Harry W. Speidel

HARRY W. SPEIDEL, Lawyer, Retired Air Force Officer, of Wernersville set sail on August 3 for his eternal home with the LORD God Almighty. He was predeceased by his 1st wife Mary Louise (Houck) Speidel and his 2nd wife Edwina (Haas) Schofer-Speidel.

Born in Kutztown on 3/30/1920, Harry was the son of the late James A. and Elda M. (Wesner) Speidel and brother of the late Robert A. Speidel.

A graduate of Muhlenberg Twp. HS, he received his BA degree from Dickinson College in 1942 and his Juris Doctorate from The Dickinson School of Law in 1947. He was admitted to the Bar of the Courts of Common Pleas of Berks Co., PA in 1948 and was subsequently admitted to practice before all Appellate Courts of the State of PA as well as the U.S. District and U.S. Supreme Courts.

Col. Speidel served as a navigator/co-pilot with the 1st troop carrier squadron of the 10th Division of the U.S. Army Air Force in the China, Burma, India Theater during WW-II. Subsequently he remained active in the Air Force Reserve completing the Air Force Command & Staff School and the Air Force War College courses.

Following the Korean Conflict, Harry was assigned to the Office of Special Investigations, Headquarters, USAF. In 1969 he was promoted to the grade of Colonel and at the time of his retirement in 1974 he was the Mobilization Commander of OSI District headquartered at McGuire AF base, NJ. His military decorations include the Air Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Asiatic/Pacific Medal with 2 battle stars: Presidential Unit Citation, Reserve Forces Medal and Defense Dept. Distinguished Unit Citation. He was a life member of the CBI Hump Pilots Assn.

Atty. Speidel became an associate with the Reading Law Firm of Zieber & Snyder. In 1954 he became a partner in the firm whose current name is Mogel, Speidel, Bobb & Kershner. Harry continuously practiced law in Berks Co. for 59 years retiring August 31, 2007.

During his legal career he served as Asst. City Solicitor, Reading, PA. He served on the Board of Directors of numerous business corp. including Admixtures, Inc.; Eastern Radio Corp. (WHUM), Orr & Sembower, Inc., & Reading Merchants Oil Co. He served on the Board of Censors of the Berks Co. Bar Assn. as well as a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and elder of Christ UCC, Temple, PA.

The joys of Harry's life included spending time with family and friends, reading, fishing, sailing his boat on the Chesapeake Bay, and traveling to many different countries and Hump Pilot gatherings.

He is survived by daughters Deborah A. Speidel, M.D. (Poca, WV), Constance L. Ivey (F. Emerson III) of Poca, WV, and son Harry W. Speidel II (Debra M.) of Womelsdorf, PA and stepson Craig M. Schofer (Houston, TX).

His family is grateful to his extraordinary caregivers Esther Jack and Janice Burgess; his doctors: Dr. Charles Minehart & Dr. Elena McCabe; Phoebe Berks Village & Heartland Hospice; and Chaplain, Colonel Bruce Farrell, US Army (Retired).

A memorial service will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, August 25th at Christ Church UCC, 4870 Kutztown Rd., Temple with Colonel Reverend Bruce Farrell officiating.

Visitation with the family will be held Friday, August 24th at the Milkins Giles Funeral Home, Inc., 4914 Kutztown Rd., Temple from 6-8 PM.

Interment will follow the service on Saturday in Laureldale Cemetery where military honors will be performed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to: Christ Church UCC; Phoebe Berks Village, 1 Reading Dr., Wernersville, PA 19565; and Four Chaplains Scholarship c/o Evangelical Seminary, 121 South College St., Myerstown, PA 17067.