Mr. Bernard Leo Wilt

1919 - 2016

Bernard Leo Wilt, 97, of McConnellsburg, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, November 25, 2016, at the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va.

He recently celebrated his 97th birthday on Sunday, November 6.

Born November 8, 1919, in New Bethlehem, he was the son of Augustine and Letitia (Aaron) Wilt.

He was the first son and second child of a family of seven.

Mr. Wilt's formative years were spent working on the Aaron family farm in nearby Crates.

He attended New Bethlehem High School and graduated in 1936.

After a brief time working at a steel mill in Buffalo, N.Y., he and his friend Ed Daugherty enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940.

Mr. Wilt's military career would span nearly three decades. He served in World War II in England with the U.S. Army Air Corps, later the U.S. Air Force. After V-E Day 1945, Mr. Wilt re-enlisted in the Air Force and achieved the rank of chief master sergeant. His service even included stewardship of Air Force One as Line Chief/Quality Control Officer for the Presidential Aircraft of four presidents at Washington's Boling Field, Andrews Air Force Base and National Airport.

He met his future wife, Margaret Elaine Miller in Memphis, Tenn. They were married on October 16, 1948 in Natrona Heights. She preceded him in death.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1967, Mr. Wilt began his second career with the General Service Administration in Washington, D.C. His wife was employed by the State Department as an administrator dealing with oversees aid programs. Mr. and Mrs. Wilt purchased a hunting camp in Sheepskin Hollow, Fulton County in 1958 and a farm in Maddensville, Huntingdon County.

He was a member of St. Stephen Parish, American Legion Post 641 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 655.

Survivors include his brothers, John F. Wilt and the Rev. George A. Wilt, both from Pittsburgh; a sister-in law, Elizabeth Wilt; a brother-in-law, Edward Clark; 11 nephews, John Hoover Jr., James Hoover, Gerald Hoover, Jeffery Hoover, Joseph Hoover, John Wilt Jr., David Wilt, Daniel Wilt, Charles Morgan Jr., William Harrison Jr. and Lawrence Harrison; and three nieces, Julia Hoover, Catherine Wilt and Caroline Wilt.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by four sisters, Mary Hoover, Katherine Harrison, Theresa Morgan and Rita Filson; a sister-in-law, Peggy Clark; four brothers-in-law, John Hoover, William Harrison, Thomas Filson and Charles Morgan; a niece, Mary Elizabeth Theisler; a great-nephew, Robert Hoover; and a great-niece, Laura Hoover.

Arrangements are at the direction of the Kelso-Cornelius Funeral Home in McConnellsburg.

Internment is planned for Arlington National Cemetery, pending notification.

Memorial contributions can be made to: Wounded Warriors, C/O VFW Post 655, McConnellsburg, PA 17233 or Wildlife Center of Virginia, POB 1557, Waynesboro, VA 22980.