Walter (Ii)

Walter was the loving husband of Jean Elizabeth Creitz (Hawk), his high school sweetheart with whom he shared over 66 years of marriage (October 18, 1944). Born in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late Walter Marsby and Margaret (Lynn) Creitz.
Walter spent his childhood and early adult life in Bethlehem, graduating from Liberty High School (1942). He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University (1948). As an undergraduate, he was a member and officer of numerous honorary societies.
While enrolled at Lehigh, Walter served his country for 2 years (1943-1944) as a sergeant in the US Army Signal Corp and was stationed in England, France, and Germany. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Lehigh to complete his education and also was promoted to a second lieutenant through the ROTC program. Walter remained active with Lehigh and served as class president, and later founded and served as the adjunct curator for the Philatelic and Numismatics Special Collections (stamps and coins). At Lehigh, Walter was also the recipient of the First Annual Asa Packer Award.
He also was an instructor at the Pennsylvania State University Berks Extension in the early 1950s teaching courses in electrical engineering and mathematics.
He started with Metropolitan Edison (Reading, PA) as a cadet engineer in 1948, and was promoted to various positions at MetEd, including Transmission Engineer, System Distribution Engineer and Operating Superintendent of the company's Western Division, headquartered in York. Following this he became Division Manager of the Western Division and then Vice President. He returned to Reading in 1971 as Chief Engineer, and then served as President of the company from 1972 through his retirement in 1979, with over 30 years of service to the company.
Walter was active in many professional organizations, community service and church activities, but his love was scouting. He was active as a volunteer for over 60 years in Berks and York County. Locally, he was chairman of 2 Cub Scout packs, 2 Boy Scout troops, and an Explorer post, and became district chair in both York/Adams and the Hawk Mountain Councils. Walter served as president of the Hawk Mountain Council, BSA and Vice President of the York Adams Area Councils. He later served on the state and regional of board of directors. Walter attended 3 national jamborees - including being camp chief of the Northeast Region at the 1981 Jamboree. Walter was designated to serve as Northeast Region International Director for the Boy Scout Jamboree in Iran in 1979, which was canceled. While living overseas in 1982, he served as international director for Boy Scouting in Saudi Arabia. For his remarkable work with scouting, Walter was the recipient of 2 of Boy Scout's highest awards: Silver Beaver for his local activities and the Silver Antelope for regional activities. He was also a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow. He was very proud that all of his children attained top awards in scouting.
In addition to Walter's community activities, he was an avid stamp collector since his childhood and grew his Boy Scout Collection into one of the finest collections in the world. He won numerous awards at stamp shows for his collections. In conjunction with Scouts on Stamps Society International, he established one of the first Boy Scout Explorer Posts with an emphasis on stamp collecting.
Walter attained Silver Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. During his retirement, he was a Bridge Director on many cruise ships and also taught bridge in the Naples, FL and Reading, PA.
Walter is survived by his wife, Jean E. Creitz; two sons: Richard S. Creitz (Chicago), Walter M. Creitz, III (Reading); one daughter, Lexandra L. (Creitz) Lepper (Ann Arbor); 4 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Gregory J. Creitz.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hawk Mountain Boy Scout Council or the American Heart Association.
Service: 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 29th at Atonement Lutheran Church, 5 Wyomissing Blvd, Wyomissing.