collingswood for about six years before moving to Haddonfield, where they have lived for 55 years.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Stringfellow is survived by a son, Scott; a daughter, Leslie A. Stringfellow; and a sister.

Visitation will be from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at the First Presbyterian Church of Haddonfield, 20 Kings Highway East, where a memorial service will follow at 2.