Paul Frederick Lilienthal

Paul Frederick Lilienthal, 1923-2025

A Life Well-Lived

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Paul, a cherished member of our community, who left us peacefully on June 3, 2025, at the age of 101.

Paul was born on August 25, 1923, in Glenwood, Minnesota to parents Bertha and Fred. He graduated from high school there as World War II was raging and immediately enlisted in the US Army Air Corps. He eventually became a tail gunner on B-17 bombers in the 331st Bomber Squadron, 94th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, based in Rougham, England. He flew 24 combat missions over Europe and was awarded numerous decorations, including the Air Medal. After the war ended, he saw additional service in occupied Germany and flew in cargo aircraft operating throughout Europe and Africa. He finally returned to the USA and was discharged as a Technical Sergeant in 1946.

During his Army training, before going overseas, he met Winifred "Ruth" Knouse who was serving as a Corporal in the US Marine Corps. They married in 1946 and Paul subsequently attended the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1950 with a mechanical engineering degree.

Paul began his long and successful engineering and management career with AT&T in the early 1950s. Initially working in the Allentown Western Electric plant, he moved to the Reading facility in 1959 where he would spend the remainder of his career, retiring in 1985. Among his many accomplishments with Western Electric was his pioneering efforts leading the famous Picture Phone project and subsequent work with advanced technologies such as gallium arsenide.

In retirement Paul, being a highly civic-minded person, became a significant leader in a wide range of community organizations. He was a Richmond Township Supervisor and served as a board member with the Highlands at Wyomissing and the Berks County Solid Waste Commission. He was instrumental in founding the Kutztown Area Chamber of Commerce and volunteered at the Kutztown Folk Festival. He was very active for many years in Kutztown's Trinity Lutheran Church. He established scholarships at both Kutztown University and Kutztown High School. One of his favorite organizations was the Potato Project, which enabled him to both help feed people and play with his beloved tractors and farm implements.

Along with his dedication to work, Paul's "other life" revolved around his historic home in Moselem where he and Ruth raised their three children. After living briefly in Easton and Allentown, the Lilienthals found their true dream home in Moselem in 1959 - and this was to be where Paul and Ruth would remain. Paul loved this home and the beautiful grounds and he never grew tired of being there. He was enthusiastically committed to maintaining the period character of his 1820 ironmaster's house and managing a productive tree farm and bee hives on his 30+ acres -- this was his real life hobby.

Paul is survived by son John Lilienthal of Novi, Michigan and daughter Margaret Lilienthal Broughall (Stephen) of Orr's Island, Maine. There are six grandchildren: Jane Lilienthal Toscano (Mario), Rachael Lilienthal, Joshua Lilienthal, Ingrid Lilienthal (Johan Fyhrlund), Christopher Lilienthal, and Timothy Lilienthal. The three great-grandchildren are Ollie Toscano, Mario Toscano, and Harald Fyhrlund.

Paul's wife, Ruth, and son Peter Lilienthal predeceased him in 2000 and 2012, respectively.

Paul's long life of service in the Reading area led to many friendships. Foremost among his large circle of friends were Carl and Jeanne Ziegler of Kutztown. Carl and Jeanne, and their many children and grandchildren, were generous and close friends and companions to Paul over the years. Also, in his later years, Linda Geiring of Fleetwood and Clint Miller of Moselem, were wonderful helpers and enabled him to remain in his cherished Moselem home.

A funeral service to celebrate and honor Paul's life will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 357 West Main Street, Kutztown, with his Pastor, Vicar Seth Noggle officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow in Becker's St. Peter's Church Cemetery, Fleetwood. Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing on Saturday morning, June 28th from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations can be made in Paul's memory to the I Heart Harvest Potato Project, 1892 Moselem Springs Road, Hamburg, PA 19526; the Paul F. and Winifred K. Lilienthal Endowed Scholarship c/o Kutztown University, P. O. Box 730, Kutztown, PA 19530-0730; or Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 W. Main St., Kutztown, PA 19530.

Paul Lilienthal's life was a testament to his commitment to his family and friends, his faith, his community, and his nation. He was truly an outstanding example of "the greatest generation". We recognize how fortunate we are to have known and loved him, and his legacy will live on in our memories.

Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc., Kutztown, PA, is in charge of arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting Paul's obituary tribute page at www.Ludwickfh.com.