Walter J. Zale Jr., 80, of Lititz and formerly of Pittsburgh, passed away Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. He was born in Braddock to the late Walter J. Zale Sr. and Anne Zukas Zale. He was married in Donora at St. Michael’s Church and enjoyed 53 years of marriage with his wife, Judith Pavlik Zale. A graduate of North Catholic High School, Walt attended Saint Francis University and the University of Pittsburgh. He worked in the accounting department at U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh and then as a senior account executive with Consolidated Graphic Communications for 34 years. After retirement in 2003, Walt and Judy worked seasonally at Walt Disney World. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves during the 1960s in Pittsburgh, achieving the rank of corporal. A devout and faithful Catholic, Walt was a parishioner at St. James Catholic Church in Lititz. He enjoyed volunteer work at church and participating in the Men’s Club. Walt was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and an active member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 10827 at St. James. Walt was always welcoming, a wonderful storyteller and jokester and he had a contagious laugh and “what have you.” He enjoyed playing golf, traveling, especially to Disney World with his family, and he was a huge Pittsburgh sports fan. He previously served on the board at Lancaster Catholic High School and volunteered with Judy for Lititz Meals on Wheels. In addition to his loving wife Judy, Walt is survived by their son, Michael J. Zale, husband of Lori Durand of Natrona Heights; two daughters, Meredith Z. Brown, wife of Eric of Gibsonia, and Molly Z. LaFranca, wife of Scott of Mount Dora, Fla.; four grandsons, Rylan Zale, Avery Brown, Aidan Brown and Ethan Zale; as well as his sisters, Ginny Valley of Bradford Woods and Lois Vesch of Pittsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, with the Rev. James O’Blaney, C.SS.R., as celebrant, at St. James Catholic Church. Private inurnment will take place in Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Cemetery, Pittsburgh. Please omit flowers and kindly consider a memorial contribution to St. James Catholic Church, 505 Woodcrest Ave., Lititz, PA 17543, to Lancaster Catholic High School, 650 Juliette Ave., Lancaster, PA 17601 or to the American Heart Association, 4250 Crums Mill Road, Ste. 100, Harrisburg, PA 17112. To send online condolences, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com, 717-560-5100.
