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| Walter D. Tiedeman, Jr. September 27, 1921 - March 29, 2017 |
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Walter D. Tiedeman Jr. 95, of Richardson, TX passed away on March 29, 2017. He was a long-time resident of Evansville, IN, moving to Texas in the fall of 2006 to be near his daughter.
Walt was born in Americus, GA on September 27, 1921, but all of his childhood and pre-college schooling was in Delmar, NY. He graduated from Bethlehem Central High School in 1939. He attended the University of Michigan for a year and a half before transferring to Michigan State University, where he enlisted for Military service in WW II. He spent about 6 months in the Army Specialized Training Program at Brooklyn Polytechnic before being assigned to the 75th Infantry Division. He spent all of his overseas time in the European Theatre, and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium on Christmas Day, 1944. After much hospital time, he was assigned to the 489th Troop Carrier Group where he served in France and Germany.
He received an Honorable discharge from the United States Army in February, 1946, after one and a half years of overseas duty and 3 years of active service. He was awarded the American Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-American-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Rifle M1 Sharpshooter Medal, Browning Automatic Rifle Marksman Medal, and World War II Victory medal.
After the war he returned to Michigan State University. On December 29, 1946, he married Ruth Ellen Denning of Paducah, KY., who preceded him in death after 63 years of marriage. Walt is survived by his daughter, Ellen T. Steger, son-in-law Mark J. Steger of Richardson, TX, grandsons Scott T. Steger of Hillsboro, Oregon, and John M. Steger of Jakarta, Indonesia. Walt had two brothers, Robert K. and David V., and two sisters, Jean T. Fallon and Doris T. Johnson, all of whom preceded him in death.
He worked at International Harvester Refrigeration Division in Evansville from 1948 to 1955 as a Supervisor in both Inspection and Production. Joining Whirlpool Corporation in 1955, he held positions as Chief Inspector Air Conditioners, Manager of Manufacturing Ice Maker Division, Superintendent of Production Franklin Street Plant, Director of Quality Control Franklin Street Plant, Manager of Quality Control Highway Plant, Senior Product Engineer Evansville Division, and General Supervisor Compressor Quality Control. He retired on October 1, 1981, after 26 years.
Walt was a charter member of Eastern Heights Baptist Church and served terms as Deacon, Trustee and Sunday School Teacher. He was a charter member of American Baptist East when Eastern Heights and Eastside Baptist merged. He served terms as a Sunday School Teacher, and Trustee with many years as Chairman. He was Chairman of the Building Committee when a new Sanctuary, class rooms, and social areas were added.
He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity in college. He was a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Engineers. He was a member of American Society for Quality Control, serving a term as President. He served many years organizing the Inspection Division within the Quality Control Group, which later became the largest Division in Quality Control. He was a member of Lessing Lodge #464, Masonic Order.
Funeral Services will be held at 12 pm, Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at American Baptist East Church, 6300 Washington Avenue, Evansville with Pastor Jeff Stratton and Pastor Frank Coleman officiating. Entombment will be in Mausoleum 2 at Oak Hill Cemetery where the Vanderburgh County Retired Veterans Memorial Club will render full military rites.
Friends may visit from 10 am until time of service at 12 pm, Wednesday at American Baptist East Church.
Boone Funeral Home East Chapel-A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Ave., Evansville will be handling the arrangements.
Memorial Contributions may be made to American Baptist East Church.
Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net.
Mark, you and Ellen have my sympathy at the passing of Ellen's Dad. It sounds like he lived a good and long life and enjoyed much of the best of the "American" century. I'm glad Ellen had the opportunity to enjoy him here in Richardson these past eleven years.
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