Alvin L. Walz

Alvin was the last of seven children born to Joseph and Katherine Preissler Walz, both of whom had immigrated to the United States from Austria at the turn of the century. Alvin, who was born in Holyoke, MA, was orphaned at the age of eight. His young sister and brother-in-law, Elsie and Cal Roberts welcomed him into their home and raised him as a son along with their daughter, Lillian. As a boy he showed an early aptitude for mechanics by building himself both a sled and a bicycle.

After graduation from high school, Alvin worked at Westinghouse Corporation where he met and fell in love with the late Evelyn May Reid. They married on September 19, 1943 and enjoyed a loving marriage for 69 years. When World War II came to the U.S., Alvin enlisted in the Navy where he was on active duty from 1942 to 1945 as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate, Second Class in Florida and Brazil. He completed training at the Aviation Machinist’s Mate School in Jacksonville, Florida and the Air Transport Service at the United Airlines Training Center. Alvin and Evelyn moved to Florida where he was based and welcomed their first daughter, Bonnie Lynne, in 1945.

Upon discharge from the Navy, the family moved back to Evelyn’s mother’s home in Springfield, MA. There Alvin returned to Westinghouse as a draftsman in the Engineering Department while also attending classes at night to study engineering. In 1949 Alvin and Evelyn welcomed their second daughter, Suzanne Jean. Eventually the family built a new house in Somers, Connecticut. Soon after, however, Alvin’s Westinghouse career took them to Columbus, OH, then to New Jersey and finally to Pittsburgh, PA. When Alvin retired from Westinghouse in 1981, he and Evelyn moved to Cape Cod where they had been summering for much of their lives and where they had family. Even after moving to the Cape, Alvin continued to be a lifelong and loyal Mason of the Charles C. Spellman and then the Meadows Lodge in East Longmeadow, MA.

Alvin and Evelyn had always been very involved in the Methodist Church wherever they went. When they moved to the Cape, they became active members of the South Yarmouth United Methodist Church and enjoyed the fellowship of their new church community. They also made many friends by being involved with The Walk to Emmaus. When he wasn’t attending church activities, Alvin could often be found working outside at home clearing and planting trees and bushes, and chasing leaves in the fall. He became a favorite with neighborhood children who loved to hang out and “help” him.

Alvin was an enthusiastic, loving and affectionate husband and father who will be greatly missed by Bonnie Walz and Celia Halstead; Suzanne (Walz) and Richard Besciak; Anna Besciak and Brendan and Fiona McCray; Lillian Phaneuf; Terri, Danny, Sarah and Amanda Major; David Phaneuf; Eileen and John Richard; V. Jane Schneeloch; and several nieces and nephews.

Everyone who knew him will miss those special Alvin hugs which he gave lovingly and freely to all.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 4 – 7 PM at Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 729 Rt. 134, South Dennis, MA. A visitation hour will be held at 10:00 AM followed by a service beginning at 11:00 AM at Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home – South Dennis. Burial will follow at Orleans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Alvin’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).