Walter E. Bastian

Walter E. Bastian, 92, longtime resident of Sunbury and former resident of Sinking Spring passed away Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, at Maria Hall in Danville.

Walter was born July 3, 1928, in Sunbury, a son of the late Walter E. Sr. and Myrtle V. (Flexer) Bastian. In May of 1952 he married the former Mary E. Hendershot who preceded him in death in March of 1981. He later married Jean (Treas) Pyers in April of 1988 and she preceded Walter in death in February of 2007.

Mr. Bastian was a 1946 graduate of Sunbury High School where he was a stand-out athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He furthered his education beginning at Duke University and then transferring to Franklin & Marshall College where he received a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1950.

Walter was inducted as a corporal and paratrooper in the U.S. Army in January 1951 during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1953.

Walter worked for much of his career as a systems engineer for International Business Machines (IBM). His position and knowledge afforded him the opportunity to travel the world. As part of the World Trade Division, in 1964 Walter and his family moved to Tokyo-Japan where he was instrumental in the system set-up of the first computer aided Olympics. He later worked in the Republic of South Africa for two years before returning to the United States in 1967 near Reading, Pa. from where he retired in 1983.

Following retirement, Walter was very active in volunteer work, particularly with Habitat for Humanity, the Sunbury YMCA, Sunbury Haven Ministry, and Sunbury Community Hospital. For many years he was a very active member of First Reformed United Church of Christ, Sunbury, and more recently he regularly attended Shiloh United Church of Christ, Danville.

Walter always enjoyed athletics and continued into his later years as a participant and champion in the Senior Olympics in both tennis and racquetball. He was an avid outdoors man, who loved to fish, camp, and hike. Some of his most favorite times were those with the family at the cabins in Weikert, Pa., along Penns Creek.

He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Douglas and Catherine Bastian of Danville; two daughters and one son-in-law, Elizabeth and William Chapin of Sinking Spring, and Nancy Bastian of Reading; one step-daughter, Jill Monaghan and husband Sean; one stepson, William Pyers and wife Barbara; and one brother and sister-in-law, William and Connie Bastian of Lewisburg. In addition, he is survived by five loving grandchildren, Jennifer Natale and husband Jason, Nathaniel Bastian and wife Hyeyon, Brian Bastian and wife Lauren, and Andrew and Benjamin Chapin; and seven great-grandchildren, Avery, Brooke, Regan, Bradyn, Chelsea, Calder, and Leland.

Funeral services will be arranged at a later date.

Contributions in Walter's memory may be made to the Shiloh-Kenya Heifer Project c/o Douglas Bastian, 111 Columbia Hill Road, Danville, PA 17821.

Arrangements are by the Zweier Funeral Home, 157 Chestnut St., Sunbury.

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