Walter A. Sowa

Obituary of Walter A. Sowa

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Walter Andrew Sowa, a lifelong resident of Sheatown and Nanticoke, passed away on September 29 at the age of 100.

He was born on January 5, 1925, to Michael and Katherine (Bobowska) Sowa. His family, including his eight brothers and sisters, taught Walt how to thrive amid the Great Depression.

Walter graduated from Newport High School in 1942 and promptly joined the US Army Air Force, serving as a radar repairman.

During his training, he was stationed all around the US – NYC, Philadelphia, Georgia among others earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. Walter's last post was on Tinian Island in the south Pacific, as the Enola Gay hastened the end of the war from his base.

After the war, he received his degree in Electrical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 1950, serving in multiple offices of his fraternity, Theta Xi.

Walter began his career at the Okonite Company, then found his true calling as an engineering professor at Penn State (Wilkes-Barre Campus). It was there he completed his 31-year teaching career in 1987, influencing the lives of many future engineers.

Along the way, he earned his MS in Physics at Wilkes College. He was named Outstanding Teacher of the Year at Penn State in 1973.

One of his proudest career moments was publishing two books in his profession and having one translated into Chinese.

Walt and his family spent summers at their vacation home at North Lake, Sweet Valley, for over 50 years. He specialized in hosting extended family gatherings and making everyone, especially grandchildren, welcome as well as nightly card games with friends and neighbors.

Walter was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity (St. Faustina) Church and a member of the Holy Name Society and Ushers. In his retirement, he was a daily communicant. He was also an active member of the Nanticoke Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Planning Commission as well as the Mill Memorial Library Board of Directors. Walter was also an avid golfer and gardener.

In retirement, if not on the golf course with his friends, Walt could be found playing with his grandchildren, teaching them how to cook Polish foods, weed a garden, golf, and pick mushrooms and blueberries.

He is predeceased by the love of his life Marie (Thomas), with whom he shared 72 years of marriage. He is also predeceased by brothers Stanley, Joseph and Edward, and sisters Helen, Anna, Theresa Sowa and Marie Kowalski. He is survived by his sister Hedy Rominski.

Walter is survived by his three children, Christopher (Nancy), Dr. Michael, and Rebecca (Denis) Bartuska, seven grandchildren, Andrew, Peter and Christine (Lepird) Sowa, Eric Sowa and Katherine, Elizabeth and Abigail Bartuska and two great-granddaughters, Diane and Ella Lepird; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to his caretaker, Carol Bencho.

Funeral services will begin, Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. from Dinelli Family Funeral Home 170 East Broad Street, Nanticoke, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Faustina Kowalska Parish, 520 S. Hanover St., Nanticoke with the Rev. Brian F. Van Fossen as celebrant.

Visitation hours will be Tuesday, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Interment with Rite of Committal will be in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery, Nanticoke. Military honors will be accorded by the U.S. Army.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Sowa's memory can be made to St. Faustina Kowalska Parish, Nanticoke, and Mill Memorial Library 495 East Main Street, Nanticoke.