Dr. Walter Kreider Jr.

Dr. Walter Kreider Jr, 94, of Manheim, PA, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 6, 2025, at Pleasant View. Born in Lancaster, PA, he was the widower of Marguerite E. Kreider (D 1/2/21) - they had celebrated 66 years together. He was the son of the late Elva and Walter Kreider Sr.

Growing up as an only child during the Great Depression in Lancaster, Walt cherished family, neighbors, and community activities. He fondly attributed his passion for baseball and basketball to those years playing in the streets.

From street baseball to school leagues and college ball, Walt fully embraced his passion for baseball. He graduated from Millersville University in 1952. He was then immediately drafted into the United States Army where he served as a military correspondent during the Korean War.

Returning home from the war, Walt married his college sweetheart, picked up where he left off in baseball, playing with a farm league, and began work on his Master's Degree at Millersville.

In 1960, Walt was hired as a scout for the New York Yankees, where he sought out young talent for the next 14 years. The same year he began his tenure as a Professor of Education at Millersville University, where he served for 31 years. As part of his professional development, he took his Doctorate in Education at Temple University in 1970. In a beautiful blending of Walt’s passion for both baseball and education, he established the Walt Kreider Family Baseball Scholarship at Millersville, a scholarship awarded to an incoming first-year baseball player in good academic standing.

Along with his wife, Peggy, Walt planned and accompanied university students on international educational tours, notably to Western Europe. Walt and Peggy were experienced travelers who expanded the horizon for their children by taking an extended family trip around the USA and Mexico - with a trailer in tow! This special time created an incredible family bond and love of adventure for all of them. Walt’s love of travel provided some of the richest experiences and opportunities to experience many cultures throughout the world. Walt formed significant and lasting friendships with people from many nations, from Japan to the Holy Lands, Central and South America to name just a few. He was blessed to see so much of the world.

Walt loved the sound of the ocean, reading on the sand, and playing golf-summers were best at the Jersey shore. He loved to have his children and grandchildren come share the sun and sand, but every day was special at the beach, especially spending long days in the sun and attending musical entertainment with his best friend and love Peggy. In contrast to summers on the beach, Walt and Peggy enjoyed spending winters in Florida where he could indulge his passion for golf and baseball. Walt was often seen at spring training camps, brushing shoulders with his favorite athletes from various teams. Leaving the fun and sun was always a challenge but coming home to Lancaster was equally important to Walt, being near his children and grandchildren as well as his beloved campus at Millersville where he remained involved, sharing his years of experience, knowledge of world education and rich history of world travels.

While Walt’s travel itinerary had to be curbed in the later years, he never lost his love of relating his travel stories, and slides and instilling wonder of the greater world to any audience who had interest. He could be found giving presentations at Millersville, Pleasant View, and in the community. Everyone who listened to his enthusiastic presentations was blessed with the sense of having seen the world in a fresh, new way through Walt’s experience.

Walt is survived by his children, Walter Kreider, III, husband of Shauna (Anderson) Kreider, Rockville, MD, and Vicki K., wife of Karl Kassees, Landisville, PA. Grandchildren include Walter Soren Kreider IV, husband of Joanna (Stack) Kreider, Seth B. Kreider, Kayla R. (Kassees) Vogel, wife of Mark A. Vogel, and Ryan M. Kassees, and three great-grandchildren, Walter Liam Kreider V (4), Owen Gabriel Kreider (20 months) and Vera Kay Vogel (9 months).

Dr. Walter Kreider Jr. will be remembered for his dedication to education, his passion for baseball, and the lasting impact he had on the lives of his family, students, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Millersville University, Attn: Dr. Walter Kreider, Jr. and Marguerite Kreider Scholarship Fund, 1 South George Street, Millersville, PA 17551.

Relatives and friends are invited to Walt’s Funeral Service at The Groffs Family Funeral Home, 528 W. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA, on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 12 p.m. The family will receive friends for a viewing from 11 a.m. until the time of service. The interment at Riverview Burial Park will take place at a later date.