Chief Stephen C. Walther 75, of Perry Township, Armstrong County, formerly of Mt. Lebanon and Reserve Township, Allegheny County, died Wednesday Aug 11th at his home.
A memorial tribute is being held at noon on Saturday Aug. 28, his birthday, at the Castle Shannon Volunteer Fire Department Memorial Hall, 3600 Library Road, Pittsburgh.
Class A uniform perferred
Memorials may be made to St. Patrick Church, 915 State Route 68, East Brady, PA 16028
Chief Walther was born Aug. 28, 1934, in Reserve Township, he was the son of Stephen J. and Hilda R. (Rueckert) Walther. He graduated from Millvale High School in 1952, and he obtained an associate degree in fire science from CCAC.
He began his fire fighting career as a third generation firefighter volunteering for the Mount Troy Volunteer Fire Company, Reserve Twp. in 1953, and served as chief of the Mount Troy Fire Company in 1960-1961. He was hired by the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department in 1962 where he worked for 28 years. He held the ranks of lieutenant, platoon chief and assistant chief and retired after serving 18 years,1972-1990, as the chief of the Department.
Chief Walther was a Fire Instructor for the PA State fire Academy, in 2005, he was named Instructor Emeritus. He was a vocal proponent of the use of smoke detectors and automatic sprinkler systems and worked to make the fire codes safer for Mt. Lebanon residents.
He served in the U.S.Army from 1956 to 1958, spending one year attached to the 13th Helicopter unit in Korea. He also served in the National Guard for two years in the First Howitzer Battalion, Hunt Armory. He was a member of the American Legion Post 488 of Brady’s Bend.
Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Gloria P. (Camp) Walther of Perry Township, who he married Aug. 5, 1961; a daughter, Wendy Hnat and her husband, Michael, of Treasure Lake; and seven grandchildren, Jim (Amanda), Jennifer, Josh, Julie, Joey, Jamie and Jessica. Also surviving is a sister, Grace Comport. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mercedes Muenz.
