Raymond E. Wentzel

Raymond E. Wentzel died on 18 Nov. 2021, almost 97 years into a long and interesting life.  He was born Jan. 2, 1925, in the Reading Homeopathic Hospital, the son of Alfred R. and Helen M. (Schmehl) Wentzel. Ray grew up on a farmettein Cedar Top, Cumru Township, spending much of his early youth roaming the forests of the Nolde Estate, evading the various patrolling game keepers.  He attended the two room Cedar Top School until eighth grade when he opted to walk the two miles to the Mohnton High School and back.  After America’s entrance into World War II, Ray would nightly accompany his father and man an aircraft lookout post on one of the hills overlooking Reading just in case the Germans decided to attack – they never did.  At graduation, he and every able-bodied male in the Mohnton HS class of 1943 volunteered for military duty.  Ray served in the ETO in the 568th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Btn.  During the Battle of the Bulge, Ray and his best friend, Dominic Napolitano,  volunteered to serve as infantrymen in order to replace mounting combat losses.  They became separated after deploying, never to meet again.  Returning to Mohnton after the war, Ray courted and married Betty W. Good on Oct. 4th, 1947. It was a union that lasted 60 years until her death in 2007. Shortly after their marriage, he began a 36 year career with the Metropolitan Edison Company, retiring in 1987 as a Line Chief – a job that he truly loved.  In his spare time, when he wasn’t washing his car or Simonizing his lawn mower, Ray enjoyed bowling, golf, and metal detecting.  An avid reader of history, he had a chance meeting and struck up an enduring acquaintance with the noted author Richard Wheeler, who he would visit on occasion at the latter’s home in Pine Grove.

Ray is survived by son Greg Wentzel and wife Judy of Spring Township; son Keith Wentzel and wife Robin of Mount Joy;  grandson Kyle Wentzel and wife Codi of Baldwin City, Kansas;  grandson Kurt Wentzel and wife Becca along with great grand children Raelyn and Bennett of Palmyra.

A grave side service at the Mohnsville Cemetery for immediate family members will be scheduled at a time of their discretion.

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