Walter "Wally" Urtz

Wally was born on June 20, 1936, in Buffalo, NY, and moved to Yonkers, NY as a child. He spent most of his life living and working in Yonkers where he was employed for 57 years with The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company. Wally got his start at the A&P on Nepperhan Avenue, and it was there that he met the love of his life Iris Farrell. They were married on July 9, 1966, and Wally shared his life with Iris until her death on March 29, 2018.

In addition to working in Yonkers, Wally spent 26 years operating the A&P, which later became The Food Emporium, in Hastings-on-Hudson. Wally was a true pillar of the community and enjoyed helping those in need, often doing so silently as he preferred it. As a store manager, he was very passionate about his work, and Wally took great pride in mentoring his employees.

Wally also enjoyed the relationships he developed with his customers and enjoyed greeting them by name whenever they visited the store. It was a very tight-knit community, and if a customer missed their scheduled shop or was away for a while, Wally made a point to check on them to ensure everything was all right. Some of these customers followed Wally when he returned to the A&P of Nepperhan in 2003.

Wally was a die-hard sports fan who had an affinity for Boston sports which developed when he attended and graduated from Nichols College in Massachusetts. He greatly enjoyed watching the Red Sox, college basketball, and the PGA Tour. Wally also enjoyed attending youth sports events involving his family when they participated in basketball, baseball, softball, and hockey. Additionally, Wally enjoyed taking trips to Saratoga for horse racing and baseball trips to Fenway Park, Shea Stadium, and Citi Field with his family.

He is predeceased by his parents, Walter F. Urtz and Helen H. Urtz, his wife, Iris, and his sister Catherine Urtz. Family was very important to Wally, and he is survived by his sister Alice Anderson, and his sons Tom (Beth) and Walter (Kelly) Urtz. He is also survived by his granddaughter Kaitlin Urtz, grandsons Tom and Ryan Urtz, great-grandson John Urtz, his nephew Anthony Rodriguez, nieces Michele Diaz and Sharon Halfmann, great-niece Madalyn Rodriguez and great-nephews Ivan Rodriguez and Nico Diaz.

Wally spent the last month of his life surrounded by family in Orange County and greatly appreciated the support he received from his Hospice Care team and the care he received at New York-Presbyterian Westchester in Bronxville.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan County, located at 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.

Visiting hours will be at Whalen & Ball Funeral Home Wednesday & Thursday 3-8pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Sacred Heart Church on Friday June 23rd at 9:30 am. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.